Many of the utilities we've come to rely on are delivered to homes using underground utility lines. Those lines make the delivery of electric, natural gas, and water utilities more efficient while protecting against the outdoor elements. Here's why it's important to know where underground utility lines are located before digging on your property.

To Prevent Accidental Damage to Utility Lines

Whenever you or a contractor intend to dig into the ground on your property for any reason, you should learn where any utility lines might be located. If any happen to cross the area where you plan to dig, you don't want a backhoe to dig up one of them. This happens a lot more than you might think! In fact, according to the Common Ground Alliance, a utility line is damaged every six seconds in the U.S. on average. Expert utility line location services can come to your property and use flags to mark where the respective utility line is located. Once you have all the underground utility lines marked, the digging can begin.

To Protect Workers Against Injury or Death

As you may know, digging up a utility line or accidentally digging into one could be hazardous. A power line buried underground might cause an electrical shock or deadly electrocution if disrupted. When underground utility lines are properly marked, you and your contractors can rest assured that everyone is properly protected. At A-1 Plumbing & Drain, we locate septic, gas, electrical, drainage, and water lines on residential and commercial properties to ensure nobody gets hurt.

To Keep Your Property Safe

Damaging some utility lines could cause significant and potentially catastrophic damage, not only to the workers involved but also to your property. A severed gas line could cause a fire that spreads to your home. A damaged water line could easily flood your property. An electrical line cut in two could cause a complete loss of power in your home, which might lead to the loss of refrigerated foods or damage to appliances and electronics from a power surge. Taking the time to locate the power line before digging will protect your property and home.

You can call, send an online message, or visit our team at A-1 Plumbing & Drain today to learn more about our plumbing services and how we identify utility lines while laying or repairing outdoor plumbing. Don't forget to ask about our discounts for military personnel and seniors!