What is Daylighting and how is it Beneficial?

Daylighting, also known as Potholing, is the process in which underground pipes are exposed to daylight. The process is completed by using a hydrovac or a hydro excavation truck, compared to the past when workers used shovels to expose the pipes.

Hydrovac and Hydro Excavation Trucks

This equipment is used for Daylighting to make it easier and more time-efficient. In the past, workers would dig using their hands or handheld tools to access the pipes. This newer equipment uses a combination of pressure, air, and water to remove any debris surrounding the pipes. Soil and debris are sucked up through a thick hose and moved to a tank where it is eventually hauled away. The pressure and water work together so that there is no damage done to the pipes, and it takes much less time than traditional hand excavation methods.

Benefits of Daylighting

These new daylighting methods retire the old ones, eliminating many challenges presented when using the old techniques. This not only benefits the customers but also the companies that are hired to make the repairs. These daylighting methods can benefit by reducing the time it takes to get the job done, providing safety for the workers and those on-site, and decreasing the cost.

Time Efficiency

The hydrovac trucks can break up the dirt and remove it with ease. Therefore, daylighting is far better for excavation with this time-efficient method. This creates fewer problems for workers and customers. Normally, the task of hand digging to expose pipes could take days or even weeks.

Safety

Properly orchestrated hydrovac operations prevent problems like cutting fiber, electric, or gas lines that may run underground. Hitting a gas line is not only dangerous for the workers and people nearby, but can affect entire neighborhoods and towns.

Cost

Along with saving time, using these daylighting methods also saves money. The quicker excavation allows for increased productivity on the job. Though the daylighting truck seems expensive, hand digging can take a very long time to complete which may increase costs to be more than the price of the daylighting truck. Using the daylighting truck also creates a non-destructive method that allows the task to be done without damaging utilities.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, daylighting has strong benefits when it comes to saving time and money. Safety is also important, which is why hydro excavation can be an ultimate solution for digging and exposing sensitive underground utilities.

Contact EW Enterprises to find out more about how daylighting can be used on your next project. Call us at 817-221-8312.