The team at Elgin Sweeper wanted to remind contractors that the size of your sweeper’s hopper influences productivity. This is true not only for municipalities conducting street sweeping, but also for contractors preparing a surface ahead of paving, sealcoating, striping or what have you.
If you’re on the clock to prepare a surface for chip sealing, the last thing you want is to discover the street sweeper’s hopper is full of detritus and you can pick up no more. Do you have a broom and blower on standby? Maybe the wiser option is to have equipment that meets your needs.
Here are a few things Elgin recommends you consider when determining hopper function and capacity needs.
-
Street size. For narrow downtown areas, a small hopper might be necessary to maneuver down narrow roads. For larger highways, regenerative air sweepers and pure vacuum sweepers feature large hoppers that reduce the need for frequent dumping.
-
Seasonal changes. Street sweeping needs vary from season to season. Fall brings in an abundance of leaves while snow melt, sand and debris make spring a busy time, too. Consider the amount of debris the sweeper will encounter.
-
Distance to dump sites. Once the hopper is at capacity, it cannot hold more debris. Longer distances between designated dump sites may require a larger hopper. Be aware of where debris can be dumped.
-
Weight of debris. Heavier debris, like wet leaves and large sticks and branches, may require a larger hopper. Frequent storms and rainfall are factors to consider in areas with heavier debris.
Having the proper size hopper prevents debris from taking over—keeping municipalities clear year-round—and helps contractors prepare the surface for successful and timely project delivery.