10 Top Uses for Hydrovac Trucks
Traditionally, several risks and challenges had to be taken into account when performing work with mechanical excavating equipment. Fortunately, with the advent of hydrovac trucks, this process has become less intrusive and more accurate. This has brought about a remarkable transformation in the industry.
Hydro excavation is a technique that uses high-pressure water to loosen soil and facilitate digging. The hydrovac truck then suctions the wet soil and slurry into a mounted tank, either stored for later backfilling or transported to a designated disposal location. With the technology equipped on hydrovac trucks, excavation projects require less risk, labor, and time and have a lower environmental impact.
Hydro excavation equipment is versatile and can be used for various construction and utility applications. The equipment's precise, powerful, and safe digging capabilities make it an ideal solution for various tasks.
Here is the list of 10 top uses for hydrovac trucks.
Daylighting (Locating Subsurface Utilities)
Hydrovac trucks are commonly used for utility daylighting– i.e. digging to expose utilities that are buried below the surface of the ground. A hydrovac truck uses pressurized water to break up and remove soil cover, allowing visual observation of buried utility lines. It also has a vacuum system to removes the soil as the hole is being dug.
Depending on soil conditions, including clay conditions found in northern Colorado and Dallas/Ft. Worth, a hydrovac truck operator can daylight infrastructure buried up to 8 feet deep in 10 to 30 minutes. This method is considered non-destructive and improves project safety, productivity, and cost-effectiveness compared to traditional hand digging or mechanical excavation methods. Daylighting with hydrovacs is also versatile and can be used in extreme conditions, including below-freezing temperatures when the soil is frozen.
Slot Trenching
Hydrovacs are increasingly popular for slot trenching–i.e. digging narrow trenches to install pipelines, posts, and more. Hydrovacs uses high-pressure water and an air vacuum system to remove soil, making it an efficient and effective solution for digging narrow trenches without damaging the surrounding area. Additionally, the hydrovac's mobility makes it an ideal choice for slot trenching projects in hard-to-reach areas, such as those surrounded by obstacles or with limited access.
Potholing
Hydrovac trucks are a must for potholing, a process that involves digging small holes in the ground to find what lies beneath. This technique is used to identify and map out underground utilities or other subsurface features. The trucks use water under high pressure to break down the soil into liquid form and then a powerful vacuum to remove it from the excavation site.
Line Installation
From telecommunications to civil & environmental, hydrovacs are becoming the go-to choice for line installation across multiple industries. This includes construction, oil & gas, utility providers, industrial companies, and electrical/mechanical sectors. Hydrovac technology offers an effective and efficient solution to quickly break up soil and vacuum it into truck-mounted holding tanks, minimizing risks that come with manual labor or heavy machinery. This method saves a significant amount of time while ensuring everyone's safety.
Sign Installation
Hydrovac trucks can install signs and other components that must be placed into the ground at a certain depth. The hydrovac system utilizes a strong water pressure which helps to break down & liquefy the soil, and a powerful vacuum to quickly suction it out. A hydrovac crew can precisely excavate the correct diameter and depth efficiently, reducing the need for backfilling. This efficient setup makes the sign installation process swift and hassle-free.
Pole installation
Hydrovac trucks are versatile and can be used for various purposes, including pole installation. This excavation method is used to install utility poles and fence posts by quickly excavating the correct diameter and depth of the hole.
The hydrovac excavation process uses pressurized water and vacuum suction to remove soil, making it a safe and efficient way to install poles without causing damage to the surrounding areas. Hydro vacs are an incredibly flexible tool for digging holes for utility poles, like light poles and electric poles. They offer a wide range of capabilities and can be used in a variety of different situations.
Construction
Hydrovacs, also known as hydro-excavators, are specialized excavation machines commonly used in construction. They are instrumental in preparing the ground for a new building or structure.
One of the main functions of hydrovacs is to create trenches for the foundation of the structure being built. This is done using high-pressure water to break apart soil and other materials, which are removed using a powerful vacuum system. The advantage of using a hydrovac over traditional excavation methods is that it is much faster, more efficient, and less damaging to the surrounding area.
Remote Digging
Hydrovacs are the best option for remote excavation in confined or crowded spaces, as equipment can be located far from the actual excavation site. When a job requires remote digging, workers can attach a hose and work up to 400 feet away from the hydrovac truck.
Those in the industry call this type of work a "hose job." For all those difficult-to-reach places, hose jobs are an ideal solution. This method of digging reduces the impact on natural environments and landscaping, minimizing the need for site restoration.
Cold Weather Digging
Mechanical excavators face a unique set of problems while operating in cold weather, as the frozen ground is much harder to dig through than when the temperature is warmer. This makes excavation difficult and time consuming.
High-powered coil heaters on hydrovac trucks enable them to excavate in cold weather. Even in severe winter weather, heated pressurized water has the strength to cut through the frozen ground and can be used to excavate through any depth of ground frost.
Cold weather digging with a hydrovac is especially useful during the winter months in areas like Denver, Colorado and Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Debris Removal
Hydrovac trucks are practical tools for debris removal, including ditch cleanup, sediment removal from underground tanks, and dry material from construction, landscaping, or demolition sites. Basically, anything that will fit in the hose can be removed with a hydrovac truck. After removal, the excavated material is contained in a truck-mounted tank for hauling and disposal.
Hydrovac Trucks Have Brought a Remarkable Transformation to the Industry
The versatility of hydrovac trucks is apparent through the wide range of applications and industries they can serve. These trucks can be used for excavation, debris removal, locating and exposing underground utilities, line installations, sign installations, pole installations, sewer inspections, repairs, and rehabilitation. The list showcases the efficiency, speed, and cost-effectiveness of using a hydrovac truck compared to traditional excavation methods.
If your work requires hydrovac services, choose Fuzion. Our extensive experience, trained operators, and cutting-edge technology will provide you with the best hydrovac services available. Request service today to us know how we can help you with your next project!