Line Locator Problems

[Waterguy]

Here lately we have been running into problems locating the main water line entering the house. Professional locating services are charging attourney level fees 150 per hour, 1.25 per mile trip charge etc.
What other options or tricks to eliminate this problem other than buying a line locator for close to 3 grand? Plus as soon as I get one we want need it anymore....lol
HELP!

[gcarr]

Some inexpensive alternatives are:

Divining rod, shovel.

[Waterguy]

We have a trencher. If a customer see's one of my guys out there with a divining rod, well I could just imagine that phone call. A local plumber said they cut the line at the meter and run pex through the water line until it hangs up. Then one of them listens for it and locates the noise. They dig down and find the line, which may be a coupling or a 90 and then continue until they are at the house. Guess this is the best idea so far. I was hoping for Andy or Gary to chime in here. They have probably run into just about every problem possible over the years. We currently have three jobs on hold waiting for locator service.

[Andy CWS]

What is the intent for locating the line? Are you intending to replace it? What is the distance/length of the run? What about the age?

I had my old galvanized line completely replaced for $600.00.

Andy Christensen, CWS-II

[Waterguy]

We install water filters in ar and okla. Usually outside due to all slab, no basement homes. Hard dirt and a lot of rock. If the homeowner doesnt know where the line comes in the house and we cannot locate it by digging where we have deducted it should be then we have to get a locator to find and mark where the line comes into the house. It could be copper, pvc, galvanized and the age isnt a concern until we find the line.

[Andy CWS]

When I worked in Texas for a short time, that was the biggest headache. Not so much finding the line but all the digging to get it installed. I love a nice open, unfinished basement.

Wouldn't a metel detector help? Even when we put in a plastic line, we run a wire along.

Andy Christensen, CWS-II

[Gary Slusser]

Most of my slab foundation customers have no problem with that. Usually they have a main shut off valve along side the house and can go inside from there. Some have the valve in front of the house and can go along the wall on the ground or trench 12"-18" deep (frost line appropriate) around to where they need the lines to go.