Pipe Locators

What is a pipe locator?

A pipe locator is a special device designed to locate buried pipes underground.

In many regions, burying plumbing underground for water and gas along with conduits for electrical lines, cable, and so forth is extremely popular.

There are several reasons for burying plumbing pipes, ranging from less risk of storm damage to a desire to create a clean and uncluttered look in a yard. However, the main problem with burying pipes is that over time, they can be difficult to find again.

How does a pipe locator work

Pipe locators in their basic form are two parts, a transmitter, and a receiver. The transmitter is used to induce a signal onto a pipe or cable and then the wand, or receiver, is used to locate the signal that the line is producing.

When service needs to be performed on a buried pipe, a locator can be used to find the pipe, which will minimize the amount of digging that may be needed to track it down. Pipe locators are also great for identifying potential hazards before any type of digging occurs, ensuring that pipes and utility lines are not accidentally severed during digging.

Pipe locators can also be used to map out underground utilities/plumbing in a yard or area for general reference. Someone moving into a new home might want to know the approximate location of buried pipes, as this information could be useful to have when problems develop or when yard work is being performed.

It takes some skill to operate a pipe locator properly, especially locators that have a number of different functions.

We provide pipe location services. If you need your pipes located because they are leaking or have a project that demands you know where the pipes are located, give us a call today.

Knowing About your Sewer Main Lines!

Most homes have a “Sewer Main Clean Out” which is a small portion of the sewer line that can be accessed by unscrewing the cap. If the sewer line becomes clogged, it’s much easier to clear the blockage via the clean-out. These lines are usually connected to a city’s sewer system and is usually located beneath the street. Typically, a sewer line is four to six inches in diameter and sloped downwards to promote the flow of water away from your home and into your city’s sewer.

Sewer line clogs

Even though these lines are 4-6 inches wide, they are not particularly large, and can easily develop buildup and clogs over time, depending on your home’s water usage, and how much care is used in disposing of items in the toilets and drain lines. Clogged sewer lines typically affect your toilets first, as these fixtures drain most directly into the municipal sewer line. Small clogs can cause the drains in your home to act strangely, or drain slowly while big clogs could cause wastewater to back up into your home, leading to serious water damage while also exposing your family to potential health risks.

Professional plumbers should always address sewer line clogs because in many cases, hydro jetting equipment can clear out clogs and allow your plumber to evaluate the condition of the line using camera inspection technology. Your plumber may offer trench-less pipe repairs to restore the line’s integrity while maintaining your beautiful landscaping if the sewer line has been compromised.

The Grass is Always Greener

Another telltale sign that you have a sewer line leak problem is the grass on your lawn will be greener and thicker where the breach is.

Tree roots can break your sewer lines

The biggest threat to your sewer line, is tree roots.

Before planting trees, find out where your sewer line is located and plant only sewer safe trees in this area of your yard and you can reduce the risk of tree root damage to your sewer line. Tree roots are strong and if there is a hair line crack in your sewer line, the roots can go right through the pipe while in search of water to quench their thirst.