3 Disadvantages of Locating Utility Lines With Backhoes

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Backhoes and shovels used to be the best ways to find buried utilities. But being the best didn’t make them good options. The next time you have a project where you need to locate the utilities, find an alternative to backhoes and hand digging because:

3 Disadvantages of Locating Utility Lines With Backhoes

1. There’s no guarantee of accuracy.

Backhoes are a great tool for when a lot of dirt needs to be moved and there aren’t any surprises waiting in the dirt. But if there are pipes, cables, or wires buried underground, backhoes will snap them just as often as they uncover them. Either the utilities will get punctured or snapped at the digging site or the backhoe will stretch a cable too far and it will snap somewhere else.

While hand tools are much less risky because you’re moving less dirt at once, there is still a high chance of damaging the utilities during the process of uncovering them. The risk increases if the ground is rocky or frozen.

2. Precision work takes too long.

Backhoes can’t be used if you need precise results, even if the operator has years of experience. Hand digging tools like shovels offer more control. But this switch comes at a high cost in terms of man hours and your overall schedule. Hand digging is inefficient, especially if it has to be done carefully.

3. Electrical cables are too hazardous.

Electrical cables are one of the most dangerous work site hazards. While pipes and other cables are just as liable to break, exposing live wires is dangerous for everyone nearby. This can lead to direct liability suits. Even the indirect consequences are too hazardous, such as an injury claim from workers who were suddenly left without light or power. Whether you’re using a hand tool or a mechanical vehicle, digging will eventually result in electrical dangers.

Hydrovacs and other vacuuming excavation tools are a much safer alternative, and they keep you on schedule. Go to 4 Warriors Hydro Excavating to learn more.

What Is Potholing and Which Technique Is Best?

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Excavating can be challenging and, quite literally, dirty work. Before a crew can begin construction, they have to know exactly where to excavate in the first place. Even this comes with risks, as striking in the wrong spot could result in disaster for the workers and for the surroundings. Fortunately, there’s one technique that makes this a far safer task.

What Is Potholing and Which Technique Is Best?

An Introduction to Potholing

Using a process called potholing, crews are able to locate underground utility lines not only much more quickly but more accurately as well. This is done by excavating holes (generally 12 inches deep) to confirm the location, depth, and type of the line before beginning construction. Under previous methods such as using charts, there was a much greater chance of digging in the wrong location. More than simply wasting time and energy, excavating incorrectly could lead to danger. Power or utility lines might be struck, leading to outages and electrical harm to the workers.

Potholing Techniques

There are several potholing techniques available, although each has its drawbacks. Digging with manual tools is usually accurate enough, but is exhausting and can take far too much time. Digging with a backhoe is faster, but is also cumbersome and creates a greater risk of exposure and environmental damage. Eventually, vacuum excavation came along and made significant improvements. It used pressurized air to destroy dirt and rock and clear the way. The debris was then vacuumed onto a truck and used for backfilling.

Why Hydro Excavation Is the Way to Go

Vacuuming excavation has been a boon, but we now have an even better method! It works in much the same way as the vacuum technique but possesses additional benefits. The key difference is that water is used to clear the dirt rather than air. Because of this small yet ingenious change, the results are more accurate and cost-effective. Not only that, it works with most soil types and minimizes environmental damage and employee risk even further.

When excavation needs to be done, 4 Warriors has the knowledge and skills to make it happen! Our highly-trained has been operating for more than six years, working on some of Texas’s biggest projects. Feel free to contact us anytime. We are ready to assist you on any and all of your needs.

The Importance of Safe Trenching

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Trenching is an important aspect of excavation yet it is also dangerous. That’s why when you’re looking for an excavation service, you need the trained crew of 4 Warriors. They know how to implement trenching quickly, effectively, and safely. The Importance of Safe Trenching

What Trenching Is and Why It’s Risky

First, let’s go over what exactly constitutes trenching. As stated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, trenching is removing large quantities of earth to form (often wide and deep) trenches in the ground. As you can imagine, it ends up being a big part of excavation in general.

