paulsharvey
Elite Member
I know I'm making fun of witching; but it is harmless, as long as you spot dig to confirm. If it works, doesn't matter if it's Indian spirits, Gypsy magic, or Voodoo, or good science that we don't understand.
New farm... Finding livestock water lines across 126ac?
paulsharvey
Elite Member
If you have some General Ideas of where the logical locations are; take either a gas powered air compressor, or a pallet with your generator and electric air compressor on it; rig up an Air Lance (maybe a 3/8" straight steel pipe) plumbed to quick connect air fitting And a shut off valve. Then use that, with the air doing 80% of the work to probe for the line, minium destruction. Once you hit something that feels like pipe, mark it with paint, and probe some more going 360 degrees. Once you have a good feel for the running line, dig it up (or use a combo of air and a shop vac). Sure, you can witch it to find where you want to probe, and your still gonna want a shovel to dig it up, but most of the time, you can kinda work things out.
I know your dealing with a large property, but we have 2 fixed points, the well and the waterers, and only so many ways to get from A to B.
Other option, say screw it, lay new pipe, and run a tracer wire with it.
I know your dealing with a large property, but we have 2 fixed points, the well and the waterers, and only so many ways to get from A to B.
Other option, say screw it, lay new pipe, and run a tracer wire with it.
grsthegreat
Super Star Member
I hate to say this, but if the water to those hydrants are turned off…they were probibly leaking badly years ago. No other reason to turn them off. Yard hydrants are placed deep enough to resist freezing.
Even if you find the shutoff, might not accomplish much. That being said, there are quite a few devices to find buried poly pipe. Our water district uses one that uses pressure that bumps the water. And a device to listen for the pipe underground. Works unless pipe is totally cut. Running a steel fishtape thru a waterline will also work as long as no water 90° fittings are used. Than place a signal tracer on fishtape. Ive used this method a few times.
I have a underground wire locator i used in my business. It wont locate polypipes but will find the fishtape.
The absolute best way to find a buried pipe, dig a fence post hole.
Even if you find the shutoff, might not accomplish much. That being said, there are quite a few devices to find buried poly pipe. Our water district uses one that uses pressure that bumps the water. And a device to listen for the pipe underground. Works unless pipe is totally cut. Running a steel fishtape thru a waterline will also work as long as no water 90° fittings are used. Than place a signal tracer on fishtape. Ive used this method a few times.
I have a underground wire locator i used in my business. It wont locate polypipes but will find the fishtape.
The absolute best way to find a buried pipe, dig a fence post hole.
grsthegreat
Super Star Member
Oh, and i just have to say this. I tried water witching my 2” main to install a backflow device. I had NO idea where it was, but had general idea it ran near my driveway. Witched area 3 times, came to same spot. Hand dug down 5 feet….found 2” poly line. Dead on.
This is way before i had locate equipment.
I must be a witch……
This is way before i had locate equipment.
I must be a witch……
Too many Kubotas
Veteran Member
Or simply capable of keeping coat hangers, a Pipe Finder, or something similar horizontal.
Not that I've tried using coat hangers, but even I can tell when something is reasonably level.
Of course, I've also haven't tried using the Pipe Finder when it's windy. I may be dumb, but not quite that dumb.
bigtiller
Super Member
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2006
- Messages
- 6,480
- Location
- central Iowa
- Tractor
- John Deere 2720 John Deere 3039R John Deere Z545R
I used to witch a lot when I was a kid, just for the fun of it. I have never tried it with metal dousing rods of any kind, I always used a small "Y" shaped branch from an apple tree. When over what ever I was wishing for, the business end of the branch would point straight down to the ground.
The "Y" branch was about 2' long and many times I would squeeze the handles so hard that when it pointed down, the bark would get stripped off the branch.
No joke, it really happened.
The "Y" branch was about 2' long and many times I would squeeze the handles so hard that when it pointed down, the bark would get stripped off the branch.
No joke, it really happened.
paulsharvey
Elite Member
I dont know if it has occurred to our OP; but there might not have been a fixed connection, being that part of the run would go through a soybean field; any ditches or drainage tile or deep tillage would have destroyed the line. Is it possible they used reel line to run water to the active padock?
OP
Dadnatron
Veteran Member
The absolute best way to find a buried pipe, dig a fence post hole.
THIS is my main reason for knowing. Even if they end up working… I want to know where they are located if at all possible in order to avoid it. I put everything in, on my old farm, and knowing where it all ran was calming.
paulsharvey
Elite Member
So, I might have missed it; but, has anyone mentioned:
Back feed water from the waterer, and look for wet spots/settling/sand in the grass? Without knowing exactly how the automatic water connects/is plumbed, it's hard to say what it would take; could be as simple as a female-female fitting, and a water hose; or it could involve cutting into the supply right below the waterer, and back feeding?
I would really Want to try to separate the waterers from the existing potable water supply for this test.
If this is simply a matter of lost valves, but intake piping; this test won't help; but I would assume at least some of the piping is already damaged.
ning
Elite Member
The absolute best way to find a buried pipe, dig a fence post hole.
Works great for finding unmarked leach field lines too!
