Excavation refers to the removal of soil and other materials from the ground using various techniques, and is a common process used across many areas of activity, from construction to landscaping to forestry and so on. Therefore, advancements in excavation equipment are extremely important as they can streamline operations and ensure better outcomes in a variety of settings and situations.
Nowadays, traditional excavation methods which employed mechanical means and have been the only options available for decades, have been replaced by newer techniques based on advanced technology, with suction excavation being one of the most frequently used solutions in projects requiring excavation work. As the name implies, suction excavation, also known as vacuum excavation, utilizes powerful suction systems that leverage high-pressure water or air to remove unwanted materials from the targeted site quickly and efficiently.
These systems can be mounted on trucks or trailers of various sizes, being particularly helpful when dealing with difficult to access areas. Manufacturers provide excavators with different suction power and tank capacity, so it’s important that contractors pay attention to technical specifications when searching for a suction excavator for sale and choose a model that suits their specific requirements.
This innovative excavation approach can be applied in many situations and provides a myriad of benefits to both contractors and clients, so if you want to learn more about the use cases and advantages of suction excavation machines, this guide can serve as a good starting point.
Popular applications of vacuum excavators
Excavation jobs differ in complexity, extent, and scope, but all of them can benefit from the superior power of vacuum excavators. The most common use cases for suction excavation include:
Uncovering underground utilities
Removing the ground above utility lines to reach underground infrastructure and carry out repair or maintenance work is a task that requires precision and caution due to the safety hazards it involves. Suction excavation is the most common method used in this respect as it can carefully clear away soil and materials around utility lines without causing any damage to them.
Municipal work
Municipal projects pose numerous challenges as they have to take into consideration the complex infrastructure that spans around them. Due to its swiftness, non-invasive nature and ability to reach intro confined spaces, suction excavation is considered the best option for jobs taking place in urban environments.
Construction
Suction excavation has many applications in the construction industry, where it is used to clear out debris from the site, prepare the area where the foundation is going to sit or create trenches for the installation of the infrastructure, all of which are critical steps in the development of new structures.
Potholing
With certain projects where deeper excavation is necessary but the site is traversed by a network of underground utility lines, suction excavators can help create trial holes to inspect the site and map the location of underground utilities with great accuracy to avoid damage and hazardous situations.
Deep excavation
The high-power and remote-control features of vacuum excavators allow them to create deep holes swiftly and safely. Additionally, the extension pipes also make it possible for these machines to reach greater depths and extract materials from otherwise inaccessible areas.
Cold weather excavation
Cold weather can hamper excavation work, as digging holes is much more difficult when temperatures drop below zero and the ground freezes. Luckily, vacuum excavation can help contractors overcome these obstacles by injecting a jet or pressurized heated water into the frozen soil to warm it up and make it easier to remove.
Landscaping
Tasks like digging up holes for fences and planting, removing debris, or moving around large quantities of soil, rocks or mulch, which are common in landscaping projects, can be carried out more efficiently with the help of a vacuum excavator.
The advantages of using a suction excavator
Suction excavation presents several important advantages over conventional excavation techniques, as follows:
Enhanced safety
With suction excavation practices being non-invasive through the use of high-pressure water or air and much more precise than conventional mechanical excavators, the likelihood of hitting utility lines by accident, which poses life-threatening risks to workers, is greatly reduced. Not only that, but many suction excavators integrate remote control technology, which allows workers to operate the machines from a safe distance, minimising exposure to potential dangers.
Greater efficiency
Suction excavation allows for greater accuracy, which makes it a much more efficient method for removing materials from narrow spaces without disrupting other nearby structures and elements. Skilled operators can carry out excavation jobs in difficult locations and make sure nothing is damaged in the process. Moreover, vacuum excavators streamline operations and ensure cleaner work sites by eliminating the need for additional tools and services like loaders and trucks for debris removal and restoration, which are required in the case of traditional excavation.
Increased speed
Being powerful machines, vacuum excavators also have the ability to remove large quantities of material from a site in a shorter amount of time and with greater ease, so workers can get the job done faster and with less hassle. This represents a huge advantage for contactors dealing with tight deadlines and juggling multiple projects at the same time.
Environmentally-friendly
Suction excavation has a lower carbon footprint than conventional excavation because it’s more precise and efficient. This translates into shorter operational times, minimal disruption to the environment, and less pollution on work sites.
Cost savings
The superior precision and speed of suction extraction also make it a more cost-effective option, helping contractors and clients enjoy significant cost savings.
Having numerous applications across a wide variety of sectors and fields and boasting countless benefits to all types of users, it’s easy to understand why vacuum excavation has become the method of choice for so many projects.
