Buried Cable Marker Tape

Avoid a big mistake by burying a yellow caution marker tape.

Actor Eddie Albert was born this day in 1908. As Oliver Douglas on "Green Acres," he loved working the soil on his little farm near the town of Hooterville. While he could dig and plant without fear, real-life homeowners must be wary when they dig around. Who knows what might be buried below. A typical yard hides everything from electrical cable to water pipes, phone lines, gas mains and sprinkler systems, to name a few. And while there are a variety of "before you dig" 800 numbers to call, here's another option that's relatively foolproof when you build a new home or install new things underground in an existing one. Bury a strip of yellow caution tape, too -- about 6 to 12 inches deep, running right above and all along anything that is buried below. Later when you dig and the tape appears, you'll know to stop right there. For more tips, visit our Web site at onthehouse.com. And that's the On The House tip for today.

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