Do you have an upcoming project on your San Diego property that’s going to require some excavation? Maybe you’re putting a new swimming pool in your backyard, adding or rerouting some pipes, installing a septic system, or adding on to your house. You have probably heard by now that you should bring in a utility locating service in San Diego before you start the excavation process to make sure you don’t damage any buried utility lines.
You may also be aware that there is a free service that will come out and scan for public utility lines. So, why wouldn’t you just do that? Free is good, right? Well, yes and no. The free utility locating service available in San Diego is great if you just need to “check the box” and say that you did it. Unfortunately, it’s not always the best solution if you actually want to avoid causing expensive damage to your utility lines. It’s also not typically the best solution if you want to keep your project moving forward in a timely manner.
Here’s the deal with the free utility locating service: it is quite limited. The technician who will come out to inspect your property for buried utility lines is only responsible for finding public utility lines, and then only up to a certain point—like up to where the utility line connects with the meter. Beyond that point, it is on you to find out where utility lines are located. The free utility locating service will not identify any private utility lines, such as gas lines that go to a barbecue or propane tank, irrigation pipes, septic pipes, or water lines connected to a well.
Public utility locators also may not have the best equipment for locating all types of utility lines. Specifically, they may struggle to locate PVC pipes because they are nonconductive.
In addition, the free utility locating service is often very backed up with requests. They may not be able to send a technician out to your property for several weeks. If you didn’t plan ahead, this can put a real damper on your project’s timeline!
Is It Worth It to Pay for Private Utility Locating in San Diego?
Many property owners find that it is well worth it to pay to have a private utility locating company like Enhanced Scanning come out to their San Diego properties prior to the start of their projects. A technician from our team can come out and do a thorough scan of the area that will be excavated and locate any buried hazards that could cause an issue during excavation. We use industry-leading equipment to provide the most thorough and accurate results possible.
We can often provide next-day service in the San Diego area, and our technician can deliver the results our clients need while they are still on site. If this sounds like the type of service you want for your utility locating needs, contact us at Enhanced Scanning to schedule service.
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