Glossary

Hydrovac

What is Hydrovac?

Hydrovac is short for hydro excavation, a digging method (and the truck or trailer that performs it) that uses pressurized water to loosen soil and a vacuum to remove it, exposing utilities without damage.

The term hydrovac refers both to the process of hydro excavation and to the equipment that performs it, such as a hydrovac truck or hydrovac trailer. Water breaks the ground into slurry and a positive displacement or fan blower pulls that slurry through a dig tube into the debris body.

Hydrovac is the go-to approach for safe digging near live utilities, precise potholing, and daylighting. Specs vary by unit, including debris capacity in cubic yards, water capacity in gallons, vacuum power in CFM, and boom reach in feet. Browse and request hydrovac equipment for rent on Vac4Rent, where rental companies reply directly and Vac4Rent charges no commission.