Alberta First Call alternatives?

[Draug]

Does anyone know of any private contractors that can locate possible underground services for me?

I want to remove about 6 inches of sod/rock/soil/trees and add in about 8 inches of loam on my acreage. It is not even deep enough to hit any services in theory, but you know what they say about being safe over sorry.

Normally, a person would just use the free Alberta1Call service, but I'd like to do the work tomorrow if I can get a service location done in time. My neighbor has the bobcat here tomorrow that I can use for free.

[Pinner]

Try and rent one of those locator things, aren't they just a metal detector ?

Go for it, you won't hit anything.

[Draug]

I've never been around when a line locator has done the job. Do they just use metal detectors?

Where would I rent one?

[Traditional_Ale]

They do not use run-of-the-mill metal detectors. Just call AB1call else hire a locator under the table after hours.

[Madman]

FYI - If you hire a private locator, you are going to have to pay out of your pocket.

Give Alberta 1 Call a call and let them know you have equipment on site and need a rush if possible. They might be able to help you out if someone is in the area already.

[Sr. Mints]

Originally Posted by Madman

Give Alberta 1 Call a call and let them know you have equipment on site and need a rush if possible. They might be able to help you out if someone is in the area already.

They absolutely, completely don't give a crap. Trust me, I worked in the call center once upon a time.

You might have more luck playing the 'emergency card.' A ticket marked as an emergency has a much shorter wait time.

Tell them you think you may have unearthed something. You're "not sure," you "don't know," you "suspect" you may have hit something. Don't go and say you've hit something out right..... Just mince a lot of words.

[Draug]

I'd happily hire a private contractor after hours if anyone happens to be one or know of one.

I've had no luck finding one...

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Draug

I'd happily hire a private contractor after hours if anyone happens to be one or know of one.

I've had no luck finding one...

I'm married to one.... unfortunately he is currently flying somewhere over the US.

He'll be home long enough to attend a wedding. And of course his equipment is at a work site, not here at home.

Just an fyi, contract locators are pretty pricey.

[metallicat]

Don't assume that utilities are well below the surface where they are "supposed to be". A number of years ago we were doing some excavations and no line was hit. Assuming everything was fine because the locates were "done", concrete pins were driven into the ground and one of them struck a primary power line. It flashed and burnt the guy pounding the pin in. Luckily nobody died, but the lesson learned that day if you just never know where the lines are unless they are exposed.

If Alberta One Call comes out and finds power, they are likely not going to give you the depth of the line, so you'll have to still be very careful.

[frinkprof]

What line locators use are not metal detectors.

There are two-piece kits that are used. One part is a "box" transmitter that will emit a signal which will travel through the ground and if there is a line, it will then propogate down the line (or the metal tracer wire running along the line). The other piece is a "wand" which will receive the signal far away from the transmitter.

Here's a picture of one of the lower-end ones we use, since we have to do line locating once in awhile:

[Draug]

frinkprof, are you interested in coming out to my place in the NW in the morning for a little side work?

[frinkprof]

^I would be up for that if I weren't out of town for a bit. Sorry man.

[frinkprof]

I should also add that digging to a depth of 6" isn't that bad. The prudent thing to do of course is to get a locate, but you may have to do without. The line you might be concerned the most about at those depths is your phone line.

If you're digging more than 30 cm, everything within a 30 meter radius must be located, dug up and exposed.

[Azure]

Why wouldn't you want to use Alberta 1 Call?

[amorak]

Originally Posted by Azure

Why wouldn't you want to use Alberta 1 Call?

Did you read the thread?

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by amorak

Did you read the thread?

Clearly not acquainted with Azure's style I see. I'd describe it as more of a shotgun approach

[Azure]

Originally Posted by amorak

Did you read the thread?

Not through and through.

I really wouldn't trust any 'private contractor' to do the work for you, even if they are certified. Something could go very wrong, and you'd be pretty much screwed over.

If you can make it sound like a bit of an emergency they'll come the next day.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Azure

I really wouldn't trust any 'private contractor' to do the work for you, even if they are certified. Something could go very wrong, and you'd be pretty much screwed over.

Are you serious? What makes anyone AB1call hires any more or less certified or competant than a private locator? Private contractors are probably even more qualified and charge rates to go with.
And yes, you'd be screwed over, because private contractors don't carry insurance or anything. Does AB1call give some 100% money-back guarentee Im not aware of?

Originally Posted by Azure

If you can make it sound like a bit of an emergency they'll come the next day.

Yes, thats the best way to get prompt service, fake an emergency. They'll just send out ATCO and Enmax crews and bill you directly. Genius move.


Nothing he does is going to get a company to start working on a long weekend.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Are you serious? What makes anyone AB1call hires any more or less certified or competant than a private locator? Private contractors are probably even more qualified and charge rates to go with.
And yes, you'd be screwed over, because private contractors don't carry insurance or anything. Does AB1call give some 100% money-back guarentee Im not aware of?

AB1call is free as a service.

If you're giving money under the table to some private contractor, and he locates 'wrongly' where a gas line, electrical cable or whatever is, who do you think will pay for the repairs? I'm not sure how that would work with AB1call, but I'd imagine that if they screwed up, and it was pretty obvious, they would pay for damages.

Yes, thats the best way to get prompt service, fake an emergency. They'll just send out ATCO and Enmax crews and bill you directly. Genius move.

Well at least they'd get it done.

Nothing he does is going to get a company to start working on a long weekend.

The AB1call site says be proactive and call in your dig two days before you need it done. Obviously they're not going to be there in 1 day, on a weekend to do some locating work.

All I'm saying is that there have been a ton of accidents in the past because utilities weren't located properly. It wouldn't be something I'd play around with.

If you're hiring someone under the table to come do something on the weekend, how do you know he's not just pulling your chain to get your money, but actually not even locating the lines properly?

[metallicat]

I am not a fan of Alberta 1 Call either myself. Their staff are paid so poorly, and I equate that to having people work for them that A) aren't trained properly, and 2) don't care about their job enough to do a thorough job. BUT, getting them out is better than not getting them out.

I would love to see you call and say you hit a gas line. Give it about two minutes before you hear fire truck sirens.