Good pipe and cable wall tracer

[chris day]

Went through my first pipe in 15 years today, my worst nightmare when i saw water dribble out the wall i died inside. oddly enough it turned out to be a dribble from dead leg.

i have always relied on zones but today i went into what was a dead central heating pipe, (according to the emergency plumber).

anyone recommend a good detector?

 

[Welchyboy1]

Tried a few but they all seem to just go off for no reason and pretty unreliable at best, if you do find one that works let me know!

 

[Pretty Mouth]

I'd also like to know if there's a decent detector available. It's only a matter of time before this happens to me, I've come horribly close to it several times recently. Zones don't seem to apply to plumbing

 

[Charlie_]

Done a job earlier this year where all the CH pipes were first mapped out using a thermal imaging camera.

 

[Bobster]

Have they any chance of detecting the modern PVC piping that is becoming more and more common?

 

[chris day]

Regs for PVC pips in walls need a metalic strip installed apparently, so latest you could argue the regs and wiggle your way off the hook should you hit it

 

[Bobster]

Regs for PVC pips in walls need a metalic strip installed apparently, so latest you could argue the regs and wiggle your way off the hook should you hit it

Did not know that, however from photos I've seen of new builds. I wonder how many plumbers follow this rule.

 

[Welchyboy1]

Well ive been reading a few reveiws and its seems generally they are fine at detecting copper pipe, its just ac current in cables and wooden studs are the problem with false detection

Its pipework im worried about, i can deal with a damaged cable(i hope lol)

 

[Bobster]

I like the idea of IR imaging to find pipes though. An the flir series have some decent ones at reasonable price that can be used with a smart phone.

 

[Squid]

This came up on a search, expensive so you need to do your homework,

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Went through my first pipe in 15 years today, my worst nightmare when i saw water dribble out the wall i died inside. oddly enough it turned out to be a dribble from dead leg.

I have always relied on zones but today i went into what was a dead central heating pipe, (according to the emergency plumber).

anyone recommend a good detector?

Hi Chris,

I really feel for you. The same happened to me a while ago and your heart just drops and panic sets in!!!!

Since then I have done the following..

1. Really take your time when cutting through floorboards. Try and take floorboards up that have already been up, therefore no sawing required. If you are going to saw then work out the depth of the floorboards and cut ever so slightly less and just snap the last bit. maybe even take other floorboards up that require no sawing, put a camera down and look over to where you are going to be cutting.

2. look at where radiators are, is their likely to be pipes where you are about to cut.

3. Don't rely on a pipe/cable finder, there are no reliable ones, they just confuse you with their false readings.

4. Get these.. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rothenberger-Kibosh-Emergency-Repair-Plastic/dp/B00JOCTVL4.
There is a 15mm one and a 22mm one for the popular pipe sizes. However, they are only useful if you can actually get the clamp around the pipe, i.e a single pipe by itself with no others right next to it.

5. Go on a DIY plumbing course or at least go on the net and learn how to make an emergency repair to a pipe.

6. If you do go through a pipe, either in the wall or floorboards just get to the pipe as quickly as possible. Dont worry about making a mess of the wall or floorboards as that is nothing compared to the damage the water will be doing!

7. Have a plumbers number in your phone.

8. If you cannot do any of the above, just run away........ quickly!

 

[Welchyboy1]

Hi Chris,

I really feel for you. The same happened to me a while ago and your heart just drops and panic sets in!!!!

Since then I have done the following..

1. Really take your time when cutting through floorboards. Try and take floorboards up that have already been up, therefore no sawing required. If you are going to saw then work out the depth of the floorboards and cut ever so slightly less and just snap the last bit. maybe even take other floorboards up that require no sawing, put a camera down and look over to where you are going to be cutting.

2. look at where radiators are, is their likely to be pipes where you are about to cut.

3. Don't rely on a pipe/cable finder, there are no reliable ones, they just confuse you with their false readings.

4. Get these.. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rothenberger-Kibosh-Emergency-Repair-Plastic/dp/B00JOCTVL4.
There is a 15mm one and a 22mm one for the popular pipe sizes. However, they are only useful if you can actually get the clamp around the pipe, i.e a single pipe by itself with no others right next to it.

5. Go on a DIY plumbing course or at least go on the net and learn how to make an emergency repair to a pipe.

6. If you do go through a pipe, either in the wall or floorboards just get to the pipe as quickly as possible. Dont worry about making a mess of the wall or floorboards as that is nothing compared to the damage the water will be doing!

7. Have a plumbers number in your phone.

8. If you cannot do any of the above, just run away........ quickly!

Thank you for listing the clamps i ordered them straight away, what a good idea!