Alexei Volkov
Locating underground plastic pipes can be challenging, but with the right tools and techniques, it can be done effectively. The most common approach is to use tracer wires, which are attached to existing lines like sewer or water pipes, and then walked along with a metal detector. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is another popular method that uses electromagnetic waves to detect both metal and plastic pipes. Other techniques include acoustic tracing, which involves creating sounds on metal pipes that can be heard above ground, and using handheld pipe locators or dowsing rods to detect underground objects. In some cases, manual probing or calling a professional with 3D mapping capabilities may be necessary.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Equipment | Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), Electromagnetic Conductivity, Acoustic, Ferromagnetic, Pipe Locator, Tracer Wire, AML PVC Pipe Detector |
| Limitations | GPR is inhibited by different surfaces, requires skilled interpretation, and cannot differentiate between all objects; tracer wires are only effective if the pipe system was fitted with one during installation; acoustic tracing only works for already damaged or leaking pipelines |
| Advantages | GPR can locate any kind of pipe; tracer wires are the most common way to find plastic pipes; AML PVC Pipe Detector works in wet soil, snow, clay, or standing water |
| Best Use | GPR is best for locating metal and PVC pipes; tracer wires are best for plastic pipes; AML PVC Pipe Detector is best for locating subsurface PVC pipes |
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What You'll Learn
Using tracer wires
Plastic pipes can be difficult to detect once they are underground. Traditional pipe locators use electricity and magnets to locate pipes, but this method does not work with plastic pipes because they are non-conductive.
To overcome this, tracer wires can be attached to plastic pipes. These tracer wires emit an electric signal that gets stronger when you get closer to them. This allows you to locate the pipe before beginning any digging or construction work. Tracer wire systems can be optimised by installing new wires with waterproof connectors and grounding anodes. This is because every connection that is not waterproof could reduce the signal quality.
There are different types of tracer wires available. New tracer wire is made of copper-clad steel to prevent breakage. Older tracer wires were made of solid copper, which was found to deteriorate over time due to underground conditions.
If you are unable to use a tracer wire, there are other methods to locate plastic pipes. One way is to use ground-penetrating radar (GPR), which accurately maps metal and PVC pipes. Another method is acoustic locating, which involves placing a sound on the pipe to allow location by the noise it emits. This can be done with the Sewerin Combiphon system, which uses a battery-operated generator to control a "Knocker" or "Stopper" that induces a sound on the pipe.
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Acoustic tracing
Acoustic pipe locating is a method used by professionals to trace underground plastic pipes. This method is suitable for locating already damaged or leaking pipelines. Acoustic methods have proven to be a useful supplement to existing techniques for locating both metallic and non-metallic pipes. Acoustic pipe localization methods have been implemented in locating underground utilities and have shown promising results in plastic pipeline localization.
The acoustic transmission method, as a trenchless technique, has been applied in underground utility detection and is useful for locating both metallic and non-metallic buried utilities. Vibro-acoustic methods have been developed under the frame of 'Mapping the Underworld' and have been very promising in locating buried pipelines, especially plastic pipes. Acoustic methods have the advantage of efficiency for a wide range of soil types and non-metallic object detection.
The pipe excitation method has proven robust performance in the presence of background noise, but it has limitations in terms of access requirements to the pipe and the inability to estimate burial depth. Seismic wave methods do not require access to the target and can determine burial depth from images.
There are several acoustic methods for locating plastic pipes that do not have a tracer wire. One such method involves using a non-metallic underground pipe locator to generate a detectable acoustic sound on the plastic pipe. An acoustic leak locator can then be used to detect the pipe location, just like locating a leak noise. The sound will be the strongest directly over the pipe. Another method involves using glass fibre probe rods with a copper core. These can be run up a pipe or tubing, and standard pipe and cable locators can then be used to locate the probe as an internal tracer wire.
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Ground-penetrating radar (GPR)
GPR works by transmitting electromagnetic radio waves from an antenna attached to a rolling cart. When a wave hits an object, it bounces back up to the antenna, and the system collects data from this reflection to provide visual feedback to the operator. The feedback tells the operator how deep the object is by measuring the distance the wave travelled from point to point. As waves reflect off different objects in different ways, operators can analyse the images to understand what the object is.
