Did you know that utility lines are buried everywhere? So even if you know where a line is, there are many more that could be buried in your front, back and side yards. A few days before you begin a digging project in your yard, be sure to call 811. Calling this number ensures you don’t dig up or sever underground gas, electric, water, sewer and telecommunications lines, which can result in service disruption, serious injury or death, and costly repairs. In fact, you reduce your odds of causing damage to less than 1 percent when you call 811 before digging!
Are you planning to dig in your yard? Check out these tips before using excavation rentals in Monroe, LA.
Digging dangers
Whether you are digging post holes for a new fence or in preparation for planting trees, doing it blindly can be dangerous. The safest thing to do is to call 811 to find out where the utility lines on your property are buried early on in your project planning. Locating buried lines keeps you from hitting utilities like gas and electric lines with shovels, excavation equipment and other digging tools, which can lead to hazards, injuries or expensive line repairs.
Tips for digging safely
Follow these tips to ensure safe digging on your property:
- Call 811: You can call 811 from anywhere and a representative from your state will ask about the details of your digging project. Then, they will notify the appropriate utility companies to come locate and mark the buried lines on your property at no cost to you. The marks show you where the lines are so you can safely dig around and away from them.
- Never assume lines are deep down: Many people assume that all utility lines are buried deep in the ground. The truth is, the depth can be deceptive, because the actual depth changes over time. Environmental factors and weather play a role in this. Heavy rains, soil erosion, flooding and shifts in landscaping can all cause the depth of utility lines to shift.
- Assume al lines are active: Always assume that underground utility lines are active, and not old and disconnected. Call 811 regardless, and someone from one or more local utility companies will confirm whether a line is still active. Also, electrical power lines can still have electricity running through them even if they aren’t sparking or sizzling.
- Sign of a gas leak: There’s a clear sign that your digging tool has dug into a gas line—the area surrounding the broken line will smell like rotten eggs. If you do hit a gas line and notice this smell, move everyone away from the area and call 911 to report the gas leak. Notify the gas company about the busted line, and organize immediate repair services.
If your landscaping project involves digging, it’s important that you know where any utility lines are buried. After 811 helps you out, come see all that Ram Rent-All, Inc. has to offer—we carry everything from garden equipment rentals to excavation rentals in Monroe, LA!