Hydrovac Excavation Services in Columbus & Central Ohio
Hydro excavation and hydrovac excavation for utility potholing, utility daylighting, trenching, HDD support and safe utility exposure across Columbus and Ohio. Powered by American Boring with 30+ years of underground experience.
Daylighting & Potholing
Expose buried utilities without risk of strike.

Slot Trenching
Narrow 4–18" non-destructive trenches for conduit, cable and pipe.
Sewer & Waterline Excavation
Non-destructive exposure for buried water and sewer lines.

Pole Holes
Clean, precise pole-hole excavation for utilities and signage.

General Excavation
Non-destructive digging for any jobsite need.

HDD Support
Entry/exit pits, mud handling & utility spotting for directional drilling.
Remote-Hose Excavation
Reach tight access areas the truck can't.

Debris Removal & Spoils Haul-Off
12 yd³ debris tanks + high-CFM vacuum slurry haul-off.
Electrical Substation Excavation & Trenching
Safe, precise digging inside live substations.

Cold-Weather Excavation
Cut through frozen ground all winter.
Service Breakdown
The full technical detail behind each capability.
Daylighting & Potholing
We use pressurized water to precisely expose underground utilities — gas, electric, fiber, water — so crews can verify depth and location before any mechanical digging begins. Non-destructive, OSHA-compliant, and fast.
Slot Trenching
Hydrovac slot trenching carves precise, narrow trenches — from 4 inches up to 18 inches wide and down to 12 feet deep — through Ohio clay, compacted fill, rocky soil and frozen ground without damaging adjacent utilities. Pressurized water (up to 3,000 PSI) cuts the soil while the high-flow vacuum (up to 5,000 CFM) simultaneously evacuates the slurry, so the cut stays clean, plumb and minimal-width. The result is far less backfill, smaller surface disturbance, and zero risk of mechanical strike on buried gas, electric, fiber or water lines. Ideal for conduit and cable runs, small-diameter pipe installation, cross-road utility trenches, and under-bore verification slots where a clean, OSHA-compliant cut keeps the schedule — and the surrounding infrastructure — intact.
Sewer & Waterline Excavation
We safely expose buried sewer and water lines for repair, replacement, and new installation — using pressurized water and vacuum to clear soil without striking the very utilities we're working around. Reduces shut-downs and keeps municipal and residential systems running.
Pole Holes
We dig pole holes for utility poles, lighting, signage, and traffic signals — even in tight ROWs and frozen ground. Hydrovac excavation keeps the bore plumb and clean, avoids adjacent utilities, and leaves a ready-to-set hole with minimal surface disturbance.
General Excavation
From foundation potholing to spot excavation and site clearance, our hydrovac trucks handle general digging tasks with surgical precision — no mechanical strikes, no shattered utilities, and a clean spoils haul-off that leaves your site ready to work.
HDD Support
We support horizontal directional drilling crews by excavating clean entry and exit pits, managing drilling mud and slurry, and spotting existing utilities along the bore path so your drill stays on track and strike-free.
Remote-Hose Excavation
When the truck can't get close, our remote-hose systems extend up to hundreds of feet to excavate inside buildings, around equipment, and in confined spaces — keeping your site productive and safe.
Debris Removal & Spoils Haul-Off
Our hydrovac trucks carry 12-cubic-yard debris tanks and 1,200–1,500 gallon water systems, so a single truck can excavate, collect and haul excavated soil, drilling mud and slurry off-site in one trip — no separate vacuum truck or disposal run required. The high-flow vacuum (up to 5,000 CFM) pulls wet spoils and slurry directly from the cut into the sealed debris tank, keeping the work area clean and eliminating double-handling. We handle full clean-up, EPA-compliant disposal of non-hazardous spoils and drilling mud, and final site restoration so you're left with a ready-to-work jobsite. Ideal for HDD mud management, utility excavation spoils, catch-basin clean-outs and post-excavation site cleanup across Columbus and Central Ohio.
Electrical Substation Excavation & Trenching
We excavate and trench inside active electrical substations using pressurized water and vacuum — exposing conduit, cable trenches, and grid components without risk of mechanical strike on energized equipment. Non-destructive, controlled, and fully compliant with substation access protocols.
Cold-Weather Excavation
Heated water systems let us hydrovac through frozen Ohio ground when traditional digging is impossible. We keep your project on schedule through the coldest months without sacrificing precision or safety.
Explore Each Service
Detailed pages for every hydrovac capability we offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers on safety, response times, and how we run a hydrovac job.
Need a specific service?
Tell us about your jobsite and we'll match the right truck and crew.