utility locating services

How to Prevent Damage to Underground Utilities

There are so many industrial activities taking place on land. Such actions increase the possibilities of damaging underground utilities, especially if those operations involve drilling or excavation. As a result, most power lines, telephone cables, gas lines among others are damaged. Damages to these underground connections can result in dire consequences: disrupting critical public services, increase downtime due to repairs and replacements, and catastrophic accidents or death.

As such, when you need to dig, it is essential that you hire utility locating services with experience, knowledgeable personnel, and top-notch equipment such as using advanced ground penetration radar technology in their ground utility surveillance work.

Below is a list of useful tips of alleviating damage to underground pipes and wires.

Call Before Digging

The Federal Communications Commission issued a toll-free number 811 as a Call-Before-You-Dig contact in the U.S. for locating underground public utility lines.

For locating private utility lines, call our committed representatives. They will listen to the details of your project and relay the word to our field technicians who have the technological know-how and equipment to provide utility locating services. Util-Locate company Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) technology to precisely determine the depth of any in-ground wire and cables with over 97% accuracy.

Nonetheless, it is important to mention that utility markings of underground connections are only done on areas of utility easements, but not on private property. Therefore, any intrusive or drilling activities around a private landholding are not subject to public locating services.

Contact a private utility locating firm such as the Util-Locate company that uses the latest technology to provide precise information about the position and depth of utility lines.

Implementation of Better Working Practices

Several countries have created regulatory policies to govern underground locations to ensure utility damage prevention and maintain safe working conditions. Such policies detail the need to have an excavation plan, reliable utility locating services, and maintaining safety during excavations.

Improving working practices means that these companies need to utilize the latest technology to detect locations of buried pipes and cables. Purchase user-friendly equipment that features updated technological components. The machine must be highly accurate and sensitive, proof against external interference from power lines, multi-frequency Ground Penetration Radar equipment and emphasizing to employees the importance of proper working practices.

Planning of Safe and Efficient Excavation

Safe on sight excavation is a necessary ingredient for all construction works. Accurate information provided before commencing digging or any other civil operation is an essential contribution to safe excavation. Spiking an underground power cable or fracturing a gas pipeline can cause severe property damage and loss of lives from executions or explosions. Knowing their underground presence and exact position help avoid any possibility of property destruction and loss of lives. Using state-of-the-art Ground Penetrating Radar technology reduces unnecessary costs and major inconveniences while enhancing efficient working and site safety.

Protecting and Maintaining Infrastructure

Our company is the most trusted in underground utility damage prevention. Util-Locate company prides in providing a full suite of utility compliance and underground damage prevention throughout Southern California. Our mission is to deliver high quality, safe, efficient, and innovative solutions that safeguard our clients’ infrastructure and critical assets.

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.

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!

Why Your Commercial Complex Needs a CCTV Drain Survey Now

CCTV is a brilliant way to survey the condition of your pipes and entire drainage system. With the use of camera systems, it can help find many types of plumbing problems like a blockage from debris buildup or worrying drain damage.

For anyone managing or running a business unit or building, an annual or regular drainage report can help you understand what state your pipes are in and if any damage has occurred. The drain survey service provided by Util-Locate is prompt and affordable and will help you keep your building in great shape.

Keep reading to find out more about CCTV drain surveys and how they can benefit your property and its drainage system.

What is a CCTV Drain Survey?

A CCTV drain survey is a very thorough drain inspection that uses state-of-the-art camera technology to show what is happening throughout your commercial property’s pipes and drains. These CCTV cameras are led through the pipe system to get a proper handle of any drainage issue even in the narrowest areas.

This type of drain survey is more in-depth than other methods and provides an efficient way for plumbing professionals to understand what problem might be occurring in your drain system. A CCTV survey is also very cost effective so that you can stay within your normal maintenance and repairs budget.

The CCTV camera is hooked up to a monitor or phone and sends a live feed of the pipes as it goes through the drainage system. Contractors and the plumbing team on the site will be able to advise you on what was discovered during the inspection and a repair plan if any issues or damage is discovered.

Why Would I Need a CCTV Drain Survey?

