3 Underground Utility Locating Equipment You Should Know

3 Underground Utility Locating Equipment You Should Know

Utility locating not only requires years of experience, but you also need the right tools or equipment to do it successfully. This is true whether you’re a beginner or a veteran searching for utility locations before you dig.

While you’ll probably hire professional utility locators to unearth buried utilities for you, it’s still worth learning about the tools they commonly use to detect utility lines. That’s why we’ve broken down the three basic types of utility locating equipment below!

To truly understand what happens during utility location, take the time to read about magnetic locators, pipe locators, and cable locators that utility companies use.

1. Magnetic Locators

Locating a single point, such as a rebar corner pin or a water pipe, is the primary function of a magnetic locator. Its name refers to its ability to detect objects in underground facilities that would attract magnets.

A magnetic locator is sensitive enough to find even a single ferrous object like steel property pins, manhole lids, and water or gas valves. However, magnetic locators are not recommended for locating underground utilities; rather, a pipe and cable locator should be used for this purpose.

2. Pipe Locators

During utility location, detecting buried pipelines can be a real headache when you don’t have a pipe locator. This nifty tool locates pipes by emitting an electromagnetic frequency that travels through the earth.

That frequency would then ricochet off of any pipelines or similar materials that might be buried underneath. The device is usually attached to the main water valve or hydrant and is used to trace water lines before digging or excavation begins.

3. Cable Locators

Similar to a pipe locator in terms of function, a cable locator is a utility device used to pinpoint the exact location of underground cables or signal lines before you dig.

To estimate the location of subsurface lines and cables, the device also emits electromagnetic frequencies. Most cable locators can be utilized for both direct-connect or inductive-coupling approaches.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there anything about utility locating services that you don’t understand yet? Just in case, we took the time to answer some questions that you may have. Check them out below:

What is underground utility line locating?

This is the process of finding and marking the locations of underground public or private utilities.

How much is private utility locating?

It depends on how large or complex the location is. Private homeowners may pay a few hundred dollars. For larger facilities, though, the costs might reach thousands of dollars.

What is Ground Penetrating Radar?

GPR equipment is used to search for objects under surfaces like concrete and asphalt through the use of radio waves. It’s preferred by many as it’s a non-destructive method. 

Get Professional Services For Locating Underground Utilities

With years of experience and state-of-the-art technology, you can rely on Util-Locate for your utility locating and mapping needs.

Learn how we can help you when you email us at info@util-locate.com or contact us at (714) 492-1380 today!

3 Reasons to Call In Utility Potholing Services

Utility Potholing Services

Before an excavation or construction project begins, it is necessary to perform potholing for utilities. Professional utility potholing is a non-destructive method of determining the exact placement of all underground utility lines. 

This utility location method is usually carried out by excavating carefully-planned areas around and above utility wires using a portable vacuum excavator that removes dirt and debris. During potholing, utility crews may come across gas, water, electrical, and sewage lines. 

Small test holes may also be created in the earth for finding underground utilities like sewer pipes and utility lines. Potholing techniques eliminate risk by informing builders of the precise location of utilities before breaking ground.

Why Do You Need Professional Utility Potholing Services?

To give you a better understanding of potholing services and why you need them, we’ve broken down three benefits below.

1. It Helps Prevent Damages in Utility Lines

While digging, there’s a huge possibility that you may damage underground utilities. That will require a lot of labor and money to fix, not to mention the service outages that will inevitably occur in the digging process. You can be proactive and easily prevent service interruptions through utility potholing and utility maps.

2. It is Required in Many States

Many states prohibit the operation of heavy machinery within a certain distance of buried utility lines. Doing so exposes employees to a multitude of dangers. That is why most businesses must hire utility potholing services before the excavation starts.

3. It Ensures the Safety of Your Business Location

Understanding and maintaining your work site begins with potholing. Whether you’re laying new foundations or rerouting existing utilities and underground lines, you must know how things stand with your underground infrastructure.

Most Popular Potholing Technique

There are two popular potholing methods commonly used in the construction industry.

