The use of street sweepers has become more widespread as the technology has grown more efficient. After all, there are street surfaces everywhere, from city and municipal streets to airport runways, parking lots and more. If there’s significant paved surface area, then it’s likely it needs the services of a street sweeper.

Street sweepers actually predate automobiles, and when the automobile did become widely available in the early 1900s, street sweepers were already in regular use. They were initially pulled by horses, but with the invention of the automobile became more like the sweepers seen today.

Street sweepers can be as large as full size trucks or the size of a sidewalk machine. Larger trucks are more likely to be used on highways and other roads primarily frequented by motor vehicle traffic. There’s a lot of activity that goes into the power sweeping mechanism and that explains why the machines tend to be very loud.

There are two main types of power sweeping machines. One cleans street surfaces with large brushes, while the other cleans with air. The primary function of any street sweeping machine is the same, and that is to remove dirt from the road.

Conventional type sweepers spray water onto the surface of the street to keep dust from flying around. The spinning brushes then scrub soiled areas of the streets. The dirt is swept into a storage container beneath the truck with another brush. Sometimes a vacuum part does this instead.

A sweeping machine that uses air churns up dirt with a hydraulic system. It swirls the dirt to the center of the truck and the negative pressure then causes a vacuum, which carries the dirt into a storage container. Filters clean the air in the container and then reuse it to continue churning up dirt on the street. Water is also sprayed to stop dust from flying around.

Street sweepers provide a vital function in keeping paved surfaces clean and keeping harmful materials from getting into storm drains. Having a well-maintained property will give the customer, prospective buyer, inspector and the public, the message that you care about your environment. That appeal will give a long lasting impression that you are there to preserve our environment, not only now, but into the future as well.

Book with McRae’s Power Sweeping services to keep your business parking lots and streets safe, clean and attractive.