Drain surveys are especially useful for commercial complexes where there are often much larger drainage systems and regular drain surveys are required for proper upkeep. What’s more, such surveys will allow plumbers and contractors to locate and report any problem quickly, which means the right solution will be implemented as soon as possible.

Whether you are a building manager or owner, you likely know how common drainage issues can be. By scheduling a CCTV drain survey, you will be taking an important preventative step to ensure that no drainage issue causes long-term damage.

When are CCTV Drain Surveys Needed?

For commercial properties, it is advisable that CCTV surveys should be regularly scheduled. Typically, this means either annually or twice a year, depending on the volume of usage on the pipes and drains.

That said, your drainage issue might be severe and require immediate response. If you are experiencing any of these sewer and drainage issues, be sure to seek help immediately:

Regular Blockages

This is one of the most common reasons why a drainage survey is required. It will help your contractor if they know the exact location of the blockage in the pipe before they can clear it and return your pipes to working order. Leaving a blockage in your drainage system can result in more blockages developing and damage to the sewers.

Subsidence

Some locations are more prone to subsidence and ground movement. If you are concerned that your commercial complex may be experiencing signs of subsidence, it is very important to have a a CCTV drain survey carried out for a full evaluation of your property’s drains. Subsidence can cause major problems down the line and it is very important to ensure the drain’s condition is solid.

Leaks

If the building experiences regular leaks or clean or waste water, it is definitely a time to call us for a CCTV survey. There could be a tree root infestation in your drains or poorly connected pipes that need to be repaired or replaced. Leaving your pipes in this condition can result in damage that affects the building’s entire drain system.

A CCTV survey for your drainage system is the quickest and most affordable way to diagnose the problem.

Whether it is build-up or a problem with the building structure, our professional team works with top-of-the-range cameras and technology will be able to find the solution to your problem.

Book an Expert Team

When it comes to CCTV drain surveys, they should only be handled with experts who have access to the best tools and equipment. At Util-Locate, we take solving all of our customers’ drain problems very seriously.

We also have the expertise and experience required to ensure your drains and pipes are left in the best state and condition following a drainage survey and any of our services.

Our team has all the required training to use top quality equipment and cameras, which allow us to make the most accurate drainage surveys and project reports. If you are experiencing a drain problem, our experts will be able to solve it with brilliant customer service.

Alongside our utility locating services, we can perform CCTV surveys to discover all the details of your drains. For a menu and description of every service we offer, take a look at our website. You can also request a quote for one of our services, including surveys.

For more information about the services we provide and how CCTV drain surveys can benefit all aspects of your commercial complex and unit plumbing system, don’t hesitate to contact us.

We also offer a 24/7 emergency drain service if you experience an emergency on your property. Simply call us at the Util-Locate emergency number at (714) 492-1380.

How Do Ground-Penetrating Radars Work?

Ground-penetrating radars (GPRs) use high-frequency electromagnetic radiation to locate underground utilities in places that are too dangerous for humans to enter, like sewers, collapsed mines, and building foundations.

These radars can locate underground utilities quickly and accurately, making them very useful in potholing utilities or private utility locating services, as well as in utility locating services conducted by utility companies themselves. Whether you’re working with natural gas or water pipes, the following guide will help you understand how GPRs work and how to use them most effectively for private utility locating.

What Is A GPR?

Essentially, a GPR sends radio pulses into one end of an object of interest and measures how long it takes for them to bounce back out. If there’s something in between (such as a buried object), then some of those signals won’t make it back to their starting point.

Like other tools used for potholing utilities, GPRs come in various sizes depending on application needs. They can be handheld versions designed for easy use by technicians on foot looking for infrastructure along roadsides; larger ones used by heavy machinery operators clearing construction sites; and even miniaturized drone versions controlled via smartphone apps.

The Best Uses for GPRs

Two of the most common uses for ground penetrating radars are detecting buried utility lines, such as gas or electric lines, and locating lost items in hard to reach areas.

Private utility locating services are especially good at finding cables that have been deliberately buried. GPRs can also be used for probing soil conditions before construction.

From private utility locating to potholing utilities, GPR is often used for such purposes and can locate pipes up to 20 feet underground. While a traditional surveyor may take weeks or months to complete their task, with GPR it’s only hours or days at most.

