Digging a hole around utility lines in a very safe way
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- Опубліковано 2 чер 2023
- This is a video on how I dig around utility lines. This video is mostly for the homeowner who may be installing a fence post or just digging a hole around utility lines in general. This is going to be the safest way to do it!
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Awesome, I'm going to try this with my electrical power washer. Mine is not as powerful but I have one of these turbo nozzles, so it'll be fun to try for sure. Cheers for the info. I agree with you on how to kill a power washer for sure, don't let it idle forever.
I did it work?
Thanks for sharing
You're welcome.
Would you dig a post hole around the electrical lines? I am wondering if the water would be a safety issue by cutting or damaging the insulation on the lines.
I can definitely understand the concern with using high pressure water around electrical lines. Example: CNC water jet tables will cut thought steel plate with ease. CNC water jet table's operate at 50,000 psi or more. Most power washer will not exceed 4,000 psi, my power washer is rated at 3200 psi. Although, when washing the engine bay of my truck, I have cut though fan belts! But I've never cut though the wiring harness.
Direct burial electrical supply lines are pretty tough. Where I live electrical supply line are installed in the ground using a horizontal directional drill. Look up "horizontal directional drill" I found it to be interesting being that they can install 1,000 ft of wire with minimal surface disturbance because the wire is pulled under the ground, No trench is needed.
Now, when I was using the power washer and shop vac to install my fence posts, I encounter two holes that had the phone line running through them. The power washer didn't cut through the phone line which have thinner insulation. If I would've used post hole diggers or even an auger. It would have torn that phone line up. With that being said, most utilities are buried 3 ft away from the property lines "set back" (I can tell a funny story about installing a fence and "Set back" which involves a county code enforcer, a 10-in auger bit and a gas line. When the judge made his ruling, the county paid for the damages because the code enforcer didn't understand the regulations.) Anyways, I would recommend the Hydro Excavation method (power washer/vacuum) as a safer alternative.
But each situation is different. Just make the best decision that keeps you safe.
@@WJonez Thank you for replying. I am planning on finding the lines with a pressure washer and vacuum.
Did you take out the filter of the shop vac when sucking up mud?
I'm glad you asked that question because I did not have a filter in that shop vac! Because I forgot to put the sponge filter in it. Lol. I did tear the shop-Vac apart after I was done and clean the mud out of it. I truly torture that Shop-Vac but it still works as of today!
@@WJonez thanks for the reply. Would you recommend taking out the filter in this type of jobs?
@@tomtam558 I would at least use a foam filter.