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A clogged vacuum truck is a problem that no owner wants to encounter, one that happens all too often. Clogged pumps are a serious concern since any blockage could surely cause significant damage to the pump, which is the main working part of the whole suctioning system. The best way to avoid this is to conduct regular maintenance so that everything, including the primary and secondary ball traps, are checked since malfunction of these parts is many times the cause of pump clogging. Shutoff Valves and Pump Failure Both the primary and secondary shutoff valves are ball valves with the sole purpose of blocking the passage of liquid and material once a vacuum truck's tank is full. The primary shutoff has a wire cage that houses a 6-inch, stainless steel ball that acts as a stopper when the level of material in the tank rises enough to push it into place. The secondary shutoff is built in much the same way but with an added trap for materials that catches anything that may have gotten past the primary one. In order for the secondary trap to work efficiently, the primary has to be working as well. Both of these devices work together to keep any material from getting through to the pump itself. Fluid and solid waste in the pump would mean a pump disaster, either from clogs or causing other damage such as sticking or broken internal parts. Damaged Valves Mean Damaged Pumps Since the secondary trap catches what small amounts of fluid and material may have gotten past the primary shutoff, if the primary is not functioning that would leave the secondary one as the main defense keeping the pump free from contamination. If the traps do not work properly, there is nothing to catch what could get past the secondary trap which means fluid and material can end up in the pump. The main problem that is common with primary shutoff valves is when the wire cage that holds the ball in place or the interior parts of the valve have corroded, preventing proper functioning. What then happens is that the stainless steel ball falls out of the cage and can later be found on the floor of the tank itself, doing absolutely no good. Once the ball is no longer present to block off the primary, that shutoff cannot do anything to prevent the passage of material on to the secondary and even into the pump. Maintaining Shutoff Valves is Critical In order to prevent premature failure of the primary shutoff, it is necessary to open the lid on the primary at least once a month and inspect it. Some surface rust is normal; however, excessive corrosion means a breakdown is going to happen. The wire cage should also be cleaned at this time so that the ball can move freely within it. Since someone has to actually climb up to the top of the tank in order to do such a check, it is often forgotten. This is harmful to the workings of the pump because an unchecked main shutoff can eventually fail. The secondary shutoff and trap should be emptied daily after the truck is used to prevent pump damage. Fluid sitting in the secondary for long periods of time can add to corrosion of the primary. The best prevention is being sure that emptying the secondary trap is part of every end of day routine. In cold weather, fluid in the secondary trap can freeze overnight; it may seem at first that there is nothing in the trap; however, it will defrost and the fluid will just remain there. Without properly working shutoff valves, the operation of vacuum trucks is at risk of clogged pumps and potentially other more serious damage to the pumps as well. Regular inspection of the primary shutoff and daily emptying of the secondary shutoff should be mandatory to extend the life of vacuum trucks to avoid clogging stopping their important functioning! Christopher M. Hunter is an expert in commercial specialty trucks. To find out more about a Vacuum Truck, go to the main website at:http://www.vacuumtrucksales.net.
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