How to find pipes? Deus 2 or Nox

[sdub]

Hi there. I've spent so much time isolating small signals that I'm at a loss at how to find buried pipes. Went to my sister's house today where there's a pipe leaking under the house (bill is astronomical and it's a mess) Tried to determine where the pipes were running through the yard with no luck, though I did find long metal objects the workers had piled rocks and muck over. Half a day of grunt work, but at least the area I need to detect is fairly clear now.

Can someone tell me program/settings for either Nox 800 or Deus 2 that might help?

I should note:

1. a large section of the area between the main and house is undetectable as a variance allows growth, and then there's a shed.
2. There's a gas meter at that corner of the house as well, and I don't know where the gas line comes in.
3. I recall there's a pinpointing setting on at least one of these detectors that reduces the signal - and perhaps I'll need to toggle that off to see the pipes clearly
4. House was built early 1940s and I don't know the composition of the original or any replacement pipes are.

Thanks a bunch!

 

[Beachhunt1]

settings for either Nox 800

Equinox 800 in the horseshoe mode to read all metals. But it is not going to reach pipes 2' down. How far down are you wanting to go? what size pipe?

 

[sdub]

Thanks - can try horseshoe mode and a 15" coil.

Unfortunately, don't know depth or size of pipes.

 

[GroundSweeper]

I've hit on pipes w/ the Nox and the 11" coil even - so it all depends.... hope you can find them/it!

 

[5 mile]

Ive actually had good luck with dowsing rods, then I verified with a 5ft steel probe. I made my dowsing rods.

 

[Beachhunt1]

Thanks - can try horseshoe mode and a 15" coil.

Unfortunately, don't know depth or size of pipes.

Another option might be to call Miss Dig. Not sure where you live, but in Michigan they come out and mark all utilities.

 

[Rudy]

Call 811.

 

[Cupajo]

Metal detectors are rarely the answer due to the depth of most water pipes from the street to the house. As a plumber with many years of repairing home plumbing I found that a signal tracer works best. I have a Garrets that I used many times over the years to locate wells and buried water pipes. I would run a coiled electrical snake (used to pull wires through long buried tubing) to push from the house to the well and clip the power source/signal generator to the snake and ground. I then used a metal detector/signal tracer to follow the wire to the buried well! It will read the signal from 4' and deeper most times. Can you access the pipe in the house? If it is metal the signal generator can be connected to it instead of using the electrical snake. If the water is from a main pipe buried near the street there should be a curb stop valve to shut off the water to the house. In northern climes the pipe from the street must be at least 4' down and often more!
Kind of pipe and accessibility are the two main considerations!

GL,

CJ (AKA Lew the Plumber)

 

[sdub]

I've hit on pipes w/ the Nox and the 11" coil even - so it all depends.... hope you can find them/it!

Same. Thanks!

 

[sdub]

Ive actually had good luck with dowsing rods, then I verified with a 5ft steel probe. I made my dowsing rods.

Neat! Tried that as a kid.

 

[sdub]

Call 811.

Hadn't heard of this service. Seems like the best option. Thanks!

 

[sdub]

Metal detectors are rarely the answer due to the depth of most water pipes from the street to the house. As a plumber with many years of repairing home plumbing I found that a signal tracer works best. I have a Garrets that I used many times over the years to locate wells and buried water pipes. I would run a coiled electrical snake (used to pull wires through long buried tubing) to push from the house to the well and clip the power source/signal generator to the snake and ground. I then used a metal detector/signal tracer to follow the wire to the buried well! It will read the signal from 4' and deeper most times. Can you access the pipe in the house? If it is metal the signal generator can be connected to it instead of using the electrical snake. If the water is from a main pipe buried near the street there should be a curb stop valve to shut off the water to the house. In northern climes the pipe from the street must be at least 4' down and often more!
Kind of pipe and accessibility are the two main considerations!

GL,

CJ (AKA Lew the Plumber)

Interesting work. A signal tracer. Shutoff valve is easy to locate. They aren't deep here.

Should be able to access inside. I think my sister and BIL are getting frustrated since the plumber can't locate the leak. There's a moat around that part of the house. Someone's been under to look with no luck. I figure it's more of a job of listening. Also think a plumber should have some tools dedicated to divining the location of a leak. But I don't know what all's been done.

I think the plumber suggested that the roots of a mountain laurel close to the house may have choked out the pipe, but not knowing where the pipes run, it's hard to verify - and I wasn't able to do it.

Thanks!

 

[Rudy]

Hadn't heard of this service. Seems like the best option. Thanks!

You are welcome.

 

[CW3]

In my area the services will do the front yard but not the back yard. I use a Fisher FX-3 and a Gemini 2 box detector.

If you post what part of the country you are in maybe somebody has one.

https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Labs-FX3-Ferro-Magnetic-Probe/dp/B0069VA1VM

Fisher Gemini 3 Two Box Cache Hunter Metal Detector

 

[Dejure]

Just a point to keep in the back of the mind regarding digging, repairs and re-filling the trenches: Rocks and things beat on pipes. The pipes move (e.g., vibrate) when water is turned off and on and it's like grinding the rocks against the metal or plastic over time.