Finding pex in concrete?

[dirttracker18]

I am looking for some ideas on how to find my infloor heating lines within the conrete.
In the future I would like to instal some pull pots (see the new thread about the instal, now I have to have them too) and be able to instal a lift.
Obviously I do not want to hit my pex lines.
Anyone have some ideas about finding the lines so that I can work around them without fear of damage?

 

[BlindViper]

I recall someone saying they wet the floor and cranked up the heat. They could see the grid as the water dried over the pex faster?

 

[akdiesel]

I remember seeing an add in a local paper that was selling a tool by Milwaukee (I blieve) that was able to indentify pipes / tubing and electrical in concrete. It said it was able to do this in 6" concrete. I think it sold for about $500.

 

[dirttracker18]

My buddy sells them and I tried it out. I would not recommend spending your money on it. I could not get an accurate reading on it. The biggest issue was I could not get it to repeat a reading with enough accuracy to give me the confidence to start drilling.
But thanks akdiesel

 

[tyrell2004]

I used a Radio Shack metal detector and some photos I had taken during the pour to find mine. I knew however that we had tied the tubing to the re-bar grid so if I found the re-bar I was pretty certain I had found the tubing. It would not detect it everywhere but once I established the grid I could measure and be reasonably certain of the tubing locations.
Still was a little nervous when I pulled the trigger on the drill.
And there are plumbing and HVAC companies that can locate with $$ electronic gizmos for a fee.
Good luck!

 

[Zrexxer]

Could you not turn it on and use an noncontact infrared thermometer to find the warmer lines? May not give you pinpoint accuracy, but surely you could find the midpoint between two lines.

 

[dirttracker18]

I used a Radio Shack metal detector and some photos I had taken during the pour to find mine.

I like the idea. Now if I can jsut find those pictures on my computer.

Could you not turn it on and use an noncontact infrared thermometer to find the warmer lines?

Someone else mention this one to me as well. Perhaps between the two of these ideas I could make a fairly accurate map.
Yes using either of these I should be able to find the middle.
Now if I can find the pics and figure out where the lines loop!

If I ever build another shop I am going to make a map of the rebar and the loops and have some really good pictures.
We need a thread for guys about to build that is all must haves, must do and don't do. Would not have helped me as I found this site after the build.

 

[tyrell2004]

Amen to the taking lots of pics. I got lucky, was just taking pics for the fun of it, during the pour. If I ever get to do it again I would photo the whole slab area just for stuff like this

 

[danski0224]

Infrared camera

 

[JamieK]

You're not the first to have this problem...

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=55070&highlight=RADIATION

 

[StingRay]

Infrared camera

Yup I have friend that did exactly that and it worked awesome.

 

[dirttracker18]

You're not the first to have this problem...

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=55070&highlight=RADIATION

Thanks for the tip. i did not find that in my search (yes I did a search).
I have not had much luck using the search function in the forum. Way too many unrelated threads pop up.

 

[kbs2244]

I have seen it done with the cold day, wet floor, theromostat set on high, dry area above the PEX idea.
It seemed to work.
Take some PICs for next time.

 

[kvom]

I tried the heat/water, but it didn't seem to work that well. However, with the infrared thermometer and the water I was able to get my lift installed without hitting anything.

 

[devilphrog]

Call an HVAC or Plumbing company that uses a FLIR camera (Forward Looking Infra Red). You should be able to see the hot spots of the PEX in the cement. Seems like this would work? That or the wet floor with the heat cranked up I guess.

 

[willymakeit]

Utility companies use tracer wire.

 

[Speed Farm]

Kvom, old thread same problem... when you say you cranked the heat, added water and then used and infrared did you mop it down? or did you have a big'ol puddle on the ground? Thanks, I am trying to find some pex lines and I don't have a thermal imaging camera, but I do have an infrared thermometer.

 

[readhead]

I have used a infrared thermometer a couple of times successfully. I started with a cold slab and was able to spot the hot spots as it warmed up.

 

[finn]

My spray foam installer has an infrared camera attachment for his IPhone.

He stopped by and photographed my floor to locate the PEX tubes (for free).

Camera worked great.

I tried the same thing with a hand held infrared thermometer. I wasn't comfortable with the precision, or lack thereof.

 

[Pwrgeek]

If it is freezing temps where you are wet slab and let it freeze then crank heat.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[pstnbly]

FLIR or ultrasound is what the big boys use.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Utility companies use tracer wire.

So do most good residential contractors I know. I was surprised to read it wasn't more common, especially with the way we think around here.

Dirttracker, do you know anybody in the local FD? They usually have at least one IR imaging system. Maybe your friend could borrow it.



Tommy

 

[MScott]

Dirttracker, do you know anybody in the local FD? They usually have at least one IR imaging system. Maybe your friend could borrow it.
Tommy

Since this is a six year old thread, I imagine Dirttracker has already drilled his holes or given up on the idea.

 

[like2wheel]

Since this is a six year old thread, I imagine Dirttracker has already drilled his holes or given up on the idea.

Pssssst;
Read post 17...

 

[Concrete GPR]

There's a newer method to locate PEX tubing in concrete -- ground penetrating radar (GPR). GPR is a geophysical method which was primarily used for geology and archaeology in the past, but over the past decade has become very significant in construction and industrial services.

There aren't very many GPR service providers, but most major metro areas should have at least a couple. Locating PEX with GPR isn't an entry level service, it requires high-end equipment and reasonable expertise, but with these conditions met it's a very routine task.

As an example, we recently mapped out all of the PEX tubing in a 18' x 60' area in just over half a day. The area was not at the middle of a parallel tubing run, the tube layout ran around existing machinery in a complex (and cool) pattern. I've created a gallery in my profile with photos from the job.

Extending the service, highly qualified service providers can create 3D maps of large areas and recreate as-built documentation when it has been lost (or is insufficiently precise for destructive work, as is often the case with PEX). As another example, in the past I spearheaded a project in which we mapped tens of thousands of square feet in an abandoned / unfinished building prior to remodel. The as-builts were long gone with the original owner's bankruptcy. With the piping layout, they could proceed with architecture and design.

I don't mean to solicit business with this post, but to raise awareness that this technology is available. If you have any questions about it, please check our website or ask here, and I'll be happy to answer or try to help you find a qualified service provider in your area.