How to find a covered, surface, PVC landscape drain?

[joseywales]

I had an underground drain system, with 6 surface drains, installed years ago, got lazy and didn't follow up cleaning off the drains regularly. My daughter helped me and my back is aching, but there has to be one more drain! They are 9" round and plastic. any way to find them without digging every inch?

These are in a straight line, so it's not a treasure hunt. Neighbor's lawns all feed to mine, so soil, etc., has covered the drains, about 2-3" deep.

I tried a stud finder, because why not. Any other ideas?

 

[Jarwop]

Maybe buy two "Large Drain Cleaning Bladder" (Google big box stores or HF).
Shove one into each of the pipes of the drains you located and charge with water. Move them around to different drains until you get a puddle in the yard at the hidden drain.

 

[Shiftless]

Seems to me that if they are only 2-3 inches deep, you could probe with a long sharpened steel rod. With a long pole, you don’t have to bend over and strain your back. A 9 inch diameter plastic target that shallow should not be too hard to find.

How about a 60p spike wired onto a broom handle?

 

[66cj225]

Road crew litter spike

 

[joseywales]

Seems to me that if they are only 2-3 inches deep, you could probe with a long sharpened steel rod. With a long pole, you don’t have to bend over and strain your back. A 9 inch diameter plastic target that shallow should not be too hard to find.

How about a 60p spike wired onto a broom handle?

You wouldn't think it would be hard, right. The soil is a real bear. We had a fence put in and that guy said next time he'd charge me $50 more per post.

We just knelt down and used those small gardening rakes. I can't use a long pole rake, because my back doesn't like it.

 

[joseywales]

Road crew litter spike

I was thinking about something like that, but couldn't put a name to it. thanks.. I have heavy bars, but my back can't hack it, plus the resistance is greater than with a thin spike. I'm thinking a litter spike might be worth a shot.

 

[59 wagon man]

if you can access the line then have a sewer camera/locater run by a plumber and he should be able to find it or a probe rod and patience

 

[joseywales]

My last resort is just dig down to the pipe, and install another drain. At least I'll know it's in the right spot, based on the new incoming water pattern.

 

[mcspeed]

Keep in mind that many things are buried in the ground. Internet, sprinkler systems, water lines etc. Murphy’s law will come in to play and you will find one!

Happens all the time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[joseywales]

Keep in mind that many things are buried in the ground. Internet, sprinkler systems, water lines etc. Murphy’s law will come in to play and you will find one!

Happens all the time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks. But I'm good to go in that regard. We had them trench this out 5 years ago, so I know there isn't anything back there, especially along that straight line.

 

[nadogail]

A metal fish tape can be detected by a metal detector. Just shove the tape in and take note of where the beeps come from.

 

[kbs2244]

If it is a straight line, why can't you just pull a line from the first to the last drain?
It should hit all the in between drains.
They should give you access points.

 

[NUTTSGT]

If it is a straight line, why can't you just pull a line from the first to the last drain?
It should hit all the in between drains.
They should give you access points.

That's what I would do, stake and string the ends/known drains. You know where all but one is, are they set every so many feet ?

 

[Lucid Moments]

In typical GJ fashion I am going to recommend the simplest, cheapest solution.

 

[joseywales]

Thanks everyone. Maybe I'm not explaining it correctly. Years ago, they buried a piece of perforated landscape hose, wrapped in fabric, from the corner of the yard, then installed a pop-up outlet at the end. In between the corner and the pop-up, I figure there had to be at least two drains in each run , but life was moving pretty fast at the time and they made a few mistakes. I've found one drain on the longest run and figure there has to be a second. I should not, the drain does, so it'll be better now that I cleared these surface drains.

I did walk off the distance between the pop-up and the last drain, 11 strides (~ 11 yards). So, I figure another 11 and I'll be in the vicinity. Or, maybe half the distance from the last drain to the corner, I would find the other drain. No dice. The other two drains, heading down the other side of the yard, I was able to find.

These guys weren't the best at what they did. The foreman had to return to dig and install another drain, because the first was positioned after the spot where runoff was entering my yard. He was pretty pissed about that. I hate to have to do that, but in the end, it might be the best thing, since I can place it exactly where I need it.

I still have the receipt, but the number of drains isn't listed!

 

[zkdiesel]

Divining rods
Or the tile tracer

I’m really good with diving rods.... usually find it or big rocks
Or use a trencher and let it cut perpendicular to it till you hit it

 

[Dustball]

If they're only 2-3 inches deep, perhaps an infrared camera looking down at the ground from a high vantage point?

 

[matt_i]

The guys who pump septic tanks around here "find" the corners of them by probing with a T-handle, approx 3/8" rod they twist into the soil. Looked to me like it was a 3/16" radius on the end of the 3/8" round stock...just a rounded end.

Then they measure back a certain distance to find the access ports and dig there.

I marked my ports now so its no longer an issue but I was impressed at how easy it was for them to find.

 

[zkdiesel]

The guys who pump septic tanks around here "find" the corners of them by probing with a T-handle, approx 3/8" rod they twist into the soil. Looked to me like it was a 3/16" radius on the end of the 3/8" round stock...just a rounded end.

Then they measure back a certain distance to find the access ports and dig there.

I marked my ports now so its no longer an issue but I was impressed at how easy it was for them to find.

Called a tile probe. Works ok. Anything over 30” deep and less than 6” diam can be easily missed even ifprobing every two inches