I am a new subscriber to the on line Fine Homebuilding. My current project is a remodel of an existing bath with all the house drains (cast iron) under concrete slab. I searched for any information on pipe locating tools, equipment and techniques but came up with nothing. Can anyone direct me to information on this subject?
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I know for hydronic leaks, they run hot water and use a heat sensor, like fire departments have.
In highrises when they have to find (avoid) pipes/ steel they have someone x-ray.
I think in a residential job most would make an educated guess and start jackhammering.
Either way, this will bump your post and get more responses.
Mike
Trust in God, but row away from the rocks.
Some plumbers (or drain cleaners) have the tv cameras and you put a transmitter on them and use a receiver to do a locate.
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
You could do the stethoscope method by creating a sound in the piping & use a stethoscope to see where it's the loudest.
Or go get yourself one of these.
http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/NaviTrack/index.htm
“The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.” —Albert Einstein
Find a dowser.
Solar & Super-Insulated Healthy Homes
I've got a utility locator. I can either put a tone in the pipe if it's conductive or drop a fish tape in it with a tone on it and locate it. Maybe a local excavator has one.
John
J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.
Indianapolis, In.
Can you rent those things? I've got a little line I'm still trying to find<G> Winterlude, Winterlude, my little daisy,
Winterlude by the telephone wire,
Winterlude, it's makin' me lazy,
Come on, sit by the logs in the fire.
The moonlight reflects from the window
Where the snowflakes, they cover the sand.
Come out tonight, ev'rything will be tight,
Winterlude, this dude thinks you're grand.
Beats me.....I bought mine off ebay a few years ago. Utility locating companies can't be trusted around here and after we spent about 4 hours hand digging on one job to find that the locates were 8' off,I bought the locator. I used it a couple weeks ago to find which way and how deep an existing sewer line ran before we dug it up. A tool that earns every penny I paid for it.John
J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.
Indianapolis, In.
So, what kind is it?... sounds like I might NEED one<G> Winterlude, Winterlude, my little daisy,
Winterlude by the telephone wire,
Winterlude, it's makin' me lazy,
Come on, sit by the logs in the fire.
The moonlight reflects from the window
Where the snowflakes, they cover the sand.
Come out tonight, ev'rything will be tight,
Winterlude, this dude thinks you're grand.
I've got a Metrotech 850. Lots of brands out there but I can't vouch for any of them. The Metrotech has been good. If you buy a set, make sure it has the tone generator and the locator.John
J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.
Indianapolis, In.
Thanks, I checked ebay... there's quite an assortment. Winterlude, Winterlude, my little daisy,
Winterlude by the telephone wire,
Winterlude, it's makin' me lazy,
Come on, sit by the logs in the fire.
The moonlight reflects from the window
Where the snowflakes, they cover the sand.
Come out tonight, ev'rything will be tight,
Winterlude, this dude thinks you're grand.
I'm not sure if dowsing would work if there's rebar in the slab... but about anybody can dowse. Bend a couple of wires into ells, hold 'em in front of you and walk around. If they seem to move consistently, you may have found it<G>
Winterlude by the telephone wire,
Winterlude, it's makin' me lazy,
Come on, sit by the logs in the fire.
The moonlight reflects from the window
Where the snowflakes, they cover the sand.
Come out tonight, ev'rything will be tight,
Winterlude, this dude thinks you're grand.
I'd call a good roto rooter service. I talked to one once and they send a snake down the drain with some sort of beacon on the end and sense it from above. Give them a call and i think they can mark them for you.
Thank you. I did that and locally the cleanout people as well as the plumbers here don't trace. There is one man who will do it but he wants $275 to show up.
one man who will do it but he wants $275 to show up.
That's the going rate here in my town (and $100 extra for "after hours"--like when else are you going have a leak under a slab?)
Cannot imagine how same dude gets any plumbing work, since he's about 175% the rate of all the other plumbers in town, and that does not include after hours work).Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
For less than having him show up, you can buy this Temp underground wire finder. We have one on the job. Love it. Very productive tool. If you can't tone the pipe (plastic), shove a fish tape down it and tone that.<http://www.valuetesters.com/Tempo-508S-Wire-Finder-Mini-Locator.php>The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.