Warning: Old timer told me to check the job site for underground lines and I almost blew up the backyard

Honestly, I thought I knew better. I was digging a trench for some underground conduit for a new outdoor lighting setup on a residential job over in Oak Park. This old electrician, must've been 70 years old, walks by and says 'kid, you better call before you dig or you're gonna light up the whole block.' I laughed it off because I'd already checked the city maps online. Well, I got about 3 feet down with the mini excavator and hit a gas line. No boom, thank god, but it was a close call. The gas company showed up and said those online maps were off by 4 feet from their actual records. Now I always get a private locator out before I break ground, even for small jobs. Has anyone else had to deal with utility maps being completely wrong on a project?

2 comments

2 Comments

nathan_torres3419d ago

Did you have to pay for the gas company’s repair out of pocket? I’ve heard stories where the homeowner gets stuck with a huge bill even if the maps were wrong. That’s a rough way to learn a lesson, glad nobody got hurt.

olivia57319d ago

Nope, the gas company ate the whole cost. Their locate guys messed up the maps, so it was on them. I didn't pay a dime for the repair, but I had to miss a day of work to stand there and talk to them. Best thing you can do is get the original ticket number from the locate service and keep it handy. That way if something goes wrong, you have proof it was their mistake. Also, take photos of the whole thing before they dig anything up - dates and all.