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    Smih42's Avatar
    Smih42 Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Apr 24, 2012, 06:42 AM
    How do you find an old buried water line.
    Trying to locate the old line that is buried that supplies water to part of my water sprinkler system. It may be cqopper or PVC.
    Stratmando's Avatar
    Stratmando Posts: 11,188, Reputation: 508
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    #2

    Apr 24, 2012, 06:56 AM
    You will have to find an end to determine metal or plastic.
    With Metal, you could use a metal detector.
    With plastic, you could push a wire through the pipe and follow with a locator or detector. It may locate a 90, in which case you would have to dig it up and push wire in again.
    I have seen, but not be able to find again, is a locator that can locate plastic pipe. I forget if it provides a pulse on an empty pipe, or filled with water?
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
     
    #3

    Apr 24, 2012, 07:17 AM
    You can use the wire and metal detector but for 32 bucks you can purchase your very own PVC pipe detector. Check it out at, Armada Tech PRO-1000 - Pipe Finder II for sprinkler and irrigation systems. Good luck, Tom
    Stratmando's Avatar
    Stratmando Posts: 11,188, Reputation: 508
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    #4

    Apr 24, 2012, 07:36 AM
    Tom, I used to think divining rods were a joke until an old timer took a piece of #12 bare solid copper, bent a 90 in it to locate underground wire. I tried it and it worked, it worked well, I asked to keep that piece of wire, he said it was nothing special, still I wanted what I knew what worked for me.
    I think Have 2 of the locators you provided a link for, buried somewhere in my house, if it pulls out like an antenna and will fold over 90 degrees for use.
    I would try a piece of #12, with about 5 inches for the handle(hold loosley, and stick out maybe 12 inches, to form a 90.
    Can't hurt.
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
     
    #5

    Apr 24, 2012, 08:47 AM
    I've never seen that done, Let me know how you make out. Good luck, Tom
    Stratmando's Avatar
    Stratmando Posts: 11,188, Reputation: 508
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    #6

    Apr 24, 2012, 09:56 AM
    No, I did try it, and it works.
    You won't believe it until YOU can do it.
    A little strange.
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
     
    #7

    Apr 24, 2012, 01:18 PM
    So tell me what you did and how you did it. Back to you, Tom

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