Hydrovac vs. Traditional Catch Basin Cleaning: Which Is Better?

When it comes to catch basin cleaning, property managers face a choice: traditional vacuum truck service or modern hydrovac technology. Both methods have their place, but understanding the differences helps you choose the right solution for your property.

Traditional Vacuum Truck Cleaning

Traditional cleaning uses a powerful vacuum to suction debris, sediment, and water out of catch basins. It works well for routine maintenance of basins with typical buildup. It is cost-effective, fast, and widely available across the GTA.

Hydrovac Cleaning

Hydrovac combines high-pressure water jetting with vacuum extraction. The water breaks up compacted debris, hardened oil deposits, and pipe blockages, while the vacuum removes everything simultaneously. It is more thorough than vacuum-only service and works in frozen conditions with heated water.

Which Should You Choose?

For routine maintenance on basins that are cleaned regularly, traditional vacuum service is usually sufficient and cost-effective. For neglected basins, heavy oil buildup, pipe blockages, or basins that have not been cleaned in over a year, hydrovac is the better choice.

At MT Catch Basin, our trucks are equipped for both methods. We assess each basin and use the approach that delivers the best result — often combining both techniques in a single visit.