locating buried pipe

[ericm]

The spot where I want to put a shop is roughly where I think the pipes from my well go to and from the water tank up the hill. In our area we have to have a big tank with a 4" line to a hydrant. While the riser for the hydrant is metal the pipe is PVC. There probably isn't tape buried in the trenches as that would have cost money. The 4" pipe is supposed to be 3' down per code. Theres' also wiring for the float switch on the tank, and the feed pipe to the tank buried somewhere.

Is there a good way to locate the pipes and wiring? I have a backhoe for my tractor. I'm a novice backhoe operator. I could dig a trench but I'm worried I'd damage something.

 

[Git]

Hopefully, someone else will chime in, but I had to locate our main sewer line in the front yard and hired a plumber with a snake/locating device. I think I paid about $250 but this was about 10 years ago now.

I would have never found it on my own. The plumber marked where he thought it was and I dug down 6' and was able to locate it

 

[Stadger]

Insulated fish tape and a buried service wire locator is what I'd use. Of course I already have an old BSW locator so the cost would be minimal.

 

[kbs2244]

Check with the county.
It may be recorded on your plat.

 

[ZRX61]

Dowse it.

 

[Bronson]

Dowse it.

Yep, I have located plenty of PVC with my rods.
Easy peasy and quick.

 

[Larryjones]

Dowse it.

I have mapped out septic drainage fields with a coat hanger. Give it a try before you dismiss it.

 

[Old Man Roger]

Hopefully, someone else will chime in, but I had to locate our main sewer line in the front yard and hired a plumber with a snake/locating device. I think I paid about $250 but this was about 10 years ago now.

I would have never found it on my own. The plumber marked where he thought it was and I dug down 6' and was able to locate it

Looks like 6 feet of solid granite..lol

 

[like2wheel]

Looks like 6 feet of solid granite..lol

Yeah.
I gotta ask how you dug that nice hole

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

Dowse it.

Down here in the South- we use "divining" rods. I used to carry a set in my truck all the time.

Locating services used to be an exercise in futility- molasses ran faster than they did (much better mandates today). Anyway- I'd go find and mark myself then see where the locate service would mark. I was usually within two ft- then there was this one time...



...I was right; they were wrong. The gas company shutdown the area for about two hrs.

 

[Git]

Looks like 6 feet of solid granite..lol

Yeah.
I gotta ask how you dug that nice hole

Close - a lot of it was 'decomposed' granite. Once I got down a couple of feet it noticeably got easier. One of those 5' digging bars, to loosen the bottom and keep the sides straight, small digging tools and a rope on a bucket

 

[mreisner]

Might try a drone. From 100 feet up you might be able to see a slight change in the ground that you could not from ground level. If you have a friend with one it could be free.

 

[Jackfre]

I have taken two sticks of 1/8” brazing rod and bent it at 90* about 5-6” from its end. Holding them together pointing forward and slowly walking across the yard I have found water, gas and drains sub-grade. The rods will open parallel to the sub-grade piping.

 

[SGKent]

just a guess but straight line between the hydrant and service entrance, or meter and service entrance ,well head and service entrance etc..

 

[MushCreek]

I don't believe in dowsing. I've yet to see a scientific explanation for it. BUT- I had to locate a water main to my barn. I tried an exploratory dig with no luck. I made up a couple rods with some copper wire, and gave it a try. They kept crossing at the same spot, so I marked the ground with spray paint and started digging. You can see how close I came. It doesn't look it, but the pipe is about 2' below the surface. I still don't get it...

 

[JamesW84]

I don't believe in dowsing. I've yet to see a scientific explanation for it. BUT- I had to locate a water main to my barn. I tried an exploratory dig with no luck. I made up a couple rods with some copper wire, and gave it a try. They kept crossing at the same spot, so I marked the ground with spray paint and started digging. You can see how close I came. It doesn't look it, but the pipe is about 2' below the surface. I still don't get it...

Yep. I used dowsing or "divining rods" to locate my septic laterals and well pipe. I used it at my moms to locate her natural gas line. I read up on it. Seems like they say the reason it works is a break in the earth "the pipe" causes a change in magnetism...or something like that?

 

[CraigStu]

I did the divining rods 40 yrs ago to locate our septic drain field. We wanted to miss it for a garage. I know there is an actual technical reason why they work. But the first time you try them, it is just unbelievable magic.

 

[Old Man Roger]

You guys have me wanting to try it. My neighbors would never let me live it down though..lol

 

[readhead]

I have used an electricians fish tape several times. Locator can find it very quickly.

 

[BuffettFan]

Dowsing works. Don't know why, but it does.
I saw a coworker do it at my previous job when we were trying to locate the storm drain lines under the concrete.
I tried it after seeing him because I didn't believe it. It works.
Tried it at home and found my water service, sewer lines and the final one was my underground electrical service.
Some guys can tell you roughly how deep the line is buried.
I can't do that.

 

[Tunar]

I've also used dowsing or divining rods many times. I work landscaping, we can miss utility to have utilities marked when in question, but they are a lot of times we need to find drains, irrigation lines or old utilities that just can't be marked. I usually use the little surveying flags, bent just below the flag to 90°. I give them a spin in my hands to roll the flag part up tight, grip them loosely and point them straight ahead parallel to the ground. They will turn in towards each other above the pipe. I'm sure any metal rod, stiff wire will work. I only use the survey flags, because there usually around and handy when I need to find something. I've probably located 50 or more pipes doing this with I'd guess 85% accuracy. Give it a try.

 

[ericm]

I've tried dowsing in the past, it does not work for me. It'd be really difficult to run fish tape. The two ends of the 4" pipe come out in a hydrant and at a 10,000 gallon tank. There are no ports or clean outs. I'd either have to feed the tape through two 90s and a valve then up the hill or empty the tank, climb inside a 20' high tank and feed the tape through a 90 and from there down about 250' of pipe to the shop area. I'm not doing that, or disassembing the plumbing at the tank. The code says the pipe needs to be 3' down which is a long ways for metal detectors.

