Know your sweeping options

Broom-assisted head
This option, meant for regenerative air sweepers, increases the transferability of the material being swept which increases pickup efficiency and sweeping speeds, according to Massey.

"The regenerative air sweeper uses an air blast to create transfer which in turn equates to a suction on the far side of the sweeping head," Massey says.

"When you get into heavier material, you've really got to slow down when you don't have any type of broom in your sweeping head and allow that material to be peeled from the roadway or blasted out of the cracks in the pavement in order to be transferred. With the broom, you're able to mechanically agitate that material and transfer it." Schwarze's broom-assisted head has a broom in the suction head but forward of the blast surface.

The broom assisted head is an option a contractor can use only when needed. If a job requires sweeping up lighter material, the operator can raise the broom and use only air. "It's not a feature that you have to use continually to get the desired performance from that particular machine," Massey says.

Stainless steel hopper
A sweeper's hopper is exposed to many different materials that can cause wear and tear. A stainless steel hopper is one OEM option available for most sweepers and from different manufacturers.

It is important to keep the hopper in good shape because it is a central part of the sweeper. The stainless steel provides maximum resistance and protection against corrosion and salt spray, Rokas says.

Like most options and enhancements available for sweepers, the features of the stainless steel hopper may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Tymco, for example, uses 300 series stainless steel for its hoppers. The 300 series is nonmagnetic with a high nickel content and more corrosion resistance. "In certain high-impact areas of the hopper, a special stainless called Nitronic 30 is used because it has a higher impact resistance," Rokas says.

Body vibrator
A body vibrator, which is meant to help empty the hopper, is an option available for all sweeper types unless the sweeper hopper does not dump, says Troy Schuller, regional sales manager of Wayne Sweepers. The body vibrator gets mounted to the hopper and then does just as the name suggests, vibrates the hopper.

The vibration helps loosen debris inside the hopper so that it will fall out easier. As a result, a contractor will not have to scrap off as much extra debris that did not fall out when the hopper was dumped.

Hopper drain system
A hopper drain system is an option that is good for sweeping contractors in rainy climates. The drain system allows a contractor to drain off excessive water without raising the hopper.

"If your hopper gets full of water you want to go dump it. And if you raise the hopper to go dump it, the water will go everywhere," Rokas says. The drainage system prevents that.

The system consists of a folded flap and a metal screen over the hopper. The flap allows the water to flow out while the metal screen keeps trash and debris in the hopper. One feature of Tymco's hopper drain system is a collapsible hose. After the water drains through the hose, it collapses and does not allow air into the sweeper. This keeps the contractor from having to go back and forth to take the hose down to drain and put back up after draining is finished.

Auxiliary lighting
This OEM option benefits contractors by increasing safety. These traffic warning devices can be top- or rear-mounted to a sweeper and come in an array of LEDS and programmable lights. Auxiliary lighting is available for all types of sweepers and contractors.

Most auxiliary lighting allows a contractor the choice of different colored lights as well as different programmable flash patterns and times. Giles says the newer auxiliary lighting available also has easier mounting and a lower current draw than previous options available.

Sound suppression package
Sweeping contractors always need to be aware of their environment. And depending on where they are sweeping, noise restrictions may be an issue. A sound suppression package is one option available for contractors who deal with noise issues.