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What you should know before you start digging in your backyard

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Last Updated on May 16, 2024 by Alaina

If you are about to start a project which involves digging in your backyard there are certain things you will need to think about. It should never be a case of just grabbing a shovel and digging. If you do not take the time to think about what is lying beneath the surface of your yard you could find yourself striking something you really do not want to. This can be inconvenient and even potentially dangerous.

digging-in-the-backyard-mainImage via Pixabay

You may be surprised at what problems you can cause by just digging in your own backyard. Let’s take a look at the potential hazards that could be lurking beneath the surface of your yard, and what you can do to make digging in your backyard as safe as possible.  

What problems could you encounter if you decide to start digging in your backyard?

Water Pipe

If you decide to make a start on putting up a new fence, or planting a new tree, in your yard, and simply start to dig, you run the risk of coming across something unexpected such as a water pipe or a gas main. If you hit a water pipe while digging in your backyard you could be faced with a flood in no time. The most important thing to remember if this happens is that you should not panic. You need to remain calm and deal with the issue as soon as you can. The first thing you need to do is switch off the main water supply valve. This stops the flow of water and alleviates the immediate flooding problem. Then it’s all about fixing the pipe which you may be able to do yourself or you may need to get professional help with.

Gas Lines

Hitting a gas main while digging in your backyard can potentially be even more serious. As most people know, escaped gas has the potential to cause an explosion so you should always switch off any tools you are using if you hit a gas main. You should then make sure that everyone is away from the area and call the gas emergency service.

How to prevent problems from occurring in the first place

Ideally you want to try and stop any of these problems from happening in the first place. One of the best ways to do this is to seek professional help with utility mapping before you start. Expert surveyors can tell you exactly what lies beneath the surface of your yard so that you do not hit anything you should not.  It may be tempting to just take a chance without having this work done but it’s worth taking a moment to just think about the potential consequences. Dealing with the aftermath of a flood or a gas leak could be a lot more expensive than paying for utility mapping before you start.

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