How Do Vacuum Trucks Work?

If you are a person who works or has worked for a construction company and have undertaken excavation projects, you may have been introduced to a vacuum truck. Vacuum trucks can be utilised for a range of projects including underground utility locating as well as digging precise holes and foundations for large construction projects. Vacuum trucks can also transfer a large amount of liquid waste from one location to the next in a short period of time. But if you are a person who doesn’t regularly use a vacuum truck, do you know how to use one and how it works.

What kind of Vacuum Truck Attachments Do I Need?

Vacuum trucks can utilise a range of attachments to complete a number of projects in the most efficient way. These attachments can range from mounted attachments to extra speciality equipment. 

The various vacuum truck attachments include:

• Hydraulic Boom
• Hose Reel
• Extra Hose Lengths
• Skid Mount /w Legs
• Hook Lift
• Tow Hitch
• Toolboxes
• Side Tipping Trays
• Reversing Camera
• LED Lights
• Light Bars
• And MORE

In order to understand how the vacuum truck works, we first need to understand the different features:

• The Cabin – The section where the operator sits and controls the vehicle.
• The Pump – Draws power from the engine to provide suction.
• The Primary Chamber – Catches all of the liquid waste and other material. In-built with a mechanism that doesn’t allow for waste to get to the pump.
• The Secondary Chamber – Protects the pump if the primary chamber gets too full.
• The Discharge Valve – Dispose of liquids/materials
• The Intake Valve – Where the vacuum hose is attached to begin suction.

The vacuum truck works by the pump providing suction to the vacuum hose through the intake valve. When the hose starts sucking, the material waste is then transferred to the primary chamber. If however, the primary chamber becomes too full, there is a secondary chamber waiting to ensure that no waste touches the pump (there is a mechanism in the primary chamber that doesn’t allow extra waste to touch the pump). When the material excavation has been completed, the discharge value is utilised to dispose of the materials inside of the primary chamber.

Give Vac2U a call or fill out our online enquiry form to discuss your next vacuum excavation project and how our vacuum truck can assist you in completing your project to the highest standard. With over 5 years of vacuum excavation experience, the team at Vac2U can complete a range of excavation projects from South East Queensland to Northern New South Wales, including Brisbane, Gold Coast, Toowoomba and western regions.