Preparing for the utilities, consisting of electricity, gas, telephone, cable television, sewer and water, which have a significant role in our everyday life, is an important step in the building process. Although some people are generating their own energy, pumping their own water out of the ground, or having their utilities delivered by truck, most people rely on utilities that are provided by their local communities.
The contractor marks where all these different connections are coming from and going to according to the plans. You and your contractor connect with all the appropriate parties so that you and your construction crew can have the benefit of modern utilities during the building process.
Public water is generally more cost effective and reliable, but rarely available in rural areas, and in such cases you need to resort to a well. If you’re connecting to public water, your contractor will have laborers dig a trench to the water supply, connecting to the main water pipe at the street. Your contractor installs a temporary meter so the water company can measure your water usage during the construction process.
Preparing for the Utilities, the Alternate Way
If you’re installing a well, you or your contractor will arrange for a well company to install the well. The well company drills down into the water table until it can find clean ground water. After the well company digs the hole, it installs an electric pump to bring the water to the surface for home use.
If you’re connecting to a public sewer system, your contractor will have laborers dig trenches to lay the drainpipes leading away from the house. These pipes need to be installed prior to any concrete being laid, and your site plan will determine the most effective route.
If your property calls for a septic system, then you need to install one now. Your contractor consults the plans to determine the exact location of the septic tank for collecting waste, and then she arranges for trenches to be dug for placing the pipe in the leech field where the waste water drains.
Assuming your property is on the public electric grid system, you’ll need to tie into it to get electricity into your home. The power either comes in underground or from a pole. Your contractor sets up a temporary post with a circuit breaker and a meter so the utility company can start measuring your usage immediately. Your building inspector needs to inspect this temporary meter before the electric company will connect the power.
If you’re connecting to a public gas system, then your contractor will arrange for the pipes to be trenched that will run from the gas line under your street into your home. Details for this routing need to be noted on your site plan. If you’re running propane gas, your supply company will usually handle the entire installation process, including delivering and securing of your propane storage tank.
With the utilities in place, you’re ready to start the building process in earnest. Make sure you spot-check connections before you move on to the next step in the process.
- Water pipes don’t leak and connections are secure. Spigot is clearly flagged.
- Sewer pipes are well buried and marked at the connecting point. The inspector has signed off on the septic system.
- Power poles are secure with no exposed wires.
- Gas pipes are buried, and connections are clearly marked.
When you finish preparing for the utilities, you can start pouring the foundation of your new custom home.