Hydrovac Excavation

Hydro excavation is the preferred method of many due to its accuracy compared to other methods. This potholing process moves the soil carefully using high-pressure water and a hose. The excavated material is then dumped into a debris tank.

Additionally, hydro vac excavation is advantageous because it uses water, which serves as a non-conductor. This becomes all the more critical when considering the safety of crew members while working with live electrical wires.

Vacuum Excavation

Another method of potholing is vacuum excavation, also known as air excavation. This technique uses a portable and pressurized device that utilizes air to extract soil via high-speed suction. Once the dirt is removed, it is either dried out or stored in a holding tank until it may be reused later.

An excavator’s fuel tank capacity can be anywhere from 100 to 1,200 gallons. Some potholing professionals believe this is the most secure means of excavating near utilities since they use low-pressure air.

Need Reliable Potholing Services For Your Construction Projects?

In every construction project, safety comes first. That’s why before you even think about digging or potholing utilities, you should reach out to Util-Locate first!

Through game-changing technology and years of proven expertise, you won’t be disappointed by our utility potholing services.

Contact us at (714) 492-1380 or via email at info@util-locate.com to find out how we can assist you today!

How Does Utility Location Work?

How Does Utility Location Work?

When conducting excavation projects or renovations, the first thing to do is locate utility lines. This is crucial in avoiding unwanted accidents such as burst pipes, power outages, gas leaks, and injuries. Not only will these accidents delay your project, but they are also costly.

Utility location determines the location of public utility lines like electricity, water, sewage, and telephone lines. With today’s technology, there are several ways of conducting utility locations to track the vast underground network of utility lines. Depending on the situation, one may be a better method than others.

Electromagnetic Locating

Electromagnetic locating is a non-invasive method of underground utility location that relies on an electromagnetic locator, also known as a pipe and cable locator. This helps locate, trace, and map out utility lines through electromagnetic frequency.

An electromagnetic locator consists of a transmitter, which sends out signals, and a receiver, which receives the frequencies reflected by objects that are metal or conductive materials. Thus, electromagnetic locating is best to find metals such as pipes and electrical ducts, making it one of the most accessible utility locating methods today.

Ground Penetrating Radar

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) locates utility lines using high-frequency radio signals. The GPR sends out radio signals onto the ground, and anything underground reflects the radio frequencies to the radar’s receiver, where they are stored in digital media.

Similar to electromagnetic locating, ground penetrating radar is a non-invasive utility locating method used to detect underground utilities. However, it has stronger underground detection capabilities than electromagnetic locating.

It can determine the size and depth of underground objects, making it the preferred choice of utility location when pipes are beyond 10 to 15 feet deep. Most commonly, this technology is used to locate buried pipes, tanks, utility holes, and cables that typically cannot be located using ordinary methods.

Vacuum Excavation

Salt, shale, or clay in soil interferes with non-invasive underground utility location methods like electromagnetic locating and GPR. In such cases, it’s better to do vacuum excavation.

Also known as hydro excavation, soft digging, or potholing, vacuum excavation is a type of mildly-invasive utility location procedure that uses high-pressure water or air to break soil apart and vacuum it into a tank in order to clear a path toward utility lines.

Utility Locating Services

Whether you’re doing a small project or major home renovation, it’s always best to err on the side of caution. Rather than trying your luck and accidentally damaging utility lines, hire professional utility locating services.

Utility location requires the use of special equipment that only professionals can properly operate. Not to mention, good utility locating services come with technical advice on how to distance yourself from pinpointed utility locations when excavating. 

Avoid unexpected and costly accidents by reaching out to Util-locate, the best underground digging company offering private utility locating services in Southern California!

Factors to Look for in Underground Utility Locating Companies

Factors to Look for in Underground Utility Locating Companies

So you’re ready to get digging to install a sewer or to build a basement on your property. The last thing you want is accidentally hitting a utility line which can lead to floods, electric outages, or fire. Even worse, you can get seriously injured and wind up in the hospital.

Before starting any excavation project, be it in a residential or commercial property, you want to hire utility locators to help you locate utility lines in the area. This prevents accidentally hitting or interfering with existing pipelines, which can cause damages and also derail your project.

