Two dominant vehicle types work in sewer networks: the vacuum truck and the combined sewer cleaning (jet-vac) truck. Below we compare how they work, their strengths, and when each makes sense.
What is a vacuum truck?
A vacuum truck uses a vacuum pump to suction sewage, septic waste and industrial liquids into a single tank. Core elements:
- Vacuum pump: liquid ring (~7,000–9,000 m³/h) or dry type.
- Single tank for all collected waste.
- Discharge: hydraulic or pneumatic tipping.
It only suctions — it does not jet out hard blockages.
What is a sewer cleaning truck?
A combined unit adds high-pressure jetting (often 100–250 bar) to break up obstructions, then vacuums the debris. Typical equipment:
- High-pressure pump: 100–250 bar, 150–425 L/min.
- Vacuum pump: ~4,100–9,000 m³/h.
- Dual tanks: clean water and debris.
- Hose reels: main (~120 m) and auxiliary (~60 m).
Key differences
| Feature | Vacuum truck | Combined sewer cleaner |
|---|---|---|
| Clearing blockages | No | Yes — high-pressure jet |
| Waste suction | Yes | Yes |
| Tank layout | Single | Clean + debris |
| Pipe wall cleaning | No | Yes |
| Typical use | Septic, liquid waste | Blocked sewers + cleaning |
| Cost | Lower | Higher (two systems) |
When to choose which
Prefer a vacuum truck
- Septic and liquid waste hauling.
- No need to break mineral/roots blockages.
- Budget-sensitive fleet.
Prefer a combined sewer cleaner
- Sand, gravel and grease blockages.
- Periodic wall cleaning and capacity restoration.
- Municipal sewer operations.
- One vehicle for jetting and removal.
One platform, two jobs
Combined trucks replace separate jetting and vacuum units for many utilities — saving fleet size and labour. Teknik Tanker builds 5–20 ton solutions. Contact our engineering team via the quote form.
