How Does a Vacuum Truck Work? A Brief Anatomy Of Hydro Vac Trucks.

 

Vacuum trucks are large, versatile industrial behemoths with a diverse range of applications. They are capable of so many things that they often confuse people. Not every vacuum truck functions in the same way and has different applications. So, understanding what a vacuum truck is and how it works are questions you need clear answers to.

 

A vacuum truck is a large vehicle equipped with industrial-grade machinery for collecting soil, debris, sewage, or other hazardous materials via pneumatic suction. Some vacuum trucks, such as hydro vac trucks, also come equipped with a pressurized water jet to efficiently break down or excavate any terrain.

 

In this blog, we’ll take a brief look at how a vacuum truck works, the kinds of vacuum trucks you’ll encounter, and which vacuum truck should you consider. Let’s dive in!

 

How Does A Vacuum Truck Operate?

 

Since the most important part of a vacuum truck is the vacuuming process, we’ll strictly focus on the relevant parts only. The vacuuming process is run using 04 components:

 

1. Vacuum Pump: It’s a powerful pump that can generate 05-10 psi of suction. It’s the core component of the entire process, and it’s either powered by the main engine or an auxiliary engine.
2. Suction Hose and Boom: The suction hose is a flexible pipe that’s attached to the pump. It’s used to pull out the material from the site. The boom is a mechanical arm that’s used to guide the suction hose.
3. Control Panel: This allows the operator to control the vacuum pump, guide the suction hose, open/close valves, and check tank level.
4. Vacuum Tank: It’s a large tank mounted on the back on the back of the truck. Typically, this is made of steel, aluminum, or stainless steel. It’s designed to contain whatever has been suctioned.

 

When you hire a vacuum truck service, they will first come and secure the site, and mark down the exact area you wish to have extracted or pumped. The operator will position the suction hose over the location using the boom and turn on the vacuum pump. Once the site has been fully cleared, or the tank has reached its legal limit, the operator will cover the site to ensure safety. Afterward, they will leave the site and dump the tank’s contents in a dumping site.

 

What Types of Vacuum Trucks Are There?

 

There are 05 types of vacuum trucks. Each is specialized for specific uses. Let’s take a brief look at each:

 

1. Liquid Vacuum Trucks: These are used to suction septic tank waste, oil spills, catch basin contents, and other liquids, and then transport them.
2. Combination Vacuum Trucks: These can suction both wet and dry contents and may have separate tanks for each.
3. Industrial Loaders: These have powerful pumps that can remove industrial wastes and retrieve materials in bulk. They also have larger tanks that can hold more material.
4. Vacuum Tankers: These are the bigger cousins of liquid vacuum trucks. They can remove and carry large amounts of liquids and are used to remove sewage, wastewater, and other fluids.
5. Hydro Excavation Trucks: Many describe them as a vacuum truck with a Jetter, but it’s what makes these the most versatile. These trucks come with a water jet that can produce 2,000-3,000 psi, breaking up rocks, dirt or any septic waste to be easily suctioned away. These trucks can precisely, and safely make exact holes, expose underground plumbing, or make room for plumbing.

 

Out of these, hydro excavation trucks or hydro vac trucks are the most versatile and precise. They are a reliable option for typical, deep, or sensitive excavations; removing sewage, or soil, and exposing underground cables, or pipes without damaging them. 

 

What Inflow Hydro Vac Services Can Do for You

 

If you plan to hire a vacuum truck in Vancouver, especially hydrovac trucks, consider calling Inflow Hydro Vac Services LTD. We offer cost-effective hydro jetting, daylighting, shoring, pile hole excavation, line flushing, slot trenching, remote digging, and other vacuum truck-related services on demand. We hear your expectations and concerns before every project and ensure that everything happens as you need.

 

Conclusion

 

Vacuum trucks are versatile and important machines. However, if you’re looking for a vacuum truck for industrial or personal projects, a hydro vac truck is exactly what you need.  These vacuum trucks are capable of both precise excavation and bulk material removal. They are delicate enough to find plumbing without breaking them, yet powerful enough to pull any debris or liquid out. So, you’ll get your money’s worth out of them.