Tracking a Cast Iron Drain pipe
Steve Rossanese
I require some net wisdom yet again. Here's the situation.
We have a bungalow (about 30 years old) with a full basement. The
floor is as you would expect a 4 inch concrete poured floor. The
basement does not have any roughed in plumbing for a bathroom and
we would like to put a bathroom in. The cleanout for the main drain
of the house is easily accessed, and when I pop the top off of it,
the direction of the pipe from the house (presumably from the stack
where the upstairs bathroom drains to) don't line up. The cast iron
drain pipe under the concrete floor must turn or be 'T' or 'Y'd somewhere
in between the cleanout and the stack. I have the option of putting
the bathroom in 2 areas within a 13'x13' area but I would prefer to
have to break as little concrete as possible. But since I don't know
the route of the drain, I'd be guessing.
Is there a (reasonably simple) method to trace the route of a cast iron
pipe under a concrete floor?? Some folks suggested that I call the gas
company but I would think that since it's not once of their lines, they
would charge mondo denaro for a request such as that.
Anyone got any ideas ???
Thanks
Steve
(You can post here, or reply to ros...@nortel.ca)
chita
--
Real email address: ch...@worldnet.att.net. Sorry for the hassle, but I got
tired of the spambots.
Steve Rossanese <NO_SPAM_ros...@bnr.ca> wrote in article
<5ra6fd$o...@bcarh8ab.bnr.ca>...
> Is there a (reasonably simple) method to trace the route of a cast iron
> pipe under a concrete floor?? Some folks suggested that I call the gas
> company but I would think that since it's not once of their lines, they
> would charge mondo denaro for a request such as that.
It wouldn't hurt to call the gas or water company and ask, but it might
also help if you called whatever gummint office handled the plans where the
building permit was originally filed. They might have a blueprint somewhere
in the basement of the County Courthouse or Zoning Office. If there's a way
to find the builder, they also might have the blueprints archived. If there
were only a few banks around when the house was first built, you can
sometimes track down the original builder by checking who got the interim
loan. Thirty years is a long time for contractors, but banks usually stick
around longer than that and they keep records (seemingly) forever.
Otherwise, I'd expect a metal detector could be used to track the pipe
itself. Look for a hobbyist - it's likely to be cheaper than hiring a
contractor. More fun, too. <G>
Bill Harnell
If you don't have access to a metal detector and If the pipe is not buried
more than 6" or so, use a common magnetic compass. The needle will
initially point to the pipe and eventually "centre" on the pipe run.
I use one often to locate buried surveyor "monuments".
--
Regards,
Bill Harnell
--------------------------------
chita <ch...@worldnet.att.net-nospam> wrote in article
<01bc9918$77afb540$359993cf@chita>...
David Winslow
Steve Rossanese wrote in article <5ra6fd$o...@bcarh8ab.bnr.ca>...
>
>I require some net wisdom yet again. Here's the situation.
>
>We have a bungalow (about 30 years old) with a full basement. The
>floor is as you would expect a 4 inch concrete poured floor. The
>basement does not have any roughed in plumbing for a bathroom and
>we would like to put a bathroom in. The cleanout for the main drain
>of the house is easily accessed, and when I pop the top off of it,
>the direction of the pipe from the house (presumably from the stack
>where the upstairs bathroom drains to) don't line up. The cast iron
>drain pipe under the concrete floor must turn or be 'T' or 'Y'd somewhere
>in between the cleanout and the stack. I have the option of putting
>the bathroom in 2 areas within a 13'x13' area but I would prefer to
>have to break as little concrete as possible. But since I don't know
>the route of the drain, I'd be guessing.
>
>Is there a (reasonably simple) method to trace the route of a cast iron
>pipe under a concrete floor?? Some folks suggested that I call the gas
>company but I would think that since it's not once of their lines, they
>would charge mondo denaro for a request such as that.
>
>Anyone got any ideas ???
>
>Thanks
>Steve
>
Why not borrow a metal detactor?
JBOBST
Cut a nice fork from a willow tree and make your own dowsing rod. If it
works, you can get all kinds of people to pay you for the service, maybe
even start a web page or newsgroup! Don't give it away, get your own 900
number, too.
Well, maybe the metal detector might be OK for confirmation, afterwards.
Have fun!
Frank Kozerski
First of all, are you sure the drain is under the floor. Many run out
through a wall to the street or septic system, in which case you would need
to install a toilet made for this situation. I think they are called
"upflush" toilets.
If you have a stethoscope you might be able to hear the trickle of water
through the floor if you know about where the pipe runs. Just keep moving
the stethoscope until the noise is the loudest. If you can't hear a
trickle, have someone flush a toilet.
Option two is that most states, counties or cities have an office that
comes to your site to locate utilities before excavating. Check with them.
Option three is to see if a rental agency has a metal detector for rent.
Good luck.
--
Frank
Steve Rossanese <NO_SPAM_ros...@bnr.ca> wrote in article
Roots away
Start calling around to the local plumbers or septic pumpers. Many
companies carry line locators now, as they're more affordable lately. I
use one that works in everything BUT cast iron, and i get $125 to locate a
sewer line or septic tank. When asking, make sure you specify that it's a
'cast iron' pipe. You should be able to get it done for less than $100 if
you shop around.
Scott Nichols
http://www.plumbertools.com