Know Where Things Are Before You Start Digging
Whether you are looking to put in an in-ground pool or you want to use a residential excavator rental to flatten out an area in your yard, it's important to know what is below the surface of your yard before you start digging. The area that you want to dig out is going to have to be researched first to identify where there are any buried utility lines that you need to avoid. When you understand what potential utilities are beneath the surface, you will have a better idea of what you could be disrupting. Your plan will need to include how deep you are going to go and where all of your utilities are before you start the digging process.
Call 811 Before You Start Digging
Don't start using an excavator rental in your yard before you contact the state and learn what could be under your ground. In some states, you can get this information by calling 811. Any utility companies that run their lines underground will need to be contacted so that your yard can be marked before you start digging. Your yard will be marked up by painted lines that indicate where your utilities and are what areas you need to avoid.
Understanding the Color Coding
The use of colors to identify utilities that are underground is universal, and you can expect specific colors to indicate set utilities. Red is used for electric, yellow for gas, steam, and oil, blue for water, green for sewer, orange for cable, and white for the proposed area of excavation. Once your yard is marked up with various colors, you know what you will need to avoid and can get your project started.
When You Have a Septic System
Before you begin digging, know exactly where your septic tank and the leech field are. While you should avoid digging near your septic tank, you should also avoid driving an excavator rental over the tank itself. The excavator is heavy, and you can end up damaging the septic tank and leech field if you drive heavy machinery on it. Find out how close you can get to your septic system without disrupting the process.
When you are ready for a residential excavator rental, take the time to know what is going on below the surface of your yard. Pay attention so you won't have to fix a major mistake.
For more information on excavator rentals, contact a company like Wirtz Rentals CO.