What makes it so dangerous is the fact that trench-related accidents account for hundreds of construction injuries every year. It’s not difficult to see why, either. If a worker is in a trench when it collapses, they are at risk of serious injury or even death. These deaths are preventable and we take it as our Christian duty to do whatever it takes to guard our fellow man.

How 4 Warriors Gets It Right

We are sure to practice safety measures as outlined by OSHA, to ensure maximum safety for our workers and timely completion of the work. We do not operate in unsafe trenches and take proper steps to prevent accidents in the first place. When trenches deeper than five feet are built they are given a general protective system. For trenches below 20 feet, an engineer is required to build a custom safety system.

For optimal safety, take numerous other considerations into account, such as:

  • Inspecting trenches daily and check for dangerous fumes before beginning work, as well as after rainfall and other disruptive weather
  • Digging the trench wall at an angle and reinforcing it to reduce cave-ins
  • Keeping work material at least two feet from the edge of the trench and heavy equipment even further away as necessary

These are merely some of the practices 4 Warriors Hydro Excavating’s highly experienced team uses to guarantee a safe and efficient job done. For assistance with your trenching needs, or anything else, feel free to contact us at any time. Thank you and God bless!

3 Reasons to Use a Hydrovac Service Instead of Doing It In-House

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Every industry is increasingly moving towards specialization, and that’s just as true for construction and repairs. It’s impossible to be an expert at everything going on at your construction site. Even general contractors who are licensed in all of the specialized tasks don’t handle them personally; they assign the work to specialists dedicated to each type of work. Whether you have a large commercial construction site or you’re adding on to a suburban neighborhood, hire an expert team of trained excavators instead of employees. Here’s why:3 Reasons to Use a Hydrovac Service Instead of Doing It In-House

Good excavation work requires a lot of certifications and training.

You don’t want just anyone to be digging up the utility and sewer lines on the property. The smallest mistake can cause delays and delays mean you’re losing money. While you can train, or pay for the training, for an internal employee or two, there’s a large opportunity cost that comes with it. Your company is also held responsible for any damages. Instead, hire a trained service that handles the excavation and the liability.

Employees are expensive, especially if they’re specialized.

Many businesses are turning to third-parties and contractors for specific tasks. Part of that is because specialized experts are a better resource. But it’s also because employees are expensive: they bring tax implications, health insurance requirements, and salary costs. If you have a small construction company, hiring out often makes more business sense.

Don’t get tools you can’t use 24/7.

Hydrovacuum excavation uses a lot of tools that you can’t use for other tasks. While it makes sense for a company that focuses on excavation only to invest in the equipment, it’s not the same for construction companies and utility repair specialists.

At 4 Warrior Hydro Excavating, we have the tools and experience to get the job done so you can focus on your whole site. Contact us here to get started.

2 Reasons to Use a Vacuum Truck to Locate Utility Lines

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Hydrovacuuming is the go-to procedure for daylighting and potholing. Here are three reasons to turn to it for line locating, too:

2 Reasons to Use a Vacuum Truck to Locate Utility Lines

1. The records will be accurate.

Even modern-day records aren’t going to accurately place utility lines. There are few standardized bodies of records, and most markings allow for a certain margin of inaccuracy. Even worse, maps and records may not fully account for repairs, improvements, and additions since the utilities were initially laid out. Also, because different entities are laying cable lines, fiber optics, and more, you need a direct line of sight to know what’s really under the ground.

2. Don’t rip and repair.

Mechanical digging with backhoes and sharp tools used to be the only way to locate and unearth utility lines. The practice came with the expectation that things would get broken along the way, but that slowed down business and was dangerous for everyone involved. If ‘rip and repair’ used to be part of your company’s standard operating procedure but you’re looking for alternatives, hire a service to see how fast, safe, and damage-free the process is.

When you need lines located on your construction site, hydrovacuuming helps you find them without delays. Even better, the process puts the dirt back with minimal disruption. Go to 4 Warriors Hydro Excavating to get started.

What You Need to Know About Day Lighting

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In construction, there’s always room for improvement, especially when it comes to the safety of not only the materials but the workers themselves. Today, we will be looking at advancements that have been in day lighting.

