Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
What services does PKX provide?
PKX provides hydro excavation, pneumatic excavation, pipeline jetting, and camera inspection services for construction, utility, industrial, municipal, energy, and infrastructure projects. Our services help customers safely expose underground utilities, maintain critical pipeline systems, diagnose underground issues, and complete projects with reduced risk and disruption.
What industries does PKX serve?
PKX supports a wide range of industries including construction, utilities, municipalities, telecommunications, transportation, industrial facilities, oil and gas operations, data center construction, and disaster response projects.
What areas does PKX service?
PKX provides services throughout Ohio and surrounding regions, with the ability to support large-scale infrastructure, industrial, and emergency response projects across a broader geographic area depending on project requirements.
Service Questions
Please select your service of interest.
What is hydro excavation?
Hydro excavation is a non-destructive digging method that uses pressurized water and a powerful vacuum system to safely remove soil and expose underground utilities.
Why choose hydro excavation over traditional excavation?
Hydro excavation offers greater precision, improved safety, reduced utility damage risk, less surface disruption, and lower restoration costs compared to traditional mechanical excavation methods.
Is hydro excavation safer than mechanical digging?
Yes. Unlike traditional excavation methods that use heavy equipment and metal buckets, hydro excavation uses pressurized water and vacuum technology to safely expose underground utilities with significantly less risk of damage.
Can hydro excavation prevent utility strikes?
Hydro excavation is one of the safest methods available for locating and exposing underground utilities.
Can hydro excavation be used around energized utilities?
Yes. Hydro excavation is widely used around electric, gas, communications, and other underground utilities because it minimizes the risk of damage associated with mechanical excavation.
What industries use hydro excavation?
Hydro excavation is commonly used by utility contractors, municipalities, construction companies, telecommunications providers, industrial facilities, transportation agencies, and energy companies.
How deep can hydro excavation dig?
PKX hydro excavation equipment is capable of reaching digging depths of up to 35 feet.
Does hydro excavation reduce restoration costs?
Yes. Hydro excavation removes only the material necessary to expose underground infrastructure, reducing restoration requirements and downtime.
What is daylighting in hydro excavation?
Daylighting is the process of safely exposing underground utilities to visually confirm their location before construction or excavation begins.
What is potholing?
Potholing is the process of exposing a small section of underground infrastructure to verify its location, depth, and condition before excavation or construction activities begin.
Can hydro excavation be used in frozen ground?
Yes. PKX's hydro excavation equipment utilizes heated water systems designed to efficiently excavate frozen ground conditions.
What is pneumatic excavation?
Pneumatic excavation uses compressed air and vacuum technology to loosen and remove soil while protecting underground utilities and infrastructure.
What is the difference between pneumatic excavation and hydro excavation?
Hydro excavation uses water while pneumatic excavation uses compressed air. Pneumatic excavation is often preferred when dry excavation methods are desired.
When should pneumatic excavation be used?
Pneumatic excavation is commonly used for utility locating, potholing, trenching, and remote digging.
Can pneumatic excavation be used around underground utilities?
Yes. Pneumatic excavation is specifically designed to safely expose underground infrastructure.
Can pneumatic excavation be used in frozen ground?
Yes. PKX's hydro-pneumatic excavation equipment utilizes high-output heating systems that help crews excavate frozen ground efficiently.
What is pipeline jetting?
Pipeline jetting uses high-pressure water to remove debris, grease, sediment, roots, and other obstructions from pipelines and sewer systems.
When should jetting services be used?
Jetting services are commonly used when pipelines experience blockages, reduced flow capacity, or recurring maintenance issues.
What types of pipelines can be cleaned with jetting?
Pipeline jetting can be used on sanitary sewer systems, stormwater systems, industrial process lines, municipal collection systems, and other underground piping networks.
What types of blockages can jetting remove?
Pipeline jetting can remove grease buildup, sediment, sludge, roots, debris, and other materials that restrict flow.
What is the difference between jetting and snaking?
Snaking creates a path through a blockage, while jetting thoroughly cleans the interior walls of a pipe.
Is pipeline jetting safe for pipes?
When performed by trained professionals using proper equipment and pressure settings, pipeline jetting is a safe and effective cleaning method.
Can jetting be used for preventive maintenance?
Yes. Many organizations use jetting as part of a proactive maintenance program.
How often should pipelines be jetted?
The ideal frequency depends on pipe condition, usage, and operating environment. Many organizations incorporate routine jetting into preventive maintenance programs to help reduce emergency service calls and system disruptions.
What is a CCTV pipeline inspection?
A CCTV pipeline inspection uses specialized high-definition cameras to inspect the interior condition of pipelines, sewer systems, storm lines, and underground infrastructure without excavation.
What does camera inspection detect?
Camera inspections can identify cracks, blockages, root intrusion, pipe deterioration, offset joints, collapsed sections, infiltration, corrosion, and other underground infrastructure issues.
When should underground lines be camera inspected?
Camera inspections are often performed before construction projects, after recurring drainage issues, during asset condition assessments, before rehabilitation projects, and whenever underground infrastructure conditions need to be verified.
Can camera inspections be used for sewer lines?
Yes. Camera inspections are commonly used to evaluate sanitary sewer systems, stormwater infrastructure, utility lines, industrial pipelines, and other underground assets.
Can camera inspections locate pipe damage?
Yes. High-resolution camera systems allow operators to identify and document cracks, fractures, joint separation, root intrusion, pipe deformation, collapsed sections, and other structural defects within underground infrastructure.
How accurate are camera inspections?
PKX utilizes high-resolution 360-degree pan-and-tilt camera technology, laser measurement systems, and digital reporting tools to provide highly detailed inspection data.
What types of pipelines can be inspected?
PKX can inspect sanitary sewer lines, stormwater systems, utility conduits, industrial pipelines, and municipal collection systems.
How far can a camera inspection reach?
PKX camera inspection equipment is capable of inspecting pipelines up to 900 feet in length.
Can camera inspections help plan repairs?
Yes. Camera inspections provide detailed information about pipe condition, defect locations, and system performance, allowing owners and contractors to make informed repair, rehabilitation, and replacement decisions.
What happens after a camera inspection is completed?
Customers receive digital reporting, video documentation, and condition assessments to guide repair and maintenance decisions.
Industry Questions
How does PKX support construction projects?
PKX helps construction teams safely locate underground utilities and reduce excavation-related risks.
How does PKX support utility contractors?
PKX helps utility contractors safely expose underground infrastructure, verify utility locations, perform daylighting operations, and reduce the risk of utility strikes during construction and maintenance projects.
How does PKX support municipalities?
PKX assists municipalities with pipeline inspection, jetting, utility locating, infrastructure maintenance, and emergency response efforts that help maintain critical public infrastructure.
How does PKX support industrial facilities?
PKX provides excavation, pipeline maintenance, and inspection services that help facilities reduce downtime and maintain infrastructure.
How does PKX support oil and gas operations?
PKX supports oil and gas projects through utility exposure, pipeline cleaning, inspection, potholing, and trenching.
How does PKX support data center construction?
PKX helps contractors safely expose underground utilities and reduce the risk of infrastructure damage during construction.
Can PKX support large-scale infrastructure projects?
Yes. PKX supports transportation, utility, industrial, municipal, and energy projects requiring safe excavation, pipeline maintenance, and underground infrastructure assessment services.
Can PKX support emergency response projects?
Yes. PKX can support emergency utility repairs, infrastructure restoration, and storm recovery efforts.
