How do I find underground pipes in my yard?

Author: Elmo Nader  |  Last update: Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Use a Wire Tracer or Utility Locator: This is a device designed to locate underground wires and pipes. While some models are designed for professional use and can be quite expensive, there are simpler models that may be adequate for smaller tasks.

What is the easiest way to find underground pipes?

The easiest way to find underground pipes is by using RTK-enabled devices. These devices can pinpoint the location of several types of pipes, from water to oil pipes, with centimeter-level precision.

How to locate an underground pipeline?

Ground-penetrating radar, or GPR, is the tool that many use to ease their pipe-finding frustration. It's a proven method to reliably locate, measure and map underground objects. Whether it's copper pipes or PVC — where traditional methods falter and fail, GPR excels.

Is there an app to find underground water pipes?

Wire and Pipe Finder is a free Android app developed by One Spire that can detect AC live wires, copper, pipes, metal objects underground, floor, and inside the walls.

How do I find utility lines underground?

When locating underground utilities today, one of the most favorable methods is the use of an electromagnetic locator. An electromagnetic locator is a pipe or cable locator that uses an electromagnetic radio frequency transmitter and receiver to trace underground utility lines and metallic pipes.

How to Find Underground Utilities! (Without Expensive Tools)

How much does it cost to locate underground utilities?

The cost of private utility locating can vary significantly depending on a number of factors, including the size of the area to be surveyed, the complexity of the utility network, and the location of the project. On average, you can expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $1,500 for a private utility locating service.

How to find buried cable lines?

An underground cable or wire detection device is a specialized tool to locate underground cables or wires for construction surveying, maintenance, or repair purposes. These detectors usually emit and detect electromagnetic signals, making them ideal for locating cables and wires.

How do I find pipes in my backyard?

Use a Wire Tracer or Utility Locator: This is a device designed to locate underground wires and pipes. While some models are designed for professional use and can be quite expensive, there are simpler models that may be adequate for smaller tasks.

Can I use my phone to detect underground water?

-Underground water detector mobile app is an easy water leak detector and easy Scan Water Leak Detector A simple water finder This apps transforms any Android into a genuine water identifier to discover water around you, just hold level and follow the needle & This water detection sensor gives you a comprehensive ...

Is there a pipe finder?

An electric stud finder detects a ferrous object—a black pipe—in our test wall. Magnetic stud finders are good to use for tasks like hanging pictures and bathroom mirrors.

How to locate underground water?

Existing hand-dug wells will reveal groundwater depth and give insight into subsurface soil properties. Sand or gravel areas in the bottom of valleys will often be home to groundwater. These layers can be covered by clay or silt, so it's prudent to check these areas thoroughly.

What is the depth of underground pipes?

The standard depth for water lines in the U.S. is around 36 inches, but this can vary from location to location. In Colorado and most other places, plumbing regulations are generally based on the International Plumbing Code (IPC) and the International Residential Code (IRC).

How to find buried water line with phone?

811 is the national call-before-you-dig phone number. Anyone who plans to dig should call 811 or go to their state 811 center's website before digging to request that the approximate location of buried utilities be marked with paint or flags so that you don't unintentionally dig into an underground utility line.

What is the best underground pipe locator?

#1: Pipehorn 800HL Dual-Frequency Pipe & Cable Locator

Because it has the 9kHz frequency that's needed to find utility lines buried deeper underground, it has the range you need to find a number of underground pipes and cables.

How do you find where your pipes are?

Water pipe detector

Also known as a pipe locator, this tool can sense metal pipes and some can even detect plastic piping. A good quality pipe detector can save you from many headaches and unnecessary holes in the walls.

How to find power lines in your yard?

811 will give you the approximate location of any buried utilities in your yard and mark them with flags or paint so you don't hit a line unintentionally. Calling 811 doesn't just protect you, it protects your community.

Which app can I use to detect underground water?

The Aqvify app is easy to use!

Instant and past info about level, volume, groundwater level and inflow.

What is the app that finds pipes underground on an iPhone?

Pipeline finder app can help you: Find the location of pipelines operated by Marathon Pipe Line LLC.

Can you detect water pipes underground?

To find an underground water pipe, you'll need to use a utility line locator that can find both metal and plastic pipes. Depending on the area in which you're currently working, these lines could be made of either material. So if you want to get the most accurate results, you'll need a tool that can find both.

How to find underground drains?

You can either contact your local council and ask them for the plan associated with your property or you can contact a drainage expert who will conduct a CCTV drainage survey to get an accurate map of your drains.

How to find where a water line comes into a house?

If you couldn't find your meter, look for the service line by checking your basement or first floor, looking first along the exterior walls particularly on the side of the building facing the street. The incoming pipe will come through an external wall or the floor and then connect to the water meter.

How to detect tracer wire?

Locating Tracer Wire

Ideally, the tracer wire itself will have been grounded during installation, but that is not always the case. In the case of an ungrounded tracer wire, use a higher frequency to energize the wire. Tracer wire can be located using RIDGID® SeekTech® or NaviTrack® locating transmitters and receivers.

How to locate underground coax cable?

Using a utility locator (also called a pipe & cable locator), you can pick up an electromagnetic signal from the utility from the surface without any digging. This can help you to trace and mark the full extent of the pipe or cable.

What is the black cable buried in my yard?

Underground Service Entrance (USE) Cable

Type USE cable is usually black and is most often used for buried lines that bring power from the utility's transformer to individual houses. Homeowners rarely deal with USE cable themselves; it is handled by utility professionals.

Can a metal detector find buried cable?

Short answer, yes they do! Most metal detectors can identify underground cables as long as they are buried within your machine's range. A detector's signal will easily penetrate the plastic pipe and detect the metallic wire inside the power line.

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