Drain Cleaning, Storm Water Maintenance and Vacuum Trucks
Before you hire a contractor to clean out your drain system or set up a maintenance schedule, there are some things you need to check first. Doing your homework up front could save you time and money in the long run. Read on to find out what questions to ask before choosing a professional contractor to do this kind of work.
1) Do they follow state and federal regulations?
If a contractor is hired to clean your catch basin and dispose of any waste, make sure that they follow the law. Believe it or not, many contractors still dispose of waste illegally. If material collected from your catch basin is classified as solid waste by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), it has to be disposed of according to the agency’s regulations and policies. If contaminated, potentially hazardous ,waste is collected, it will have to be examined and evaluated according to Hazardous Waste Regulations and treated as Hazardous Waste. If your contractor isn’t committed to caring for the environment, you could be liable for pollution of water and ground soil—not to mention the extra cost of having to clean up sloppy work!
2) Do they have a state-of-the-art vacuum truck?
They need to have a vacuum truck that has the ability to get in hard-to-reach places, such as underneath buildings, crawl spaces, roof tops, and any tight spaces inside buildings. At VacTone, our trucks can reach just about anything, with high-powered hoses that give us the capability to extract gravel from 150 feet away. Many jobs require that you have a truck to clear away the smallest debris from factories and other buildings. So make sure your contractor has the necessary capability to do a thorough job.
3) Can they perform hydro excavation?
Sometimes you need to remove a giant tree, or you want to redo the landscaping of your commercial property. Or maybe you’re thinking of adding an additional building. Hydro excavation is a much more precise process for this kind of work, and it is able to uncover any hidden damage or anything buried up to 30 feet below the ground. The process utilizes pressurized water to dig into the soil with special rotating nozzles. At VacTone, our machines are able to go safely around pipelines, cables and other underground utilities. This kind of work can be a bit tricky, so make sure your contractor has the necessary equipment to do the job safely.
4) Will they set up a regular maintenance schedule?
Cleaning out catch basins is important, but it shouldn’t be a one-time only effort. Your contractor should work with you to set up regular maintenance. If not, the catch basin will collect dirt, debris and other pollutants, which causes blockage and also pollution of the environment. This maintenance schedule shouldn’t be limited only to catch basins. It should also include stormceptors and other drainage systems you may have.
When working with a contractor, check that they have a good reputation for doing a thorough job, that they’re committed to protecting the environment, and that they have the necessary capability to do difficult tasks.
Visit our website to learn more about the services we provide at VacTone Environmental.
VacTone Environmental Services is your New England connection—serving Massachusetts, southern New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and northern to central Connecticut and Rhode Island.