Excavation & Repair Services
When a leak is found, you need safe access and a lasting repair — not a torn-up yard and three different contractors. Patton Leak Detection provides hydro excavation (hydrovac) to expose buried pipes with precision, then our Patton Plumbing team completes the full repair. One company, two divisions, end-to-end service across the Memphis metro.
What Is Hydro Excavation?
Hydro excavation — also called hydrovac or vacuum excavation — uses pressurized water to loosen soil and a powerful vacuum to remove the slurry into a debris tank. It’s a non-destructive digging method that exposes buried water lines, sewer lines, and utilities with far less risk than mechanical excavation.
Patton Leak Detection uses hydrovac as the bridge between precise leak detection and complete pipe repair. Patton Leak Detection and Patton Plumbing are the same operation — two divisions, one team.
Memphis and Shelby County are tough on buried infrastructure. Expansive Yazoo clay shifts with seasonal moisture, tree roots invade sewer laterals, and older neighborhoods pack water, sewer, gas, electric, and fiber into tight utility corridors. Hydro excavation lets our crews open a single, controlled access point at the exact repair location — even in saturated soil or tight backyards where a backhoe can’t reach.
Our Detect → Expose → Repair Process
Patton Leak Detection and Patton Plumbing work as one operation. We find the problem, expose it safely with hydrovac, and repair the line — without handing you off to outside excavation contractors.
Step 1: Leak Detection & Utility Locate
Our leak detection team pinpoints the failure using acoustic sensors, pressure testing, and line locating. We verify utility locations and coordinate 811 locates before any digging begins.
Step 2: Targeted Hydro Excavation
A hydrovac truck directs pressurized water at the marked location, loosening soil while the vacuum pulls slurry into a sealed debris tank. The result is a clean, precise excavation that exposes the damaged pipe without trenching across your lawn.
Step 3: Full Pipe Repair
Licensed Patton Plumbing technicians repair or replace the failed section — water service lines, sewer laterals, irrigation lines, and more. Because detection and excavation were precise, repair scope stays focused and restoration costs stay lower.
Step 4: Backfill, Test & Documentation
We pressure-test the repaired line, backfill the excavation, and provide documentation with photos and measurements — ready for insurance adjusters, property managers, or your records.
When You Need Hydro Excavation
Leak repair after detection — Once our team marks a leak location, hydrovac opens one precise access pit instead of exploratory trenching.
Water or sewer line replacement — Failed service lines, cracked laterals, and root-damaged sewer pipes in Memphis clay.
Slab or foundation-adjacent access — Keyhole excavations at slab edges or tight side yards where heavy equipment can’t reach.
Utility-dense areas — Older Memphis neighborhoods where mechanical digging poses a strike risk to gas, electric, water, and telecom.
Commercial & municipal work — Valve boxes, meter pits, fire lines, and stormwater structures that need daylighting.
Emergency leak response — Active leaks that can’t wait for multiple vendors — we detect, excavate, and repair under one schedule.
Insurance & documentation jobs — Controlled excavation with photo documentation for adjusters.
Why Choose Patton for Hydro Excavation
One company, full service — Patton Leak Detection and Patton Plumbing are the same operation. Detect, hydrovac, and repair without coordinating separate vendors.
Safer than mechanical digging — Hydrovac reduces the risk of damaging buried utilities compared to backhoes or hand digging in utility-dense soil.
Minimal property damage — Slurry is vacuumed into a debris tank, not piled across your lawn. One focused hole means less restoration than full trenching.
Licensed & insured — Backed by Patton Plumbing’s 20+ years serving the Mid-South and 1,350+ five-star reviews.
Complete repair — We don’t stop at exposure. Our plumbing division completes the line repair, tests the system, and documents the work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is hydro excavation and how is it different from traditional digging?
Hydro excavation uses pressurized water and a vacuum truck to remove soil as slurry. Unlike a backhoe or trencher, it exposes buried pipes and utilities with a smaller footprint and far less risk of striking adjacent lines.
Is hydro excavation safe around gas, electric, and water lines?
Yes — when performed by trained operators. We coordinate utility locates (811) before digging and use hydrovac because it’s widely recognized as a safer soft-dig method in utility-dense areas like older Memphis neighborhoods.
Does Patton handle detection, excavation, and repair?
Yes. Patton Leak Detection and Patton Plumbing are one company with two divisions. We can locate your leak, perform hydro excavation to expose the pipe, and complete the full line repair — one team, one schedule.
Will hydro excavation destroy my yard?
It’s far less destructive than mechanical trenching. We open a focused access area at the repair location and vacuum soil into a debris tank instead of piling spoil across your property.
How much does hydro excavation cost?
Pricing depends on depth, access, soil conditions, and repair scope. Contact us for a free estimate tailored to your property.
Can you work in tight backyards or near pools and patios?
Yes. Hydrovac trucks are ideal for sites where a mini-excavator can’t reach — side yards, fenced backyards, and areas near decks, pools, and retaining walls.
What areas do you serve?
Memphis, Germantown, Collierville, Bartlett, Arlington, Lakeland, Cordova, Millington, Olive Branch MS, Southaven MS, and West Memphis AR.
Safe Access. Complete Repair.
Don’t let a buried leak turn into a destroyed yard and a string of subcontractors. Call Patton Leak Detection for hydro excavation and full repair — from pinpoint detection to a tested, restored line.