Iron Horse Vac LLC
Service You Can Trust
Construction and Maintenance Services:
Sewer Camera Inspections 3" to 36" (mini-cam includes locating abilities)
Catch Basin/Sand Trap Cleaning
Construction and Excavation Assistance
Root Cutting and Grease Removal
Sewer and Storm Line Jet Rodding
Potholing
Tunneling (under sidewalks, ramps, and curbs)
Specialized Trenching (around house foundations, tanks, and unknowns)
Dewatering
Sensitive Utilities Excavation Using Hydro-excavation
Commercial and Residential Water/Sewer Line Repairs
Emergency Services
Hydro-Excavation
Underground utility infrastructures are becoming more and more congested and complicated as they compete for limited space to accommodate ever increasing demands. Consequently, safety, as well as financial concerns have also increased as exact vertical
and horizontal locations of utilities are being demanded for design and construction.
Using non-destructive water and vacuum technology, we can quickly, safely and
economically excavate in areas inaccessible to conventional digging equipment - even in sensitive areas such as around high pressure gas, high voltage electric, and petroleum refineries.
A hydro-excavator works by using high pressure water to break up the soil. A powerful vacuum removes the loosened soil and transports it to a holding tank where it is stored
until it is used for backfill or hauled away for disposal. The excavator can create small
holes (8"-10") in diameter to positively identify the location of existing utilities or dig
"slot trenches" to whatever length is necessary in heavily congested areas. Most utilities
are located within 4-5 feet of ground surface and can be safely exposed within 10-15 minutes depending on soil conditions. While this is true for many utilities, Iron Horse
Vac’s hydro-excavation rigs have the ability to dig holes to over 20'deep to find even
the most difficult utilities.
Advantages of Hydro-Excavation over Hand Digging
- Hydro-excavation is much faster than hand digging.
- Even with hand tools it's easy to damage a buried utility and, of course, backhoes are notorious for causing utility accidents.
- If the utility being located is under a street surface, the 1ft x 1ft pothole created by a hydro-excavator is much faster and easier to patch than a larger hole left by hand digging or a backhoe.
Applications of Hydro-Excavation
- Exposing underground utilities
- Excavation at oil well sites, in booster stations, electrical sub-stations, and in small areas
- "Slot trenching" in areas with many utilities
- Environmental monitoring well installations
- Installing cathodic protection
- Street sign installations
- Footing excavations
- Fence or barricade installations
Our solid waste facility is licensed by the Department of Ecology
Serving Eastern Washinton and Oregon
Kennewick WA USA Phone: (509) 586-2446 Fax: (888) 741-1078.