What’s a pipe locator?

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Pipe locators are devices used to locate buried pipes and utilities. They vary in cost and can be rented or purchased from specialist companies or hardware stores. They minimize the need for digging and can identify potential hazards before digging. They can also be used to map underground utilities for general reference. Operating a pipe locator requires skill, and utilities prefer to be called before digging to avoid costly mistakes.

A pipe locator is a device designed to locate pipes buried underground. Pipe locators work in many different ways and can vary widely in cost. These tools are mostly manufactured and sold by specialist companies, with some hardware stores carrying pipe locators for their customers or can order them upon request. Sometimes it is also possible to rent a pipe locator, which may be preferred in the settings when the device is only needed for one project.

Burying underground gas and water pipes, along with conduits for power lines, cables, etc. is extremely popular in many regions. There are a number of benefits to burying utilities, ranging from less risk of storm damage to the desire to create a clean, uncluttered look in a yard and around a structure. However, the main problem with burying utilities is that they can be hard to find again.

When you need to service a buried utility, a pipe locator can be used to find the pipe, minimizing the amount of digging to trace it. Pipe locators are also used to identify potential hazards before digging, ensuring pipes and utility lines are not accidentally cut while digging. Damaging utilities with careless digging can be a costly mistake, as some people have learned to their chagrin.

People can also use pipe locators to map underground utilities in a yard or area for general reference. For example, someone moving into a new home may want to know the approximate location of buried utilities, as this information could be useful when problems develop or when yard work is being done. While utilities label underground lines with signs, sometimes signs are accidentally moved, removed or moved, meaning that the presence of a sign does not necessarily indicate that there is a pipe under it and the lack of a sign does not means it is safe to dig.

It takes some skill to operate a pipe locator, especially an advanced model that has a number of different functions. This task can be performed by an experienced contractor or utility worker. As a general rule, utilities prefer to be called before people start digging rather than after people make a mistake while digging, and many utilities are happy to send a worker with a pipe locator. to locate buried utility lines upon request.




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