Many gutter vacuums on the market are either quick sprinters or strong weightlifters, it’s rare that you’ll get a machine that can do both. But why is that?
Airflow and water lift are the two elements that come into play when it comes to developing a vacuum. Very few gutter vacuums have the capacity to deliver both high airflow and water lift at the same time.
Understanding the balance between airflow and water lift in a gutter vacuum.
When shopping for a gutter vacuum, you’ve likely noticed that most models excel in either speed or strength—but rarely both. This observation begs the question: why can’t more vacuums deliver both high-speed airflow and powerful suction in one package?
The answer lies in the balance between two critical components: airflow and water lift. Both are crucial in determining the effectiveness of a vacuum, but optimizing one often comes at the expense of the other. Let’s explore why this balance is so difficult to achieve and why it’s essential for high-performance vacuums, especially those used for specialised tasks like gutter cleaning.
What is airflow and why does it matter when choosing a gutter vacuum?
Airflow is the force that transfers light debris through the poles; the quicker the airflow, the quicker the transfer. It refers to the volume of air a gutter vacuum can move through its system in a given time. High airflow is crucial for swiftly transporting lighter debris like leaves, dust, and dirt. The faster the airflow, the quicker the transfer of these materials into the vacuum, which is why vacuums with high LPM (litres per minute) are excellent.
Understanding water lift
Water lift is the force that holds an object at the end of the poles; the higher the inch lift, the heavier the object can be lifted. Typically measured in inches of lift, water lift gauges a gutter vacuum’s ability to lift heavier objects or pull debris from deeper surfaces. It’s a measure of the suction force—the higher the lift, the more powerful the suction. This is essential for tasks that require removing stubborn, wet, or dense materials, such as sludge, gravel, or wet leaves from gutters.
Gutters often contain a mix of light debris, like dry leaves, and heavier obstructions, such as wet sludge or compacted dirt. A vacuum that can’t balance airflow and water lift will either struggle to clear the gutters quickly or fail to remove the heavier blockages entirely. Our gutter vacs are the exception, each is individually engineered to deliver both maximum airflow and water lift.
Achieving a balance between airflow and water lift is a rare feat. Most machines lean towards being either quick sprinters or strong weightlifters, leaving a gap for a truly versatile solution. skyVac gutter vacs fill this gap with exceptional engineering and innovation, offering a unique combination of high airflow and powerful water lift.
