Digging a new garden - do I need to call the gas company?

[Anonymous]

I was reading a gardening book and it talked about contacting utilities before excavating. I'm planning to remove some surface grass and use a gardening shovel to plant some shrubs and flowers. So, not very deep! Please tell me that this simple type of garden planting doesn't require me to get some sort of go-ahead from utilities. Anyone know the rules on this?

[Anonymous]

As long as you are using hand tools (like a shovel/spade), you do not need to contact Miss Utility. Shoveling around them should not damage them. However, underground pipes for sprinkler systems are easily ruptured.

[Anonymous]

I would call miss utility.

[Anonymous]

No need unless you are really digging down a couple of feet or so.

[Anonymous]

Just call Miss Utility. It's free, and they usually mark the pipes within a few days, with spray paint on your grass. Why take the risk of not calling?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just call Miss Utility. It's free, and they usually mark the pipes within a few days, with spray paint on your grass. Why take the risk of not calling?

Yep, call 811 for Miss Utility. The spraypaint washes off in rain, so it's no big deal. It's good to know where your gas and water lines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just call Miss Utility. It's free, and they usually mark the pipes within a few days, with spray paint on your grass. Why take the risk of not calling?

Yep, call 811 for Miss Utility. The spraypaint washes off in rain, so it's no big deal. It's good to know where your gas and water lines.

+1. We did this too, and it's good to know where things are for future planning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous



I was reading a gardening book and it talked about contacting utilities before excavating. I'm planning to remove some surface grass and use a gardening shovel to plant some shrubs and flowers. So, not very deep! Please tell me that this simple type of garden planting doesn't require me to get some sort of go-ahead from utilities. Anyone know the rules on this?

You can see where the gas enters the house and find the cut off box(usually in the front b/t sidewalk and the street), its a straight line between those two points about 18" down. If you are freaking out, call miss utility. They will mark in 3 days. Just remember they don't mark stuff like phone, cable, irrigation or electrical coming from the house(like to the light post by your drive way).

[Anonymous]

Please please call Miss Utility (811). It's free and they'll mark the gas line for you. Why try to guess where the gas line is? Even if 99% of the time, it runs in a straight line from the house to the street and is 18 inches deep, you never know if a builder did something unusual for some reason -- why take a chance?

For example:

http://locatingunlimited.com/accidents/2012/05/03/homeowner-hits-gas-line-with-garden-spade-in-backyard/

[Anonymous]

Here's a tip: After they come out and mark the lines, take pictures for future reference.

[Anonymous]

"Be aware. Dig with Care."

Call Miss U.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's a tip: After they come out and mark the lines, take pictures for future reference.

Not the OP, but thanks for this good advice. I am planning to do some planting and had never had our lines marked, so I put in an online request yesterday morning. The lines were marked by the gas company before I got home from work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous



I was reading a gardening book and it talked about contacting utilities before excavating. I'm planning to remove some surface grass and use a gardening shovel to plant some shrubs and flowers. So, not very deep! Please tell me that this simple type of garden planting doesn't require me to get some sort of go-ahead from utilities. Anyone know the rules on this?

You can see where the gas enters the house and find the cut off box(usually in the front b/t sidewalk and the street), its a straight line between those two points about 18" down. If you are freaking out, call miss utility. They will mark in 3 days. Just remember they don't mark stuff like phone, cable, irrigation or electrical coming from the house(like to the light post by your drive way).

This is horrible advice. The gas line is not always straight, and neither are water/sewer lines. PP is right - will not mark low voltage electrical, but they will mark high voltage lines and CATV if it was permitted.

Call Miss Utility. It can't hurt and it can save your life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous



I was reading a gardening book and it talked about contacting utilities before excavating. I'm planning to remove some surface grass and use a gardening shovel to plant some shrubs and flowers. So, not very deep! Please tell me that this simple type of garden planting doesn't require me to get some sort of go-ahead from utilities. Anyone know the rules on this?

You can see where the gas enters the house and find the cut off box(usually in the front b/t sidewalk and the street), its a straight line between those two points about 18" down. If you are freaking out, call miss utility. They will mark in 3 days. Just remember they don't mark stuff like phone, cable, irrigation or electrical coming from the house(like to the light post by your drive way).


This is horrible advice. The gas line is not always straight, and neither are water/sewer lines. PP is right - will not mark low voltage electrical, but they will mark high voltage lines and CATV if it was permitted.

Call Miss Utility. It can't hurt and it can save your life.

You do not know what you are talking about. Gas runs straight and water/sewer are very deep. You sound brilliant...not.