Sewer Excavation in Dunwoody, GA

One part of sewer excavation surprises homeowners more than any other: the trench often stays open for a while after the new pipe is in, while the pipe is tested and checked. The crew is not dawdling. In Dunwoody, as anywhere, the pipe, its slope and its test should be checked in the open trench before it is covered, and that shapes how the site is protected and how the days are planned.

Making an open trench safe at home

An open trench is a hazard for children, pets, visitors and anyone crossing the yard after dark. Ask the crew what protection they leave at the end of each day, whether temporary fencing, plywood or steel covers over the opening, or barricades with warning tape. Keep dogs leashed or indoors, since a dog can jump in and fail to climb out, and walk children around the site so they understand it is off-limits. Point deliveries and guests to a safe path. Deep trenches with soft walls may also need bracing left in place overnight, because a wall that gives way while the site is empty can undermine a nearby walk or patio.

Checking the work before backfill

Before backfill, the pipe should be exposed along its length, the joints visible, the bedding in place and a leak test set up or completed. The crew checks the material, the fittings, the slope and the test, and you can ask to see the open trench. Anything found is fixed while the trench is still open and then checked again. A failed test may cost a day; a problem discovered after backfill costs a second dig.

Closing the trench properly

After the pipe has passed its test, backfill begins. The first layer around the pipe is placed carefully so the line is not knocked out of alignment, and the rest goes in layers and is compacted as it rises. Topsoil returns on top, and the lawn is seeded or sodded according to the agreement. Plan on watering new seed or sod regularly for the first few weeks and filling any low spots that appear as the trench settles.

Before you sign

• Ask for the footage that shows why digging is needed; a sewer camera inspection should back up the recommendation.
• Confirm when the leak test will be done and when you can see the open trench.
• Agree on the site protection left in place each night.
• Get restoration terms in writing, including seed or sod and how irrigation and edging are handled.
• Ask whether a trenchless repair was considered and why it was ruled out.

Open trench questions in Dunwoody

How long might the trench sit open?

That depends on the length and depth of the dig, how soon the leak test can be done and the weather. Crews try to keep the open-trench period short, and rain can stretch it. Ask for a realistic estimate when the job is scheduled.

Is it safe to walk near the trench?

Stay back from the edge. Trench walls, especially in clay that has dried and cracked or soil softened by rain, can break away without warning, and the lip is often weaker than it looks. Use the paths the crew sets out, keep vehicles and loaded wheelbarrows well clear, and never step down into the trench, even to look at the pipe. Ask the crew to show you the work from a safe spot instead.

Schedule a visit

Planning a sewer dig in Dunwoody and want the trench, the inspection and site safety lined up from the start? Call (404) 409-4448 to talk with Alpha Plumbing and Sewer.