Air Excavation | Efficient Air Vac Truck Services in Alberta & Western Canada
When precise, clean, and non-destructive excavation is required—choose air excavation from Infracon. Our specialized air vac truck technology delivers safe, streamlined digging with minimal environmental impact.
🚚 What is an Air Vac Truck?
An air vac truck uses high-pressure compressed air instead of water to loosen soil. A vacuum system then lifts dry debris into a tank, eliminating muddy spoils and significantly reducing cleanup and disposal hassles.
🌟 Key Advantages of Air Excavation
- Dry spoil management: Debris stays dry and can often be reused as backfill, eliminating disposal fees and transport.
- Operational efficiency: No need to refill water—job progress is about digging, not logistics.
- Silent and clean: About 20% quieter than hydrovac systems, and far cleaner to operate on site.
- Safe around utilities: Air is non-conductive and gentler on fragile underground systems like fibre optics or older infrastructure
🧰 Equipment & Specs
Our air vac trucks, built on a durable tri‑axle chassis, feature:
- 105 psi compressed air delivery for effective soft digging
- Capability to vacuum wet or dry material
- On‑board boiler and water system available for backup or hybrid use
- Large dump bucket with hydraulic side‑tilt for efficient spoil unloading on-site
🔍 When to Choose Air Excavation vs Hydrovac?
Scenario |
Choose Air Vac Truck |
Choose Hydrovac |
|---|---|---|
Loose dry soils |
✔️ Fast, dry spoil, reusable material | ❌ Slurry, disposal required |
Site with no water access |
✔️ Air system works independently | ❌ Needs refills, possible downtime |
Sensitive underground utilities |
✔️ Lower risk of damage and safe proximity work | ⚠️ Water pressure poses increased risks |
Tight or restricted job zones |
✔️ Compact footprint, quieter operation | ❌ Bulkier setup, noisy and wet |
Hydrovac is faster in dense or frozen soils, but when conditions allow, air vac offers unmatched cleanliness, control, and cost efficiencies.
Airvac vs Hydrovac: Real-World Excavation Test in Central Alberta
Watch as we put our Airvac head-to-head with a traditional hydrovac truck in a live excavation demo.
Filmed in Central Alberta, this test shows just how efficiently the Airvac handles tough material removal.
🚧 The Results Speak for Themselves:
-
Airvac: 6 cubic meters excavated in 41 minutes, 30 seconds
-
Hydrovac: 3 cubic meters excavated in 45 minutes
Not only did the Airvac excavate over twice the volume in less time—it also eliminated the need for off-site disposal by keeping all materials on site for backfilling.
▶️ Watch the full comparison now to see the difference in action!
🛠 Applications Ideal for Air Vac Trucks
- Small-scale utility potholing and line location
- Urban or landscaped environments requiring minimal disruption
- Projects that require immediate dry backfill and reusable spoils
- Sites with limited access where water supply is constrained
✅ Why Choose Infracon for Air Excavation?
Infracon offers a premier fleet of air vac and hydrovac trucks, leading the industry in Alberta and Western Canada.
- We maintain newer, well‑serviceable equipment to ensure job readiness.
- Our air vac units streamline onsite operations, reduce environmental impact, and cut cost where hydrovac may not be ideal