The Advantages of GPRs

First and foremost, using a GPR is an incredibly fast way to conduct utility locating services. The high frequency radio waves pass through all sorts of materials — from asphalt to concrete to earth — giving you a view beneath that surface.

Unlike traditional utility locating services or potholing utilities, you don’t have to dig a trench or disturb anything above ground level, which makes it perfect for areas where excavation would be disruptive.

The Disadvantages of GPRs

That said, you should also be aware of the common disadvantages associated with GPRs. If a utility has been damaged, removed or destroyed then you could miss it with a GPR system. This is why it’s vital to use qualified professional utility locators that have been trained and experienced in private locating techniques.

While GPRs can lower the costs of your overall project by reducing the need to dig up an entire site, the equipment itself is not cheap.

Get the Job Done With Our Expert Utility Locating Services

When working with GPRs, it is imperative that you remain aware of local ordinances regarding excavation work near existing utility lines. This is where we come in.

A private utility locating service can provide you with all of these tools to pinpoint a leak in your water line, an underground pipe, or other important utilities. For those who do not have an underground network and are trying to find out what is below their land, potholing utilities is another way to pinpoint what lies beneath you.

To learn more about how our team can help with private utility locating, contact us at Util-Locate today.

How Vacuum Excavators Help Uncover Hidden Utilities

Utility locating services, such as vacuum excavators, help unearth utilities that have been buried beneath the streets and sidewalks of our cities. The most common of these services are used for private utility locating, but they can also be employed to identify electric power lines and telecommunications cables too.

These services can come in handy when you’re planning to lay new pipes or build new streets, but do you know how they work? And how will they help you? Check out this guide on how vacuum excavators help uncover hidden utilities to find out more!

Why Do You Need to Uncover Utility Lines?

When you plan to dig a hole in a public street, you need to be sure that your work won’t damage underground utility lines. One of the best ways to locate buried utilities is with ground-penetrating radar (GPR). Unfortunately, not everyone has access to sophisticated equipment like GPR. That’s where vacuum excavators come in.

When we are talking about hidden utility lines, we are usually referring to a private utility line. These kinds of utilities include electric power lines, telecommunication cables or water systems that could be underground but are not intended for public use. A vacuum excavator is often used to find and expose these types of utilities before construction projects can begin.

When Do You Need to Use a Vacuum Excavator?

In general, you’ll want to use a vac head when you’re trying to locate utilities below street level. Underground utility lines are often hidden beneath public streets, so they can be extremely difficult to find. This is where vac heads can come in handy: by using a vacuum mechanism, these tools can locate buried cables and pipes with ease.

The machine forces groundwater out of an area in order to expose any lines underground, while a GPS device attached to it can make sure it stays in one spot while crews drill holes. By clearing away topsoil and keeping suction applied beneath a specific point, these machines uncover utilities at the street

In short, this equipment can help eliminate unnecessary digging by sucking out dirt, rocks and other debris instead of pushing it back up to the surface with a traditional mechanical scoop.

Not only does a vacuum excavator save time, but it also helps locate both shallow and deep lines without causing damage or inconvenience to the surrounding homes or businesses.

Is It Safe?

There are three major dangers to watch out for when conducting utility locating services: electric shock; damage to underground lines; and harmful gasses such as methane and hydrogen sulfide.

Once excavation starts, workers need to maintain vertical alignment in order to find all utilities with no ruptures whatsoever. A small ground crew should remain above-ground whenever possible; if employees aren’t within eye contact of each other, communication will fail and things can get dangerous pretty quickly.

Utility Locating Services You Can Trust

The purpose of potholing utilities with a vacuum excavator is to help identify what you’re going to run into below ground before it gets expensive. Certain things like pipes and cables need to be relocated, while other things may not be as important.

It’s easy for some contractors to underestimate how much time it will take them to excavate something when they can’t see where they are digging. Our expert team at Util-Locate will walk you through the process of vacuum excavation to help you understand the importance of this procedure.

If you have reason to believe that your project is going to have any type of underground obstruction that needs removing or relocation, then it might be worth getting a contractor or utility company out there before you start breaking ground so that everyone involved knows what they are dealing with.

To learn more about how our team can help with private utility locating, contact us at Util-Locate today.

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!

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