GPR is particularly useful for locating nonmetallic utilities that cannot be found using traditional electromagnetic (EM) methods, often referred to as
GPR can also be used to detect cavities within a structure or underground and to identify certain voids or anomalies in a water line, which would indicate damage. However, it cannot measure the depth of these voids. GPR is also limited by the fact that shallower objects may obscure the raw data reflected from deeper objects, and its signals can be corrupted by environmental noise.
Overall, GPR is a valuable tool for locating underground plastic pipes and has been widely used for extracting information about buried utilities for better utility maintenance and management.
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Hand-held pipe finding tools
Hand-held pipe-finding tools can be effective for locating PVC pipes, but only if the PVC system was fitted with a tracer wire during installation. Tracer wires are the most common way to find underground plastic pipes. They work by attaching the wire to an existing line, such as a sewer or water line, and then walking along with a metal detector to locate the pipe. The wire emits an electric signal that gets stronger when you get closer to it.
Hand-held pipe finders vary widely in price and quality, with the most inexpensive starting at $300 and the most expensive reaching $3,500. They can be challenging to use correctly without training. Fiberglass probing wires can be fed into the pipe system retroactively, but this is only a temporary solution and requires the system to be fully shut down and disconnected.
Another method of locating underground plastic pipes is to use ground-penetrating radar (GPR). GPR can locate both metallic and non-metallic objects and produces a two-dimensional cross-section image of subsurface items. However, it relies on material property contrasts and may not be able to detect all underground objects.
A more advanced version of GPR is the AML PVC Pipe Detector by SSI Locators, which uses ultra-high radio frequencies to locate underground PVC pipes. The AML pipe detector functions in wet soil, snow, clay, or standing water, while traditional GPR can be inhibited by different surfaces.
Finally, a low-tech method of locating underground plastic pipes is to use a soil probe rod. This involves repeatedly pushing a metal rod into the ground to physically feel for the buried pipe. This method can be extremely time-consuming and frustrating but is a relatively inexpensive option.
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Geophysical detection techniques
Plastic pipes are challenging to detect due to the lack of metal content. Traditional pipe locators use electricity and magnets to detect underground pipes, but these methods are ineffective for plastic pipes.
Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is a valuable geophysical technique for detecting underground plastic pipes. GPR works by transmitting a signal into the ground and measuring the speed at which it returns to the receiver. The differences in signal speed allow for determining the composition of underground targets. GPR can detect any kind of pipe, including older clay pipes and non-metallic pipes like PVC. However, GPR relies on material property contrasts and may struggle in congested areas or soils with high electrical conductivity.
Another geophysical detection technique is electromagnetic induction. This method detects electromagnetic signals and works with conductive utilities such as metal pipes and underground cables. Electromagnetic induction has proven effective in arid regions where geophysical surveys are challenging. However, it has limited accuracy compared to RTK-enabled devices.
Time Domain EM and Magnetic surveys are other geophysical techniques adapted from other applications to detect larger objects.
Additionally, some methods combine GPR with other technologies. For example, an airborne GPR integrated system combines GPR with a UAV to achieve high-resolution underground water pipe detection.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several methods to trace underground plastic pipes. Tracer wires are the most common way to do this. They work by attaching the tracer wire to an existing line, such as a sewer or water line, and then walking along your property with a metal detector. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is another popular method, which can locate PVC and other non-metallic pipes underground. GPR can be used in conjunction with tracer wires and acoustic tracing.
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is a tool used to locate underground pipes. GPR uses electromagnetic waves to locate underground pipes by collecting transects perpendicular to the assumed direction of the pipe. GPR can be used to locate virtually any underground object and is especially effective at locating underground pipes.
Aside from using tracer wires and GPR, there are other methods to trace underground plastic pipes. One way is to use a pipe locator metal detector, also called a magnetic pipe locator, to find underground metal pipes. Another method is to use a pair of L-shaped metal rods, which when pointed underground, detect objects by crossing over each other.
