Over the next several weeks, I have a few projects planned that will require digging on my property. Of all the utilities coming in, the electrical is overhead, the water has been marked in the past, and my DSL line is on the opposite side of the property (plus I was present when they buried the line, so I know where it is). I have copies of the drawings from when my septic was installed. I’m not concerned about the basic utilities.
My concern is a buried electrical line that runs from the breaker panel in my house to a subpanel in my shop; I can see where it enters the ground and exists, but because of the topology of my property, I seriously doubt it’s a direct line from point A to point B.
As far as I can tell, my local “Call Before You Dig” only marks out the incoming utilities to the home, at least that’s all they did last time. Are there services that will mark buried electrical lines between two buildings on private property? I’m certainly willing to pay for the service, but I can’t figure out who to call. Surely somebody can do this for a fee? I’m not sure if this question exactly fits into “Home Improvement,” but I don’t know where else to ask. I looked online for an in-ground AC detector, but everything I find that can detect a buried cable more than a few inches is extremely expensive, and I’d likely never need it again.
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I think you have an answer. Search for a utility locating service.
But this is such a great PSA, because so many don’t understand how 811 works. They think that 811 will locate everything for free. They will not. They usually reach out to the utility companies themselves, who only mark what they own (they do often use contractors, and it’s often the same one do multiple utilities). They will not mark the private lines that go on your property. Water and sewer lines are usually customer owned after the curb. Oftentimes gas and buried electric and communications as well.
By all means, call. Where theirs end is a great clue as to where your lines begin, and you might never know what might be running through some decades old easement. But just because you are clear doesn’t mean there is nothing there. And if it is damaged, it’s on you to fix if you own it.
They will not mark the private lines that go on your property. Water and sewer lines are usually customer owned after the curb. Oftentimes gas and buried electric and communications as well.
And to expand on this and give more examples of private utilities just so people have an idea of what is around their house: landscape lighting, sprinkler systems, invisible dog fences, power/gas/water lines ran to a detached garage/shop/shed/pool/garden/greenhouse from the house, driveway alarms/bells, and motorized gates. If you live out in the country and you have a propane tank for gas, a septic system, and a well for water… those will not get located for free by 811 either, those are also private utilities that will require you to hire a locator to do for you.
I buried drops for an ISP one summer long ago, so I have a tiny bit of experience with the locate process and burying lines.
My state’s 811 (PA One Call) has a list of private line surveyors on their site for this exact situation. Maybe start with your state or local government and see if they have recommendations?
Unfortunately my state’s 811 doesn’t list anything of the sort; not a bad suggestion, though.
Just search, “locate private utilities,” should be some contractors or businesses in your area doing it.
Thanks! I never though to use that search term, but it’s giving me a lot of good results. I live in a rural area, so there aren’t always a lot of contractors that work out here, but I’m fairly close to a major city. I’ll probably just start calling around and see if they’re willing to take a job where I live.
No problem! And if you did want to do it yourself, you could try this:
https://www.amazon.com/NOYAFA-Underground-Portable-Detection-Electrical/dp/B08CKFKX7N/
You have to disconnect the line from the breaker and connect this to it so if you are not comfortable opening your panel and taking the line off the breaker, then this won’t be an option.
Also, I’m not endorsing this product, I’ve never used this one in particular, but it looks like the cheapest one that might possibly work for that depth… it says it detects up to 1 meter. Usually residential lines going to detached buildings are 24" but I’ve seen them deeper and I also have seen them barely scratched into the dirt a couple inches too, just depends on the contractor that put it in when your building was built initially.
“private Utility Locator” is the term you want to search for
You can also look into renting subsurface locators from someplace like Sunbelt or United Rentals.