There are many companies offering utility locating services today. But accidents happen all the time. According to the 2020 DIRT published by the Common Ground Alliance (CGA), utility damages cost the U.S. a whopping $30 billion annually.

Neglect and lack of experience have no room when it comes to utility locating. That’s why you want to know which companies to trust. Check out the factors outlined below to help you look for companies whose utility locating services you can trust.

Trained & Experienced Technicians

Utility locating requires the use of specialized equipment. A utility locating company should have trained technicians and staff who must have experience handling different projects with varying scopes. This helps give them a comprehensive understanding of your project when you bring it to them.

To know how well trained a utility company’s technicians are, you can check for their certifications or active involvement in relevant industry associations. For example, Util-Locate is part of the Common Ground Alliance and the National Utility Locating Contractors Association (NULCA).

Another option is to go online and examine their website. They should mention previous projects or clients they worked with before. Having a huge portfolio is not always necessary, but having a varied portfolio is certainly an advantage. 

Track Record for Excellent Service

When it comes to utility locating, you should not rely on just credentials on paper. Look for companies with an excellent track record. You can look up reviews online.

Yelp has various recommendations based on customer reviews and you can sort the utility companies by location to match your project site.

You can also ask other residential owners or businesses in your area. Inquire about private utility locating companies they’ve worked within the past and learn more about their experiences. Hearing feedback from actual customers often provides the additional insight you won’t glean from simply reading the company website.

Up-To-Date Technology

Utility locating has improved drastically in the last decade. Rather than relying on maps and other historical data, utility locators now have ground-penetrating radar (GPR), hydro vacuum excavators, and other equipment that allow them to accurately locate utilities and determine their depth.

GPR is a utility locating tool that detects metal and non-metal objects, as well as voids, using electromagnetic waves. This method is non-intrusive and cuts utility locating time short.

Not to mention, it has within 90% accuracy, and when used by trained technicians, is incredibly reliable.

Meanwhile, hydro vacuum excavation is a tool that digs holes at strategic locations on your project site. The holes enable the utility locator to visually confirm the location of utility lines. This is a great method utility locators use as an alternative, and sometimes, in conjunction with ground-penetrating radar, as it is the most accurate form of utility locating to date. 

Wide Variety of Services

You don’t want a company that only uses one method of utility locating. This means they are not versatile and cannot recommend which utility locating method is best for your project.

You should ask utility locating companies what techniques they use when offering their services.

Working with a private utility locating company that offers various types of utility locating services ensures they have the knowledge and experience to advise you on how to best locate utilities on your site.

Professional

Whether you are hiring utility locating services for a residential or commercial property, you always want to work with professionals. This means that they are insured, hold themselves to a higher standard of service, and guarantee to fix the job should it be needed.

Professionalism equates to quality of service. In a market with many utility locators offering services at varying rates, you want to trust those who present themselves well.

Rather than save a couple of bucks, ensuring you get a highly crucial part of your project done ensures that you and your people are safe, your project follows the intended timeline, and you avoid any potential costs incurred by injuries and damages.

Easy to Reach

Last but not least, you want to work with a private utility company that is easy to reach. Even if a utility locator has the best staff and equipment, there’s no point hiring them if you can’t reach them. 

 

Look for a private utility locating company within your area and choose one with a website that clearly outlines how you can reach them. They should be reachable via email or phone, so you can contact them conveniently at a time that fits your schedule. 

Book Utility Locating Services in California

Don’t take risks with your project. Ensure safe excavation by trusting Util-Locate, the number one utility locating company in California.

Util-Locate has over 10 years of experience offering top-notch utility locating services to clients. We’ve built long-lasting relationships all over the state and take pride in the efficiency with which we do our tasks as well as the courtesy and value we deliver to all our customers.

At Util-Locate, we have testimonials from real clients and we’ve worked with various companies from different industries to help ensure their unique projects go smoothly.

We also offer a wide variety of utility locating services from GPR and CCTV pipe inspection all the way to hydro-jetting and potholing utilities.

We meet the highest technical standards in the industry, making sure that we’re the number one choice in utility locating.

To inquire about our services or schedule a service online, contact us at Util-Locate today!