Pro TIps
Locating Underground Utilities In Your Yard: It’s The Law
There’s an important process that happens before a single scoop of Pittsburgh soil gets turned over. If you’re facing upcoming excavation work at your home, it’s important to know the process that needs to happen before any digging.
We’ve learned that what’s under the ground matters just as much as what’s above it.
Why do I need to locate my underground utility lines?
Simply put, it is the law.
Your property has tons of “unseen” connections. Your gas, water and sewer lines, electric conduits and telecommunications cables. And they aren’t as far down as you might expect, typically only a few feet.
If any excavation work is planned for your yard, these lines must be identified to eliminate issues like gas leaks, loss of power, flooding and/or injury. Damage to one of these underground lines can equal huge expenses.
Who do I call if I have excavation work planned?
In PA, calling 811 is your first step. Homeowners and contractors must call at least three business days before starting any digging or excavation project, as required by law.
Once notified, PA 811 coordinates with local utility companies to send out locators who mark the ground with color-coded paint or flags indicating where buried lines run. Each one will be marked with a different color. Some of the main categories include:
- Red for electric lines
- Yellow for gas, oil, or steam lines
- Blue for water lines
- Green for sewer and drain lines
- Orange for communications and fiber optics
If you don’t call and you do end up hitting a line, you will be faced with not only the expense of the repair, but also fines from state agencies.
You will also want to get a visual assessment of the property done to identify meter locations, access points, clean-outs and any prior excavation work.
What if my lines are private?
Utility companies may not mark customer-owned lines such as service lines, pool connections, landscape lighting, or invisible fences and those require a private underground locating service.
At Terry’s Plumbing, our excavation work is backed by the same commitment to quality and honesty that’s kept Pittsburgh families calling us for over four decades. Whether you’re dealing with a broken sewer line, a drainage issue or a utility repair, we handle every step with the attention it deserves.
Give us a call at 412-364-9114 or reach out at superterry.com. We answer 24/7.