Why You Need Underground Utility Locators?

According to a recent study, there are about 20 million miles of underground utilities in the United States. Even after implementing laws that do not allow excavation before taking any permission, millions of Americans are still doing that. That being said, digging the ground is not an ordinary task. It requires proper planning and care. Chances of hitting underground utility underground pipes are quite high. If something like this happens, it can lead to obstruction of basic services and amenities. To avoid any such an incident, it is best to use underground utility locator services.

What is utility locating?

Utility locating services helps locate underground utilities before starting the initial digging process. They possess the ability to detect and identify buried utilities preventing possible digging accidents, thus promoting safer excavation. They provide the best information you can get before digging.

The different methods of locating utilities before digging:

1. Electromagnetic Utility Locator

This is the most common method of locating utilities that generate electromagnetic radio frequency to detect conductive elements under the ground. It is a reliable method for locating cable, telephone, sewer, and propane lines.

EM utility locator is not an all-rounder performer. It cannot detect plastic pipes, concrete, and non-ductile pipes. It also cannot detect utilities beyond 15 feet from the ground.

2. Ground Penetrating Radar

This technology uses high-frequency pulses and can locate subsurface utilities. The GPR can locate buried pipes, manholes, tanks, cables, and other objects that are difficult to locate using EM utility locators. It is intended for utility locating experts as it requires extensive training and experience.

GPR cannot detect material buried in the soil, which is highly conductive (Clay and saline, etc.). It has limitations on its penetration ability.

3. Hydro Vacuum Excavation

Hydro vacuum excavation or potholing is a non-destructive method to locate, identify, and tag underground utilities safely. It uses high-pressure water to break up the soil which is then vacuum-sucked into a tank. This method is generally applied on difficult soil conditions where conventional digging methods are too risky.

So, before digging a hole outside your house, remember to hire one of the best utility locating companies near you.

Importance Of Hiring Private Utility Locating Service

As a homeowner, you may have creative ideas to renovate your house. Whether it is the constructing of a garden or remodelling a swimming pool, there is a lot of things going inside your head. No matter how much you know about your plot, you may miss one important thing - what lies beneath your home. It sounds like a horror movie and it is actually horrible if you don’t know on what object your house was built. Can you imagine a worker injured after accidentally cutting a live wire? Are you sure the digging at the fence won’t touch your neighbor’s plot? There are hundreds of questions pop up regarding safety and legal terms.

To avoid discrepancies when constructing a utility site, it is important to figure out your underground location. If you have decided for a home renovation, you should hire professionals from a private utility locating service near you.

Benefits of Utility Locator

Before start digging for a foundation pillar, you should find out what could be lying in your plot unattended for years. Here are the key benefits of hiring top utility locators in Folsom.

• Safety

To assure safe for you and your neighbors, it is mandatory to locate any dangerous object under your house. This will avoid electrocution and other tragedies.

• Legal issues

Many cities are built over private and government facilities. If your construction work causes harm to such properties, you may face legal actions. Hiring experienced private utility locating service will assure legal construction.

• Latest technology

Skilled engineers and technicians use the latest techniques such as line locators, magnetic locators, rodders and sondes to locate the underground and eliminate untoward incidents.

If you have a home improvement idea, let the utility locators make your dream come true.

Different Methods To Choose Utility Locating Services

Utility locating can be taken as a service to locate/detect underground utilities before initiating the actual digging process. These can detect as well as identify buried utilities, preventing possible digging accidents, which fosters safer excavation methods.

Various methods of top utility locating companies before digging are mentioned below-

CONVENTIONAL METHOD

Radio location - This process makes use of radio waves to find the location of useful items. Electromagnetic (EM) equipment are used in this technique, which consist of transmitter and receiver. EM signals are mostly emitted from metal pipes as well as cables, which are detected by the receiver.

NON-CONVENTIONAL METHOD

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) - This EM method that is used by the underground utility locating services to augment other locating techniques. This geophysical method utilizes radar signals to image the subsurface. The GPR system comprises of an antenna and a receiver, and also a profiling recorder (to process the received signal). This technique has the ability to generate 3D images of sewage, pipes and water mains.

Acoustic locating - It makes use of sound energy to determine the distance and location of an item. This type of technique is very often used detect and trace non-metal water lines. Acoustic locators find application in identifying locations of plastic gas lines.

Magnetic locators - This technique is often used to locate buried metal different than pipes. It is most commonly used to locate UST (Underground Storage Tanks).

Consider all these methods and make sure to use a locating service provider that employs UTA certified professionals.