Finding a buried plastic pipe

[Pilot]

Sure sounds like tree roots and sediment. What kinds of trees? I understand cottonwoods are real good at clogging septic systems.

I'd start with the dye. If it works, it is a lot easier and less messy than trenching.

For dye, you might try Mrs. Stewart's Bluing. When I was a teen, my parents had a pool. If we had failed to keep up with the chlorine and the water was a little green, we'd pour in some bluing and have blue water when guests came over. You get a lot of blue out of a little bottle.

Let us know how things work out and what actually works for you.

 

[CurlyDave]

I agree that a trench would do it. Problem is that it is so wet that even a tracked trencher might get stuck and I'm too lazy to dig that much trench by hand .

It may dry up enough by this late summer that I could get my tractor in there or a trencher, but I was hopin' for an alternative solution.

In my neck of the woods, I can hire day laborers for $12.50 per hour. They have never gotten stuck in the mud and a pair can dig a prodigous amount of trench in a day.

 

[Travelover]

Do you have any cellar floor drains ? They usually tie into the footer drain.

I believe that the floor drain in the basement goes to the septic tank, but I could be wrong. Wouldn't that have been code in the mid 1960's?

ask a plumber with a locator to send in a snake and track it....might cost a few bucks but won't dig up the lawn or field which is wet anyway.

Where would the plumber enter the system from? There are no clean outs on the footing drainage pipe, as far as I know.

Sure sounds like tree roots and sediment. What kinds of trees? I understand cottonwoods are real good at clogging septic systems.
..................
Let us know how things work out and what actually works for you.

No cottonwood trees and it is so wet here, there is no reason for them to go after the drain pipe. I'll post when I have a solution.

In my neck of the woods, I can hire day laborers for $12.50 per hour. They have never gotten stuck in the mud and a pair can dig a prodigious amount of trench in a day.

Interesting idea. I have not heard of anyone hiring day labor around here (SE Michigan), but maybe there is an underground labor market that I'm unaware of.

My next step is to buy some dye and dig a hole next to the foundation.

 

[ustmd]

"Interesting idea. I have not heard of anyone hiring day labor around here (SE Michigan), but maybe there is an underground labor market that I'm unaware of. "

During the week, drive a white truck into any parking lot at a Home Depot, Lowes or other big box store, you will get the day laborers.

 

[sseelhoff]

I have a sure fire way of locating buried pipes and cables. Have my wife come over and tell you EXACTLY where she wants the new roses planted. Start digging in that location. 100% Guaranteed to find pipes, coax, or phone line. Don't ask me how I know this. I just do.

 

[Travelover]

I have a sure fire way of locating buried pipes and cables. Have my wife come over and tell you EXACTLY where she wants the new roses planted. Start digging in that location. 100% Guaranteed to find pipes, coax, or phone line. Don't ask me how I know this. I just do.

This is my emergency backup plan. Works for gas lines and buried electricial lines, too. :laughing:

 

[CurlyDave]

During the week, drive a white truck into any parking lot at a Home Depot, Lowes or other big box store, you will get the day laborers.

Around here any color truck works. If you drive up close to the store and park they stay away, if you drive to an empty part of the lot and park, they come running.

 

[boomer1025]

I believe that the floor drain in the basement goes to the septic tank, but I could be wrong. Wouldn't that have been code in the mid 1960's?

Where would the plumber enter the system from? There are no clean outs on the footing drainage pipe, as far as I know.


No cottonwood trees and it is so wet here, there is no reason for them to go after the drain pipe. I'll post when I have a solution.

Interesting idea. I have not heard of anyone hiring day labor around here (SE Michigan), but maybe there is an underground labor market that I'm unaware of.

My next step is to buy some dye and dig a hole next to the foundation.

Cellar floor drains going into the septic ? I would hope not. That would make one nice mess if the tank backed up.
The drain for the washer might go into the septic

 

[barkerlakebob]

So............what method did you settle on and with what results please ?

 

[Travelover]

So............what method did you settle on and with what results please ?

Still no joy. I dug a hole next to the footing 4 feet deep and emptied a gallon of water mixed with two packages of orange Rit clothing dye. Then I filled the hole with water a couple of times before filling it in. I still can't see any orange dye in the area where I suspect it exits. We have had very little rain since I dumped the dye.

I also cleared all the shrubs from an area about 6 feet wide and 75 feet long where I am almost sure the pipe passes. I dragged a subsoiler back and forth at a depth of about 12 to 14 inches, without success.