A Brief Look at Properly Maintaining a Vactor Truck

A major community's public sanitation department in dire need of cleaning up sewage will consider it in their best interest to operate Vactor trucks. These usually pack hefty machines designed for raw power and vacuuming ability. However, no two Vactors are really the same, and there are several considerations to make in choosing which model is actually tailored to the cleanup duties in your community.

When you're in the market for a Vactor, it is important to consult a company sales representative to help flesh out the right specifications for your preferred machine. Some experts suggest vetting machines using the so-called “80-15-5%” rule; the truck should meet the proper specs to work 80% of the time, with the remaining percentage dedicated to maintenance or upgrades.

It is inevitable that a vactor truck will be out for some maintenance downtime. Consider planning for the vehicle to be operational for no more than ten years under a full-service maintenance program. Have your workers familiarize themselves with the operations manual and undergo the manufacturer's training and safety courses. The investment in the maintenance will help preserve much of the vehicle's resale value.

A Vactor sewer-cleaning truck produced according to your operational specifications can be touted as capable of handling the work required in your community. Careful maintenance and training will help stretch the value.

Sewer Cleaning Truck: Cleaning Power on Wheels

What has eight wheels or more with a huge tank, a powerful nozzle, and a large hose reel in front? The answer is the (arguably) biggest sewer cleaning machine ever designed on a truck chassis; a truck capable of keeping the sewers clean with less effort. It's what every municipal utility service needs to manage the vast sewer network. This truck lets 475 hp of suction power speak for itself.

The sewers feature some of the nastiest stuff you can imagine (and probably more): sludge, solid waste, stink bombs, and so on. Most of these materials are also the toughest to remove, especially by traditional means. The sewer cleaner truck is a testament of power, a beast that can dislodge even the toughest waste materials lurking deep in the sewers. A single truck can perform the job of an entire sewer cleaning battalion, as well as countless buckets and drums.

When you see one of these trucks in action around a nearby manhole, you're certain that the sewers are being kept clean. After all, a clean sewer is a healthy and free-flowing one; the kind of sewer needed to maintain the ideal quality of living. Thanks to the sewer cleaning truck, a handful of people are now capable of cleaning a wider sewage area. 

Dealing with Home Sewer Problems

If you notice a leaky faucet at home, would you immediately call on a plumber? Chances are, you'd do the fixing yourself in the hopes of saving some money. You'd probably just need a wrench and other basic tools anyway to tighten some loose connections here and there—et voila!—problem solved.

While a leaky faucet often only needs a do-it-yourself fix, some plumbing systems require more professional attention. The perfect example for this would be the sewage system. You should never attempt to fix the sewage system yourself, and always refer to professionals any concerns you have with it.

Fixing the sewage system could be a messy—not to mention smelly—job. In the first place, you'd not know where to find the problem and how to remedy it. An ordinary homeowner like you also wouldn’t have the tools needed. Plumbing experts, on the other hand, would not only know how to determine the cause of the problem, but would have the necessary equipment to both inspect and repair the sewers. Their services may be costly, but you don't have to worry about your money going down the drain because these experts could surely flush your sewage problems away.

Mechanical Street Sweeper: The Cleaning Superman

It is the responsibility of the homeowners to keep their homes clean for their families. Usually, they rely on the good ol' broom or mop to do the job, or if they want to be more advanced, the standard vacuum cleaner. Sometimes, they would call on the services of professional cleaners who are equipped with steam cleaners, which are believed to be more effective in cleaning off dirt and stains from all types of surfaces.

Meanwhile, when it comes to keeping streets clean, that responsibility falls on the shoulders of the city government. In this case, however, typical vacuum and steam cleaners are not enough for the job. What they must depend on are powerful mechanical street sweepers which can clean surfaces at a faster rate than vacuum cleaners and steam cleaners. These street sweepers come in the form of trucks that are handled by an operator.

The equipment works under the same principle as of a broom and a mop—albeit more advanced. First, all the dust and dirt from the streets are swept off thoroughly; afterward, water is sprayed and then a vacuum component is activated to make sure all the remaining wayward particles are off the road surfaces. All the dirt that is swept off is collected effectively in the street sweeper's hopper element and then dumped in a designated area.

Why Buy OEM Parts for Vacuum Trucks?

Vacuum trucks are vehicles with heavy duty vacuums that pump both wet and dry materials. The most common application of this vehicle is in the construction industry, where it is used to eliminate contaminated soil and waste water. While many companies choose to rent vacuum trucks, others prefer to buy it so they can maximize its use. However, even new trucks depreciate in time and sooner or later, you may need to replace certain parts. Since vacuum trucks are a huge investment, you should only buy original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts to preserve the quality of the vehicle.

Whether you need check valves, ball valves, aluminum suction tubes, or vacuum debris hoses, it's almost always a guarantee that you'll get quality products for your truck as long as they are OEM parts. These are made exactly for your vehicle's specifications, so there's no need for any modification. OEM parts generally last longer, so you can delay the depreciation of your vacuum truck.

To make sure that you are getting genuine OEM parts for your truck, do a little research on the brand. For instance, the vactor trucks have one specific supplier for OEM parts in particular regions, so if another company is claiming otherwise, this should be enough to raise suspicion. Always run a background check on the company via business bureaus and consumer directories.

Sewer Cleaning: A Dirty, Difficult Job

Cleaning sewer lines and drainage pipes is quite literally a dirty job, but it is something that needs to be done in order for a city or a home to continue functioning. Aside from going up against the obvious “refuse,” what makes the job difficult is that cleaners have to be extra careful when working with sensitive pipes. One wrong move and they can create a rupture or crack that can lead to a much bigger mess.

This is the reason why conventional cleaning tools like scrubbers or mops are usually replaced by clog hoppers, water jet coolers, plungers, and drain rooters. Oftentimes, pressurized water is used in lieu of scrubbers to wash away impurities without the risk of damaging the sensitive parts that make up a sewer system. More modern cleaning techniques make use of robots and cameras to reach parts of the system that prove too small for humans to fit into.

With all these hardware, carrying the cumbersome equipment into the sewer system provides another difficulty. Luckily, specialized vehicles like sewer cleaning trucks provide all the standard cleaning gear as one big machine, streamlining the job and making it more efficient. Humans are still needed to do much of the manual labor though, which makes sewer cleaning a job that still gets hands dirty.