Dublin Plumber - Natural Gas Pipeline Safety - Guaranteed Plumbing Danville, CA

Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Alert

Natural gas pipelines may be present in clogged sewer lines outside of homes.

Safety Tips for Drain Cleaners & Sewer Cleaners

The current practice in urban areas is to directional-bore new utility lines (gas, electric, telephone, and cable TV) to avoid damage to sidewalks, patios, and landscapes. Sewer laterals on private property are not typically marked by Underground Service Alert (USA) and can go undetected during boring. The unintentional result is that a utility line can be bored or pierced directly through a sewer lateral in what is known as a "cross bore."

A cross bore in a sewer lateral will impede flow and lead to eventual blockage. A worker who attempts to remove the blockage can accidentally cut the utility line. For natural gas lines, the loss of service may not be immediately apparent, and gas can migrate through the lateral and concentrate in sewer lines and nearby structures.

To prevent this potentially hazardous situation, consider the following tips:

• Before Cleaning. Look for trees or landscaping that could be causing the obstruction. If there are none, ask the owner if there has been any recent utility work in the area that could have affected sewer lines; if so, you should:
  • Be aware that a cross bore may be causing the blockage.
  • If you have access to utility line locating tools, use them to find laterals and gas service lines.
  • If you own or can obtain access to an inline video inspection device, use it to assess the blockage.
• During Cleaning.Use the least invasive equipment first to try to remove the blockage with a snake before employing a cutting too. Then as you go, feel for resistance that does not resemble a tree root or other common obstruction.
• After Cleaning. Natural gas utility lines are typically plastic. If you use a cutting tool, look for yellow or orange plastic on the blades when you withdraw it. Watch for bubbles escaping from the entry point of the cutting equipment or toilet and/or use a combustible gas indicator (CGI) or other gas detection equipment, if available.

Source: www.pge.com/myhome/edusafety