What You Need to Know About Day Lighting

Just What Is It, Anyway?

The term day lighting refers to the practice of bringing daylight to utility lines. Since they are buried underground, we are unable to monitor or inspect them for sometimes years. Thus they need to be brought to the surface. Doing so allows workers to accomplish a number of things, such as letting them verify where the lines are and what their precise depth is. This is necessary to avoid interfering with them when doing construction or maintenance nearby. Not only that, it allows them to inspect for cracks and other signs of damage, and to repair them accordingly.

Day Lighting in the Past

In the past, workers would have to use basic tools to dig them out manually. It was slow work, costly, and put the digger at potential risk if they cut into the utility line directly. Even using machinery didn’t solve all these problems. Backhoes and other vehicles still took considerable time to operate. Plus, on rare occasions, they would make mistakes such as leaving areas without cell phone access or even electricity (and that’s not even getting into the huge cost of repairs)! It was an imperfect system but for a long time, there was simply no alternative.

The Power of Hydro Extraction

Fortunately, the revolutionary hydro extraction technique has made day lighting a safer and speedier task. This new process directs pressurized water to dig small holes in the soil until the utility lines are exposed. A vacuum removes the debris created by the process and stores it in a tank so that it doesn’t build up and make a mess. The holes created are very precise so that damage to the immediate area is greatly reduced. Workers are then allowed to expose the lines in a controlled setting. Not only that, as it only requires a small crew to operate and will save even more money over the long term in repairs.

4 Warriors Hydro Excavating’s highly experienced team can assist you will all your day lighting needs. Feel free to contact us at any time. Thank you!

3 Soil Problems Vacuum Excavation Can Solve

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What’s beneath the surface of your construction site is just as important as what already exists above the ground. If you need excavation, choose an option that takes soil type into consideration because:

3 Soil Problems Vacuum Excavation Can Solve

1. Clay dirt is where you need good excavation the most.

The type of soil you’re building on decides a lot of the infrastructure, and this is even truer when it comes to the plumbing. If you’re breaking ground in an undeveloped area or unincorporated land that’s under loose county control, there’s probably established sewage connections nearby.

But septic systems don’t work when there’s clay soil and not enough drainage. Most areas actively prohibit construction if there’s a failed percolation test, so the only way to develop the land is to extend the closest lines. Vacuum excavation can help you find them and efficiently start laying down new ones.

2. Mechanical excavation is bad news in the winter.

Frozen dirt is hard to work with. Even if a mechanical excavation tool can break into the ground, it’s going to do a lot of damage with every swing. Use hydro vacuum or vacuum excavation instead. It can lose loosen icy soil and keep the existing utilities much safer. Damaging those lines is going to be even costlier in the winter because repairs will take more time.

3. You can worry less about cleanup.

Excavation always seems to leave behind too much dirt. It expands once it’s dug out of the ground, especially if it’s dug out or turned into a slurry. Vacuum excavation keeps the excess to a minimum. Because it’s also more precise, there’s less dirt to worry about. Even if your construction site is packed, you can keep things moving along with less lost space.

Go to 4 Warriors Hydro Excavating here to schedule an appointment or get a quote.

3 Benefits of Hiring a Vacuum Excavator for Your Next Project

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Managing a construction site is all about finding the best solutions for constantly changing problems. A change order might mean in-progress building needs to be slightly bigger. Surprise notices from the county or city might mean you need to add more to the utility lines. Sometimes, those existing utility lines might not have been completely marked in the first place. No matter what the problem is, hiring a vacuum excavator on your next project just might be your best solution.

3 Benefits of Hiring a Vacuum Excavator for Your Next Project

1. You can use the moved dirt as back fill without worrying about slurry.

Excess dirt has to go somewhere. If it’s contaminated, that becomes more expensive quickly. The best way to make sure you don’t have to deal with the problem of removing excess soil is to make sure the material can be used as backfill. Slurry from water-based excavation can expand the volume of the dirt and leave you with a problem. Vacuum excavation makes sure that doesn’t happen.

