If you’re planning any sort of project that involves excavation or digging, you need to schedule utility marking. Failing to do so could elongate your project timeline and make you face serious problems and inflated budgets.
Getting utility markings is simple and generally completed within a few days of requesting the service. All you have to do is contact ACS Underground Solutions and we’ll come out to mark all buried utility lines on your property.
Cutting corners is simply not worth it when it comes to something as serious as utility lines. We’ll explain why it’s so important to get utility markings before a digging project.
Risk of Injury
Utility lines often have high-voltage electricity running through them. Severing one of these lines can mean severe injury to you or the people you’ve hired to work on your property.
Digging equipment is often made of metal, which means it will be a strong conductor of electricity. You face serious risk of electrocution if you begin a project before getting underground utility markings.
Property Damage
Cutting a power or sewer line could mean serious property damage. You’ll have to pay for these repairs to reconnect these lines to your home. And in the meantime, you will have to go without these utilities.
It might be so bad that you can’t live in your home until these utilities are reconnected. That could cause a serious inconvenience.
Damaged Relationships with Neighbors
Cutting your neighbor’s power will not help you build relationships in your community. If you’re new to the area, your neighbors might only get to know you as that person who knocked out the power for three days. That’s not the best welcome to the neighborhood.
And if you harm your neighbor’s property in the process, you could have to pay for those repairs as well.
Delayed Project Timelines
Disrupting a utility line will mean discontinuing your work to focus on calling the utility company to come out for repair. You won’t be able to continue your project until the utility company completes the repair. And at that point, you’ll probably have to call for utility marking anyway, which means you delayed your project for no good reason.
Increased Project Expenses
That new tree that you were putting in for $200 could cost a great deal more if you disrupt the utility lines. You’ll have to add repair costs to your total budget.
And if you had someone coming to add hardscape around the tree, you might still have to pay those contractors for their time, even if they can’t complete the project due to exposed utility lines.
It’s the Law
Many states have laws around getting utilities marked before digging. This means that failing to get utility markings before starting a project could mean fines and criminal charges.
Each state has the power to make its own laws concerning the issue, so if you’ve recently moved states, you might not be aware of these laws. Just the same, the laws apply to you so be sure to do your research before embarking on a project.
It’s More Cost-effective Than Paying for Repairs
Utility marking services are far more affordable than paying for property damage repairs or repairs to utility lines.
Utility lines can sit just inches below the surface of the ground. So even if you think your digging project is limited, you should contact your local utility marking company before you start the project.
ACS Underground Solutions offers utility location services using ground-penetrating radar (GPR). We use the APWA uniform color code to show you what lines are where to avoid damage. Contact us for utility marking before your next project.
ACS UNDERGROUND SOLUTIONS | Underground Utility Markings
ACS Underground Solutions has been in business since 1997 and we continue to serve our clients during COVID 19 with the CDC safety guidance put in place. Give ACS Underground Solutions a call at 203-544-7190 to find out more about our services. Our office staff is available Monday-Friday, 8am to 5pm to answer your questions and schedule an appointment. We are a private family owned consulting company with decades of experience and deep expertise in Water Line Leak Detection, Underground Utility Locating with GPR, Underground Storage Tank Locating, Concrete Imaging & Scanning, Drain Pipe Inspections and Infrared Thermal Imaging Services. ACS Underground Solutions serves Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.