Planning a Fall Yard Project? Check for Underground Electrical Lines First
September is a great time to get outside and tackle projects around the yard. Before any digging begins, though, it is important to know what may be buried beneath the surface. Underground electrical lines can easily be overlooked and locating them ahead of time can help prevent damage, delays, and serious safety risks.
Because underground electrical lines are out of sight, it is easy to forget they may be running through the same area where you plan to dig. Knowing where those lines are before breaking ground can help you avoid electrical hazards, property damage, and unexpected interruptions to your project.
Start With 811 Before You Dig
Before beginning a digging project, contact North Carolina 811. This service notifies participating utility companies so they can identify and mark utility-owned underground lines in the area where you plan to work. Even common projects such as planting trees and shrubs, installing a fence, or building a deck can bring you close to buried utilities.
Those markings give you a much better idea of what is beneath the surface before the first shovel goes into the ground.
Know That 811 May Not Mark Everything
This is where homeowners can sometimes get caught off guard.
Not every underground line on your property is necessarily owned by a utility company. North Carolina 811 explains that privately managed lines generally are not included in a standard utility locate. These can include certain secondary electric lines as well as lines serving features elsewhere on the property.
For example, a property may have privately owned electrical wiring running to:
Those lines can still be sitting underneath the exact area where you are planning to dig.
When Private Utility Locating Makes Sense
If you know or suspect that electrical lines have been installed beyond the utility-owned service, it is worth having them located before moving forward.
This is especially important if you have purchased an older home and are unsure what previous owners installed. Outdoor electrical systems can also change over the years as landscaping, lighting, sheds, and other improvements are added.
Finding those lines ahead of time is a lot easier than discovering one in the middle of your project.
Planning New Outdoor Electrical Work?
Fall projects are also a good opportunity to think about what you want your outdoor space to look like once the work is finished.
If you’re already updating landscaping, this may be the right time to plan for landscape lighting or other outdoor electrical improvements. Thinking about the electrical work early can help everything come together more smoothly instead of trying to work around finished landscaping later.
A Little Planning Goes a Long Way
It can be tempting to grab a shovel and get started, especially on what seems like a simple weekend project. But when electricity may be involved, knowing what is below the surface matters.
Start by contacting NC 811 for utility-owned lines and remember that private electrical lines may require additional locating. Taking care of that step before digging can help keep your project and everyone working on it safer.
If you are planning a project around your Wilmington-area home and need help with private utility locating, outdoor electrical work, landscape lighting, or other residential electrical services, give the team at Shield Electric a call (910) 533-8334. We are proud to serve homeowners throughout New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender, and surrounding counties.
