What Should Homeowners Know Before Digging on Their Property?

What Should Homeowners Know Before Digging on Their Property? 1
Prvent Utility Damage, Service Interruptions & More

What Should Homeowners Know Before Digging on Their Property?

Before digging on your property, you should identify potential underground utilities, submit the required Pennsylvania 811 notification, and determine whether private utility locating is also necessary. Even relatively small excavation projects can encounter buried electrical cables, gas lines, water pipes, or other infrastructure.

For homeowners throughout the Lehigh Valley and surrounding Pennsylvania communities, preparing before excavation can help prevent utility damage, service interruptions, and unexpected project complications.

  • TL;DR
  • Contact Pennsylvania 811 before digging and allow the required notification period.
  • Remember that privately owned underground utilities may not be included in standard 811 markings.
  • Review the excavation area, identify potential hazards, and follow appropriate precautions before beginning work.
Proper Planning

Know Before You Dig

At Eastern Area Locating, we help homeowners identify underground utilities before starting excavation or property improvements. Learn why Pennsylvania 811 notifications and private utility locating are important, which projects require extra precautions, and how proper planning can help prevent utility damage and safety hazards.

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Why Should You Check for Underground Utilities Before Digging?

Underground utilities can exist in areas where homeowners might not expect them. Electrical cables may supply detached garages, landscape lighting, or outdoor equipment. Private gas lines can serve outdoor appliances, while water, sewer, and septic piping may extend across different sections of a property. Accidentally damaging these systems can interrupt services, create expensive repairs, and introduce serious safety hazards. Even familiar properties can contain undocumented utilities installed during previous renovations or landscaping projects. We help homeowners investigate underground infrastructure so they can better understand potential hazards before beginning excavation.

When Should Pennsylvania Homeowners Contact 811?

Pennsylvania homeowners should arrange the required 811 notification before beginning excavation. For routine excavation, Pennsylvania requires notice at least three business days, but no more than ten business days, before work begins. The excavation date must comply with the lawful start date established through the notification process. Pennsylvania 811 communicates the excavation request to participating utility owners, who are responsible for responding and marking their facilities when applicable. Homeowners completing their own excavation should submit their own notification. When a contractor performs the work, the contractor is responsible for submitting the required request. The depth of a planned excavation should not be used as a reason to skip the notification process.

Why Might Private Utility Locating Be Necessary?

Although 811 is an important part of excavation preparation, it does not guarantee that every underground line on a property will be marked. Privately owned electrical, communication, gas, water, drainage, and septic systems may require separate investigation. For example, a homeowner installing a fence near a detached garage may have an underground electrical line that is not included in standard utility markings. Our private utility locating services can help investigate these additional systems using equipment appropriate for the utility and property conditions. Private locating supplements the 811 process rather than replacing it.

What Projects Should Be Checked Before Excavation?

Many common home improvement projects involve disturbing the ground. Fence installation, deck construction, tree planting, drainage improvements, patio preparation, and building additions can all encounter underground infrastructure. Before beginning, identify the intended excavation area and review any available utility records or property plans. Mark the proposed work area as required, confirm the status of the 811 request, and consider whether private utility locating is necessary. If underground lines are unmarked, markings appear incorrect, or unexpected infrastructure is encountered, stop work in the affected area and follow the appropriate notification and verification procedures.
Serving Throughout THe Lehigh Valley & Surrounding Pennsylvania Communities

Prepare for Your Next Digging Project

Understanding what’s underground is an important part of planning safer property improvements. We provide private utility locating, pipe locating, and ground penetrating radar services throughout the Lehigh Valley and surrounding Pennsylvania communities. Contact Eastern Area Locating before your next excavation project to discuss potential underground hazards.

Have A Question? We Are Here To Help!

Frequently Asked Questions

At Eastern Area Locating, we help homeowners and contractors prepare for excavation by identifying underground utilities before digging begins. Our FAQs explain Pennsylvania 811 requirements, when private utility locating may be needed, and how proper scheduling can help prevent damage and project delays.

Do I need to contact 811 before digging in my own backyard?

Yes. Pennsylvania requires appropriate notification before excavation, including projects performed on residential property. Requirements apply regardless of how shallow the planned digging may be.

Will Pennsylvania 811 identify my septic or private electrical lines?

Not necessarily. Privately owned systems may not be included in the markings arranged through 811. Additional private utility locating may be necessary.

How far in advance should I schedule utility locating?

Submit routine Pennsylvania 811 requests within the required three-to-ten-business-day notification window. Schedule private locating early enough to allow for site evaluation and any additional investigation before excavation begins.