2. Control excess weight on your construction site.

Water is heavy. So are traditional, mechanical excavation tools. If you’re working in an area that has weight constraints either because of the active construction or because of the nature of the premises, you need something lightweight.

3. You don’t have to shut down because of damage delays.

Mechanical excavation is dangerous for your timeline. With the wrong tools, it’s far too easy to break pipes or snap power connections. Vacuum excavations are gentler on the utilities you need to have exposed. This means you have a lower risk of delays from fixing the damage and your worksite stays safer.

4 Warriors Hydro Excavating won’t just give you the right tools. Our services include trained professionals who can get the job done while you continue building. Contact us here to get started.

Why You Should Hire a Hydrovac Service Instead of Renting Equipment

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Construction sites can be dangerous places, but they’re also pretty crowded. If you have a lot of people onsite or narrow working areas, it can be tempting to rent equipment and have contractors already at the site do the work. But when you need to excavate utilities, the equipment is only half of the total package. Make sure you hire experienced professionals who can work efficiently while delivering safety.

Why You Should Hire a Hydrovac Service Instead of Renting Equipment

Safe processes matter with hydrovac excavation.

Water and electricity don’t mix, but that’s precisely what hydrovac services involve: using a precise measure of pressurized air and water to unearth utility lines. The slightest deviation from recommended handling or aim can be disastrous, especially if your team is unfamiliar with handling the equipment. But a trained service can:

Excavate the required lines without disturbing adjacent zones.

Experienced excavators know how to interpret all of the ground markings at a glance to avoid disaster. They can predict difficult areas and devise alternative routes for excavation that don’t slow down work at the site or damage the infrastructure. They can also respond faster to unexpected hazards.

Minimize everyone’s liability.

Professionals don’t just keep themselves and the site safe while they work. We can establish safety perimeters that keep other workers and site visitors away from the excavation hole, unearthed power lines, and active equipment. We also have the safety equipment to keep the worksite compliant with OSHA standards.

Hiring the work out to professionals also limits your own liability. While you or the general contractor maintain management of the site, professional excavators assume clearly delineated responsibilities.

Respond to environmental surprises.

Even if the best markings and site preparation, excavation takes a bit of revision. Trained excavators can adjust the water’s pressure according to different layers in the soil. They can also power down the psi at the first sign of incorrectly placed power cables.

Go to 4 Warriors Hydro Excavating here to learn more about our services and safety record.

2 Reasons to Use Hydrovac Excavation on Your Next Project

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Handling every element of a construction site is next to impossible, especially if you’re working with third-party services and contractors. That’s why it’s important to look into the companies, services, and specific risks so you can control as much of your site as possible. If you need excavation services, but you’re not sure which technique is best for the site and project, hydro excavation is almost always the optimal choice. Here’s why:

2 Reasons to Use Hydrovac Excavation on Your Next Project

Hydro excavation is safe.

Reducing workplace accidents and minimizing disruption to the worksite area are two constant concerns in every project. When it comes to excavation, the risk of damage to the utility lines you both need to build off of and use for the course of the project is high. Traditional excavation uses sharp tools and a lot of pressure in the course of shifting the dirt and revealing the underlying lines. These methods increase the risk of disruption, damaged lines, and delays, which increases the risk of safety issues while making up for lost time later. But hydro excavation uses water pressure to shift soil aside. The pressure can be modified based on the soil type and the projected location of the infrastructure so accidental damage is limited. Because the truck isn’t directly involved in picking up the dirt and setting it aside, the trucks can also be parked a safe distance away. This better allows for routine traffic and minimal disruption to adjacent projects.

The surrounding area isn’t covered in dirt.

Traditional excavation methods often involved piling the removed dirt to the side. If the construction is in a highly developed area or against the road, altering that process can lead to additional expenses. But hydro excavation collects the dirt and water in a tank. The adjacent area is not dirtied or disrupted. Once the excavation is complete the soil can be transferred to a safe location.

To see how else hydro excavation can help your site, call 4 Warriors Hydro Excavation.