3 Tips To Find The Best Utility Locating Company
Hiring a good utility locator is important, as you have no way of seeing what is under the ground of your property. You do not want to dig into a utility line or pipe that might disturb your neighbors or get you fined. The following are 3 things that you should consider when looking for a good utility locating company.
1. Hire The Right Locator
You may be thinking about hiring a national utility locator. But you should consider a locator that has experience in your particular area. The reason is simply because they know the area and already have a good idea of where to find some of the pipes and utility lines.
The next thing you want to look for is a company that knows what they are doing. You want to make sure that the utility locating experts you hire have the following knowledge:
- Maps and topography of the area
- Blueprint identification and reading
- Horizontal plane locating technicians with a lot of experience
- Electromagnetic cable locating technicians
- And GPR equipment to help read any dubious soil conditions without disturbing your property
You should also make sure that the company will conduct some fieldwork that includes talking to the utility companies around your area.
2. Know What to Expect
You probably don't have to worry about the kinds of cables, pipes and utility lines that the locating company has to locate for you. A good locating company should find everything for you, but it does not hurt to know so that you can make sure that the job will be done thoroughly. The following is a checklist that should ensure that the locating company will fulfill your needs:
- Fiber optic cables
- Gas pipes
- Sewer
- Freshwater
- Power cables
- Telephone cables
Make sure that the company that you are considering will find the aforementioned pipes and utility lines. Remember that failing to find everything could result in fines and costly repairs that will be added to your expenses.
3. Find A Supportive Company
Everyone makes mistakes, and you need to be prepared for any mistakes during your dig. A good utility locating company should minimize the risk of damaged lines or pipes, but that does not mean that your excavating team cannot make a mistake. You want to make sure that the utility locating experts you hire are available to help, should damage to a pipe or line still occurs.
As you can see, finding a good locating company is not too hard, but it is essential. To learn more, contact a company like 1st Call Locating with any questions you have.