Private Utility Locating in the Greater Seattle Area
Locate private underground utilities before you dig - water (plastic or metal lines), gas, electrical, and any known metallic lines.
811 covers public utilities up to the meter, but everything beyond that is generally considered a "private utility" that is the owner's responsibility - and often nobody has a record of where it actually runs. Simply Leak Detection provides private utility locating across the Greater Seattle Area to keep excavation work safe, accurate, and on schedule.
Public 811 vs private locating
When you call 811, the public utilities (gas, electric, water main, telecom) mark their lines from the street to the meter or service point. Anything past that - a second water line to an outbuilding, irrigation, low-voltage landscape lighting, a buried gas line to a fire pit, conduit between buildings - is on you.
Private locating fills that gap. We map the lines on the property side of the meter so digging contractors know exactly what they're working around.
What we locate
Known private water and irrigation lines (including non-metallic), and any other lines that are metallic or have a metallic tracer wire (private gas lines, private electrical conduit, low-voltage lines, telecom and CCTV conduit, and other known lines). We use RF locating for metallic lines, acoustic methods for plastic lines without tracer wire, and sondes as needed.
We do not "scan" for unknown utilities (which would require ground penetrating radar); we only locate known private utilities with accessible endpoints.
Why private locating matters before excavation
Hitting an unmarked private line is expensive and dangerous - gas or high-voltage electric are the obvious worst case, but a damaged irrigation main or low-voltage line create real headaches too. A few hours of locating prevents days of repair and the liability that comes with it.
- ◆Private water and irrigation lines, metallic and non-metallic
- ◆Private metallic lines or lines with a tracer wire (gas, electrical, conduit runs, etc)
- ◆Discrepancies between as-builts and what's actually in the ground
- Walk the site and review any as-builts or 811 marks
- Locate metallic lines with RF and plastic lines without tracer wire acoustically
- Mark routes at the surface; depth can be provided only when RF locating is possible on metal pipe or tracer wire
- Deliver a written summary included with the invoice and site photos
We've been the private locate specialists for plumbers, GCs, and property owners across the Greater Seattle Area since 2010. Our locates hold up - meaning the dig crew finds the line where we said it would be.
Three steps. No guessing.
Schedule
Call or message to book a time. We gather details so we arrive ready.
Non-invasive inspection
Acoustic sensors, tracer gas, and other non-invasive techniques - no jackhammers, no guesswork.
Clear written summary
Exact location and photos in a summary of findings included with every invoice.
Other ways we help
Plastic Water Pipe Locating
Locate buried poly, PE, and other non-metallic water lines that standard locators can't see.
Explore service →
Electrical Ground Fault Locating
Pinpoint underground electrical ground faults and conduit issues without trenching the whole run.
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Underground Water Leak Detection
Find buried supply-line leaks without trenching your yard, driveway, or landscaping.
Explore service →Planning to dig? Let's locate what 811 won't.
Get your FREE quote today
Suspect a private utility locating issue? Call now or send a quick message. We respond fast and provide clear pricing before any work begins.