Before you decide to dig in your yard, it is a good idea to know where plumbing, electric, cable and any other utility may be running. Oftentimes these cords and pipes can take weird twists and turns underground, so it’s not always as simple as knowing where they come into the house and where they meet the main connector (in the case of plumber we are talking about the water main).
Sometimes, these underground utility pathways can be found along with the blueprints of the home. However, many times they are not. Most cities and states have a number or website you can use to contact them to notify them that you plan to dig in your yard. They will then dispatch a worker to come mark the pipes for you. They will do this with little flags or spray paint.
If you break a pipe while digging the cost will fall to you to repair in most cases. This can be very costly. Therefore it only makes sense to reach out to the county or city in which you reside.
In the case of buried electrical cables, a mistake could prove deadly. There is tremendous energy in those lines and just a fraction of it running through your body could stop your heart. In fact, in the last 5 years, 354 people have either died or have become seriously injured after striking an electricity cable while digging.
Jake, a plumber in Melbourne FL. had this to say: “Always plan ahead. Always have patience. These two pieces of advice could save your life or at the very least save you a great deal of money.”
