When managing a property—whether it’s your home, an Airbnb, or an investment property—one critical responsibility you should never ignore is caring for what lies beneath the surface. Before landscaping, renovating, or adding new features like a fence or pool, it’s essential to determine what lies underneath the earth.
Underground utilities can include essential connections such as electricity, gas, water, sewage, and telecommunications that are crucial to a property’s infrastructure. Disturbing these lines by accident can lead to costly repairs, legal issues, and dangerous situations. Below, our guide will explain everything that homeowners need to know about locating underground utilities.
Why You Should Locate Utilities
Digging without knowing the exact location of underground utilities is a serious mistake. Striking a buried gas or electrical line can endanger lives and cause severe property damage. For example, accidentally hitting a gas line may result in leaks or explosions, while damaging electrical cables could trigger outages or fires.
Beyond the safety risks, failing to locate utilities before digging can have serious financial and legal consequences. Many states enforce strict regulations to protect underground infrastructure. Should you damage any buried utility lines without taking the proper precautions, you could be held liable for repair costs and face hefty fines.
How To Locate Utilities
Now that you know the seriousness of locating these buried lines, who do you call to locate underground utilities? Homeowners and Airbnb owners have a few options when it comes to marking buried utilities.
The easy answer for marking public utilities is calling 811, the public, free-to-use service that will connect you to public utility companies that will send out locators. For private utilities, like private irrigation, water, and gas lines, you’ll need to hire private utility locators, as the 811 service will only mark public services.
Special Considerations for Airbnb Owners and Property Investors
For those managing multiple rental properties, complications can arise. Homeowners need to know, when locating underground utilities, that each site may have different utility layouts, increasing the likelihood of disruptions during maintenance or upgrades.
For short-term rentals, frequent guests may unintentionally damage outdoor spaces, adding to the challenges. Locating and marking utilities can help mitigate these risks and prevent unexpected expenses.
Enhancing Guest Experiences With Safe Installations
Many short-term rental properties feature amenities like hot tubs, fire pits, or outdoor gas grills to attract guests. Installing these features usually involves digging, making utility location a critical step. By using property-specific blueprints and requesting utility markings, you ensure all upgrades are safe and compliant with regulations.
Property Improvements and Utility Safety
For property investors, enhancing a home’s value often includes projects like landscaping or driveway installations. These activities can disrupt underground pipes or wires without proper utility marking. Locating utilities beforehand protects your investment and helps maintain good relationships with local authorities and utility companies.
Protect Your Property and Investment
Locating underground utilities is a crucial step for homeowners, Airbnb owners, and property investors seeking to avoid accidents, fines, and disruptions. Contacting 811 and working with utility location professionals will protect your property. Before starting your next project, prioritize utility marking to safeguard your investment and keep your plans running smoothly.