The tank is up a forested hill. I have two candidates for where the lines are run up the hill, on either side of a rock wall that formed a pad for water tanks in the 1800s. That's just up hill from where I want to put the shop.

I see a bunch of different technology for locating underground pipes. How well do locating services work?

 

[jsaw]

Yep. I used dowsing or "divining rods" to locate my septic laterals and well pipe. I used it at my moms to locate her natural gas line. I read up on it. Seems like they say the reason it works is a break in the earth "the pipe" causes a change in magnetism...or something like that?

willow branches and Brazing rods are not magnetic, just sayin. People use both of them for finding water

 

[SALIV8]

Call 811 or whatever your local service is. They will come out before you dig to locate the buried pipes for free.

 

[IowaDon]

Call 811 or whatever your local service is. They will come out before you dig to locate the buried pipes for free.

811 won't locate a private line. They typically only deal with utilities buried in the public right-of-way.

If you have a reasonably good idea where it "has" to be, and the ground isn't terribly hard, a probe rod will find it. You just have to take a systematic approach and be patient (as well as in decent shape, because it is a workout). You can probably safely take a foot off the top, one bucket wide and perpendicular to the line, with your backhoe. That will make the probing a lot easier. Our local water department finds old water mains that way, at 5' plus depths, all of the time.

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk

 

[SALIV8]

Ive used 811 on my private property in Michigan before and it was free.

https://patch.com/california/santacruz/amp/25014406/just-reminder-santa-cruz-call-811-you-dig

I would at least call 811 and inquire if I was the OP.

 

[Falcon67]

811 won't locate a private line. They typically only deal with utilities buried in the public right-of-way.

In Texas, you call for a locate on power, gas, phone - public utilites. They will locate on your property. Water you'd call the city. Your sprinkler system - start poking the ground. Get a locate on file and hit something, no fault. Don't call and hit something - big fault $$$.

 

[59 wagon man]

Hopefully, someone else will chime in, but I had to locate our main sewer line in the front yard and hired a plumber with a snake/locating device. I think I paid about $250 but this was about 10 years ago now.

I would have never found it on my own. The plumber marked where he thought it was and I dug down 6' and was able to locate it

I would not put my locater into a domestic water line as it is used mainly for a sewer but if there is a big enough electrical conduit you could tape the locating sonde to some fish tape an see how far you can push it. I have located lines 200ft away and 6 ft deep within inches

down here 811 will locate on private property but not private wells or piping

 

[ptgarcia]

I'd at least call 811 and see what they say.

 

[bigmaq]

If it's metallic, try this at Amazon, or something similar and cheaper:

Mastech Wire Tracker Test Cable Network Cable Telephone Cable Underground Pipe Ms6818

It sends an electric signal (12v?) through the pipe, and the sensor will pick it up.

 

[like2wheel]

811 doesn't do anything themselves. They notify the utilities, & they each come out & mark their lines. Since there is no utility associated with your private well, it will do no good to call them.

 

[larry4406]

Google Earth has satellite flyovers from past years. Maybe you will get lucky and can see a useful image.

 

[ZRX61]

I've tried dowsing in the past, it does not work for me.

Ya need to be sure the rods can turn easily. One method is to cut a plastic straw in two & hold a piece in each hand with the rods inside the straw so there's absolutely no friction.

 

[Cougar]

Dowse it.

What is dowsing?

Scratch that, same as using divining rods.
Never heard it called that.

 

[mmb617]

the pipe is PVC.

I made up a couple rods with some copper wire, and gave it a try. They kept crossing at the same spot, so I marked the ground with spray paint and started digging.

Seems like they say the reason it works is a break in the earth "the pipe" causes a change in magnetism...or something like that?

Let me see if I understand this. You're using copper wire to locate PVC pipe through magnetism?

I think you'd have better luck just hiring a witch doctor to tell you where the pipe is. He can tell you where it is by looking under the flat earth.

 

[ericm]

If it's metallic, try this at Amazon, or something similar and cheaper:

Mastech Wire Tracker Test Cable Network Cable Telephone Cable Underground Pipe Ms6818

It sends an electric signal (12v?) through the pipe, and the sensor will pick it up.

That looks like a more sensitive version of the lineman's tone box and detector, which I have.

But I think the only metal is the wires to the float switch.... the pipes are PVC.

 

[frank001]

Call 811 or whatever your local service is. They will come out before you dig to locate the buried pipes for free.

^^^^This^^^^
Forget the 'witchcraft' with sticks or whatever. I thought this was the 21st century?

 

[like2wheel]

^^^^This^^^^
Forget the 'witchcraft' with sticks or whatever. I thought this was the 21st century?

Ironically, witchcraft, sorcery, or (gasp) dousing has a 100% better chance at locating a private well line than asking a public utility to do that for you.



Once again, this is a priivate well. The public water authority has no idea where the pipes are, & has no reason to bear the responsibility to locate them.

 

[ford33]

"In 1992 Ground Penetrating Radar was used to recover £150,000 in cash that kidnapper Michael Sams received as a ransom for an estate agent he had kidnapped after Sams buried the money in a field."

Create a Facebook post and state you believe $1 million dollars is buried on your land. Offer a reward of 50% of the find and then select someone who has a GPR and have them search for you. They'll find the buried pipe and maybe some trinkets but you pay nothing.

 

[bigmaq]

You can insert anything metalliic down the pvc tube, e.g., plumber's snake, BX cable, and attach the transmitter to it. Depending on the sensitivity of your instrument you might be able to pick it up.