What are the disadvantages of vacuum excavation?

At John Mee Vac-Ex Hire, we talk a lot about the advantages of vacuum/suction excavation, but what are the disadvantages, you might be wondering? Vacuum Excavation advanced technology is a much quicker, non-invasive process to safely expose live utilities that traditional hand digging methods could easily damage. This excavation method is used for various applications throughout construction niches, from service trenches to perimeter digs or bespoke access solutions. Just because it is increasingly becoming the excavation method of choice doesn’t mean it’s without disadvantages.

(Spoiler alert: these aren’t disadvantages because vacuum excavation is the ultimate method of safely excavating around buried utilities, but hear us out…)

No surprises

Everybody loves surprises, but unfortunately, with vacuum excavation, it’s highly predictable. By exposing underground utilities without causing any damage, vacuum excavation significantly reduces the risk of accidents and utility strikes, ensuring the safety of workers and existing infrastructure around the area. Good news for your health and safety record, your reputation and the outcome of the project. Bad news if you really love surprises and taking unnecessary risks. It’s also incredibly non-disruptive, being a low-impact excavation method, which decreases reinstatement costs by reducing the size of the excavation required.

You won’t build as many muscles

If it’s a full body workout you’re looking for to break a sweat, you might be disappointed. Compared with the very labour-intensive traditional hand digging methods, manual operation is significantly reduced with remote-control operated Vac-Ex units, ensuring work can be carried out safely in all areas. It can be performed at a distance, meaning there is no risk to the operator. This significantly enhances overall job site safety and complies with the highest UK safety standards. You won’t build any muscles, but you will achieve a safe excavation.

You can’t dig to China

There is a limit to how deep you can excavate, so if you’re hoping to dig in China, it’s not the method for you. However, our vacuum excavation units can excavate up to 30 meters depth and 80 meters horizontally and have worked 50 meters vertically, making it an ideal method for most excavation applications.

You might have time on your hands

With the efficiency and precision of a vacuum excavator’s high-powered suction mechanism, you might have spare time. As our excavators can move around 20 cubic tonnes daily, you can meet tight deadlines and complex schedules. Compare that to how much material can be excavated daily using the manual hand-dig method (one man, two cubic metres), and it’s clear to see how much of a time-saver vacuum excavation is.

You’ll have no excuses not to excavate

With vacuum excavation machinery becoming more advanced, you’ll have no excuses for not excavating an area. Our T-Vac Midi Track can excavate most types of wet or dry ground, and its small footprint allows it to access the tightest environments on the most challenging of terrain.

You might never look back

The downside to finding out just how efficient, safe and predictable vacuum excavation is, you won’t want to go back to the traditional digging method and unnecessarily risk the outcome of your excavation project. We’re pretty confident you’ll be a convert and spread the good word to others!

So there you have it. Despite these disadvantages, we hope you’re not too disappointed to find that vacuum excavation is the safer, more environmentally friendly, and cost-efficient method. We could talk all day about the benefits of this excavation method, but if you want to find out more, you can dive deeper into ‘What is Vacuum Excavation?’.

Are you ready to speak to a vacuum excavation expert?

If you still have reservations about vacuum excavation, then it’s time to speak to an expert. John Mee Vac-Ex Hire provides you with the right advice, elite and accredited operators and specialist vacuum excavation to tackle your most complex jobs.

Our holistic approach to customer support sets Vac-Ex apart from other equipment rental companies in the vacuum excavation industry. Our process begins with a comprehensive assessment of your project. We’ll sit down with you to talk about the job’s specifics, considering factors such as project scope, timeline, location, and any unique challenges that may arise or already have arisen. This information forms the foundation upon which we build our support strategy. We believe that success is not just about providing the right equipment; it’s about being a dependable partner in your construction journey.

We’ve delivered over 1 million working hours with zero strikes – speak to an expert today on  01302 636 532

Andy Roberts Editor at Vac-Ex

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