June 2025 Vol. 80 No. 6
Features
Choosing the best boom for vacuum excavators
TYLER SKOLEK, Vactor
A clean sewer system creates a healthier community. Sewer cleaners are used to efficiently remove blockages and prevent buildup. Breaking up blockages often demands a combination approach that includes the use of a boom.
That means using water jetting to break up the blockage and vacuum technology to suck up the debris that created the blockage. For a combination sewer cleaner truck, this requires the use of a hose reel to manage water jetting and a 6- to 8-inch vacuum hose to enter the sewer to suck the debris through a boom and into a debris tank on the truck.
A boom is a mechanized arm that can extend off a sewer cleaner and be easily maneuvered. It allows the operator to precisely position the suction hose to reach hard-to-access locations and depths common to underground sewer lines and catch basins.
Boom arm options include fully hydraulic, extendable, telescoping and 360-degree rotation that typically come in a variety of lengths to tackle any sewer maintenance challenge.
But choosing the best boom for a given application or situation can be a challenge. Here are a few tips for getting it right.
- Consider the application. Booms have multiple applications, most commonly sewer line maintenance, hydro excavation and catch basin cleaning. When removing debris and blockages from a sewer line, the boom is crucial for directing the high-pressure water jet, while simultaneously vacuuming the loosened debris. Choosing the right boom for the job will increase efficiency and effectiveness.
- Know the depth of the site. Booms vary in both their reach from the truck and their depth into the ground.
- Consider time constraints. In most cases, it takes several minutes to lift additional tubing off the rack to extend a truck's boom. Rapid deployment booms increase operator convenience and reduce set-up and tear-down time.
- Get to know the location. Booms are designed to work with the existing landscape and infrastructure. In areas with dense vegetation or tree canopies, a longer boom may be needed to reach the worksite without risking workers and truck safety. In more condensed urban areas, a smaller boom may be the safest option to minimize disturbance.
- Ensure operators are properly trained before beginning operation. Operators control the boom using a remote or joystick from the truck's cab. This allows precise positioning of the boom while allowing operators to maintain a safe distance.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Tyler Skolek is the product manager for Vactor.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Vactor, vactor.com
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