How do you find out if there is a gas line near me?

Knowing the location of underground gas lines near your home or business is crucial for safety reasons. Accidentally hitting a gas line while digging can cause dangerous leaks, explosions, injuries, and service disruptions. Fortunately, there are several straightforward ways to find out if gas lines run near your property. This article will provide an overview of gas line locations, reasons for checking, how to access maps, markers to look for, steps for contacting utility companies, what to do if you suspect a leak, and some key safety tips regarding underground gas pipelines. Having the right information helps ensure you avoid hazardous mishaps when planning any digging or excavation project.

Why Check for Nearby Gas Lines?

Here are some top reasons you’ll want to verify if gas lines are situated close to areas where you’ll be disturbing the ground:

• Prevent damage and leaks – Knowing where lines are buried means you can avoid them when excavating for construction, gardening, fence posts, mailbox installation, tilling soil, planting trees, and any other digging tasks.
• Avoid explosions and fires – Striking a gas line can cause serious natural gas explosions and fires. Verifying locations first reduces this danger.
• Reduce shutdowns – Damaging gas infrastructure leads to shutdowns to conduct repairs, creating service disruptions for the community.
• Prevent injuries – Gas explosions and fires can result in serious injuries. Checking for line locations lessens risks.
• Follow legal requirements – Many areas legally require calling 811 before any digging to get utilities marked for safety.
• Save time and money – Identifying lines early on avoids costly delays, property damage, and fines associated with hitting unidentified underground utilities.
• Gain peace of mind – The only way to be fully aware of potential hazards in your yard and avoid them is to check where gas lines run.

When preparing to break ground for virtually any purpose, it pays to be proactive and find out if natural gas lines are present. A small amount of planning and diligence goes a long way toward maintaining safety.

Checking Gas Line Maps

The easiest way to initially find out if you have gas lines buried on your property is to check utility maps. Local gas companies maintain and provide pipeline mapping resources to aid homeowners and contractors.

Here are some options for accessing maps showing gas line locations:

• Contact your gas company – Most gas providers offer pipeline maps online or have representatives available to help you access them. They want homeowners to have this info to prevent hazardous disruptions.
• Call 811 – This national “Call Before You Dig” number promptly connects you with local one call centers that coordinate utility line marking services, including maps. It’s free, prevents damage, and is required by law in most states.
• Check county records – Some county or city websites publish gas line maps available for public use. These provide general help for initial location checks.
• Search online – Websites like National Pipeline Mapping System and Click Before You Dig let you directly access utility line maps if available in your area.
• Visit planning departments – Maps may be archived at your local planning department office and available upon request.

Using one or more of these map resources offers a detailed preliminary view of possible gas line locations on and near your property. While not guaranteed to show all lines, maps provide an informative starting point before digging.

Identifying Physical Signs of Gas Lines

Beyond maps, visual signs posted on properties can indicate gas pipelines buried in the area:

• Line markers – Look for line marker posts or signs along fence lines, streets, sidewalks, or yards showing name of pipeline company and emergency contact number.
• Vent pipes – Protruding metal vent pipes every 1⁄4 mile along a buried line allow for gas release.
• Dirt mounds – A raised mound of dirt following a straight path often indicates covering a utility line.
• Dead vegetation – Gas leaks can kill vegetation leaving a brown dead patch.
• Access points – Small metal or plastic covers allowing pipeline access for maintenance may be visible.
• Meter boxes – Gas metering devices mounted on walls or small metal boxes on the ground confirm service lines.

Being attentive to these types of pipeline markers provides further help identifying probable gas line locations to avoid during your project.

Contacting Utility Companies for Confirmation

After consulting maps and looking for signs on and near your property, it’s recommended to directly contact utility providers for more precise information before digging anywhere:

• Call 811 – This summons professional utility locators to your site to spray paint marker lines showing exact locations of underground lines, often within a few days.
• Call gas company – Directly contacting your natural gas company can supplement 811 marking services with up-to-date map details.
• Onsite meeting – Some gas companies will schedule an on-premise meeting to show you line locations not clearly conveyed on maps.
• Confirm with all utilities – Check with all utilities including electric, cable, sewer, fiber optics – not just gas. Various lines may be present from different companies.
• Update info – Confirm latest details as gas lines can shift over time and maps may not reflect newer additions.

Booking professional utility line marking through 811 or your gas company provides fresh accurate data right where you need it. This eliminates guessing based only on maps and indicators. Consider it the final step for confirming it’s safe to dig.

What To Do If You Suspect a Gas Leak

If despite precautions you still damage an unidentified gas line or suspect any kind of natural gas leak, follow these important response steps:

• Evacuate immediately – Leave the area and move a safe distance away upwind of the leak, alerting others nearby.
• Call 911 – Alert police and fire crews to the emergency situation.
• Contact gas company – Call your natural gas provider’s emergency number so they can shut off flow and dispatch responders.
• Don’t light matches – Avoid open flames or sparking anything that could ignite the leaking gas.
• Don’t start vehicles – similarly, don’t operate any machinery that could spark an explosion until given the all clear.
• Don’t switch lights or electronics – Flicking a light switch on or off can also ignite leaked gas, so avoid touching any electrical devices.
• Wait for clearance – Only re-enter the building or area once gas company technicians have resolved the leak and authorized it.

Gas leaks present extremely hazardous fire and explosion risks requiring urgent safety precautions. Knowing the proper emergency response steps could help avert greater disaster.

Key Gas Line Safety Tips

Here are some additional useful reminders for safely handling projects near buried natural gas infrastructure:

• Always hand dig carefully within 18-24 inches of marked lines.
• Use wooden stakes instead of metal when staking signs near utilities.
• Don’t stack heavy materials on top of gas lines or metering equipment.
• Remove dislodged dirt and debris from line markers so they remain visible.
• Keep landscaping and structures clear of vent pipes, posts, and valves.
• Call 811 again with each new digging project, even on the same property.
• Create and enforce “tolerance zones” 24 inches either side of marked lines.
• Don’t pave over utility right-of-way areas without approval.
• Keep open communication with gas company throughout your project.
• Promptly report any damage, leaks, exposed lines, or missing markers.
• Remind all others working on your property to call 811 first.

Adhering to safe digging practices, maintaining vigilance, and contacting experts at any sign of trouble all help avoid hazardous mishaps near underground gas infrastructure.

Conclusion

Checking for buried natural gas pipelines near your home or business before any digging or excavation project is strongly advised for maximum safety. This prevents accidentally rupturing lines and causing dangerous leaks, explosions, service outages, injuries, fines, and costly repairs. While not always foolproof, useful resources exist including utility maps, visible line markers, 811 line locating service, direct contact with gas companies, and a bit of careful observation onsite. Taking reasonable preventative measures provides peace of mind that work can proceed cautiously but without constantly worrying about striking an unseen gas line. Being informed and proactive could help avert disaster on your property and in the neighborhood. For any indication of an actual leak, quickly evacuate and contact emergency services. With safe handling, gas lines and excavation work can coexist without high-risk consequences.