Locating Pipes

farmer2009 · Jul 1, 2014

I am needing to locate some pipes and wires that I didn't install underground (they were here when I bought). I don't know if power is in conduit or not. It is from ground up but wondering if it stops after the 90. Power company will mark to meter but then they stop. Everything is on my side of meter. Plus need to locate water lines. What I am wondering is what the TBN folks use to locate lines with?

kenmac · Jul 1, 2014

I use a device called a pipe horn. It will locate wires as well as metal pipe. Their not cheap. mine is an older model that I've had for several yrs.

Paul N · Jul 1, 2014

Since you live in Kentucky, you should be able to find some one that can use "witchin sticks". I've heard some amazing stories of people locating pipes and wires this way, when the high tech gadgets couldn't. Sorry about the Kentucky crack.

phuse71 · Jul 1, 2014

Your locale electrician may have cable finder for your cabling and possibly your water pipe if it is steel/iron/copper. Most cable/water lines are in the same trench or in the same line in general as a cost saving measure. If your water lines a poly/PVC I have had a electrician put a cable down the pipe first then he checked with a cable finder. Otherwise you can hand dig a couple of spots first before using a machine just to be safe. I work at a remote mine site and our drawings had 2 pipes marked on them and we found 6 in total, lucky we had dug first. As 2 were high pressure air and one a cable put in a steel line.

PILOON · Jul 1, 2014

In my area all excavators need to call a central phone number to have the hydro, electrical phone cabled and gas lines located before work starts.
They place little colored flags to mark the lines, color coded to indicate the specific service.
I would be very surprised if your state did not have a similar service.

pokerboy57 · Jul 2, 2014

Oh man.... let me tell you I had a propane generator and a tankless water heater installed by a local propane company. The contractor got cheap or stupid or both and didn't call "Call before you Dig" which is a service you can pay for to mark out underground electrical, etc. I watched as the backhoe raised what looked like a root but turned out to be was the main electrical cable going to my house. Sparks everywhere as it was ripped from the meter box..... 6 hours later the power was restored to my house.......

Unless you love adventure use a service like "Call before you dig".

dragoneggs · Jul 2, 2014

pokerboy57 said:
Oh man.... let me tell you I had a propane generator and a tankless water heater installed by a local propane company. The contractor got cheap or stupid or both and didn't call "Call before you Dig" which is a service you can pay for to mark out underground electrical, etc. I watched as the backhoe raised what looked like a root but turned out to be was the main electrical cable going to my house. Sparks everywhere as it was ripped from the meter box..... 6 hours later the power was restored to my house.......

Unless you love adventure use a service like "Call before you dig".

Hey poker boy, :laughing: this post belongs in the welding forum.

turnkey4099 · Jul 2, 2014

Paul N said:
Since you live in Kentucky, you should be able to find some one that can use "witchin sticks". I've heard some amazing stories of people locating pipes and wires this way, when the high tech gadgets couldn't. Sorry about the Kentucky crack.

I do it but have serious doubts about it. I can trace pipes, wire fairly accurately IF if have a general idea where they are. Working without any clue? Very poor. Interesting recent case of checking it.

Had a leak in the well causing water to run back into the well after pump shut off. Well service called 811, they came out and marked the phone line only as I hve overhead electrical service, no gas, and we knwew where the water lineswere approximately.

Well service came when I was not home and put pretty white marks with arrows. I didn't know what they were marking so got out my rods. Yep, they indicated over every mark and traced between marks. Being an old, old house I figured they were old water lines. Well service showed upand I asked about the markings "We did that so the 811 guys would know where we wanted to dig". Got my sticks and rechecked...not even a quiver at any of the marks. For the life of me I cannot tell how I am causing them to move.

Harry K

tractchores · Jul 2, 2014

I personally dig a hole with my BH - find them every time! Seriously though if you know the starting and end point they're almost certainly in a straight line (no one likes to dig more than needed). I usually dig down to the wire or pipe at both ends by hand so I know depth then use a laser pointer or string to connect the dots.

Walkin Horse · Jul 2, 2014

PILOON said:
In my area all excavators need to call a central phone number to have the hydro, electrical phone cabled and gas lines located before work starts.
They place little colored flags to mark the lines, color coded to indicate the specific service.
I would be very surprised if your state did not have a similar service.

Ms utility only marks the public lines from the street to the house. Anything going from say the house to a garage or barn your on your own. That's where the backhoes come in to play.