Hydraulic Lift Removal in Portland, OR

What Is A Hydraulic Lift

A hydraulic lift is essentially a pressurized vessel that contains hydraulic oil to lift objects, in this case, a vehicle. A loss of integrity from one of these systems and the leaking of hydraulic oil to the subsurface can become a potential environmental hazard.

Many older auto repair shops have in-ground hydraulic lifts and often times are forgotten about until the property is sold. Most commonly during Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESA), the presence of hydraulic lifts is discovered and they are considered a Recognized Environmental Condition (REC) by most environmental professionals. For more information about RECs and the Phase I process, please see of Phase I Environmental Assessment page.

Since many hydraulic lifts operate using an air/oil combination, most lifts will have a reservoir of hydraulic oil. The reservoirs can be above ground but are more commonly found underground. They are typically buried below the control lever along the wall or next to the hydraulic lift itself. The capacity of the reservoirs typically ranges from about 30 to 50 gallons. Based on the relatively small size of these tanks, they are normally exempt from underground storage tank regulations. A majority of the regulatory agencies like the DEQ do not regulate underground hydraulic lifts.

Types Of Hydraulic Lifts

Several types of hydraulic lifts have historically been installed in auto repair shops. The ones most often encountered by Alpha are the single ram style, the twin ram style, and the twin ram style with adjustable spacing. The single ram style is the simplest design and usually contains less underground piping. The twin ram style is more complex as the control system has to regulate the movement of both rams simultaneously. They generally have more underground piping and may be more difficult to evaluate for potential leaks. The twin ram style with adjustable spacing is probably the most complex. These designs have a fixed rear ram and an adjustable front ram. The adjustable front ram can be moved closer or farther away to accommodate different size vehicles. The front ram rides on a sliding carriage that is in a concrete trench. The ram is below ground but is not buried. This style normally has the most piping and has a combination of both rigid and flexible piping. Another issue with this style is the trench is a collector of oil, water, and debris and can be a pathway for additional subsurface contamination.

Hydraulic Lift Sampling

Almost all banking and financial institutions now require sampling of hydraulic lifts as part of the environmental due diligence process. This is often accomplished by drilling a single boring adjacent to the hydraulic lift. While this is one of the best methods we have for determining a potential leak, it is not uncommon to encounter additional contaminated soil during the removal process. Often we find the lifts themselves are intact and leak-free, but small movement in the piping has caused leakage. It is also not uncommon for a bank to require a hydraulic lift removal prior to loaning money on a property.

The Excavation Process

  • Saw cut concrete floor to provide access to lifts and subsurface soil.
  • Excavate overburden soils surrounding the lift.
  • Extract the remaining hydraulic oil from the lift and reservoir.
  • Removal of the lift and associated piping.
  • Remove contaminated soil if encountered.
  • Collect confirmation soil samples.
  • Backfill and compact the excavation with gravel material.
  • Transport scrap metal to a recycling facility and contaminated soil to a certified disposal facility.
  • Replace the concrete floor to closely resemble the surrounding areas.
  • May include a summary report of removal activities.

Contact Alpha Environmental for additional information on our Hydraulic Lift Sampling and Removal services. Give us a call at 503-292-5346.

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Why Choose Alpha Environmental

Our goal is to get the job done right while protecting our client. We are committed to ensuring you are safe in your residence, no matter what. We are fully licensed, bonded, insured, and here to help with all of your environmental needs.

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For over two decades we've been doing the dirty work, serving residential and commercial customers in the greater Portland area

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David D.
Lake Oswego, OR
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My wife and I experienced a hot water pipe busting in the crawlspace. It has been a total nightmare. However, Chris and his team provided expert quality care, with timeliness and the greatest degree of professionalism. I would HIGHLY recommend Alpha Enviornmental!
Zhanna S.
Beaverton, OR
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Can’t say enough about Alpha Environmental! Their costumer service is 10/10, they have really good systems in place, responsive, and professional. The gals in the scheduling department are always so kind! As a real estate agent, I use Alpha’s services numerous times a year. Either it’s for Mold bids, oil tank decommissioning, radon etc. They always do a fantastic job! Thank you for all the work you do!
Kristen L.
Portland, OR
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Wow where do I even begin?? We’re absolutely thrilled by the work Alpha has done for us and we’re eternally grateful to them for ridding our house of asbestos tile! They’re polite, kind, professional — from estimator Filo to manager Dame to Jake, Melvin and the other two guys on the crew (so sorry we didn’t get your names) — you guys are awesome and we so appreciate your help. Our house looks amazing. The peace of mind you’ve given us is priceless. We can’t thank you enough. We’ll certainly be in back in touch if we ever need any of your services again. Thank you thank you!!!
Jeff S.
Salem, OR
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Alpha environmental's employees were punctual, pleasant to work with and there services are reasonably priced. I highly recommend them because I would use them again in the future.
Lea C.
Tualatin, OR
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Took a water sample in for lead testing and they were so fast and helpful. Rodolfo was so nice and informative in explaining the testing and what it meant! Would definitely recommend everyone to go there and will go to them for any future needs!
Claire B.
Portland, OR
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Alpha environmental was extremely helpful in navigating me through the process of testing some leftover construction debris for asbestos so I could take it to the dump. Their office manager spent time with me on the phone discussing the options for sample collection, and was extremely friendly in answering my many questions. Sample drop off at the office was easy and the results even came back a few days earlier than expected. Will definitely return if I need more sampling done!
Jeff C.
Tigard, OR
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I would highly recommend anyone wanting, quick efficient services relating to environmental testing to check out Alpha Environmental. Not only was the staff friendly and responsive, but also professional! If I could 6 stars out of 5, I would!
Jotham P.
Portland, OR
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We used Alpha Environmental Services to conduct our home inspection, radon testing, sewer scope and oil tank decommissioning. Every part of their service was really professional. They took so many great photos of the house during the inspection and offered lots of explanation on what they found. Great team. Highly recommend!
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A trusted member of our team will reach out within 1 business day to schedule