Locating Copper Behind Drywall

davitk

surgically.

Some dumb*** finished a basement with drywall ceilings and didn't leave access for the 40 year old hose bibb shut-offs.

Any (good) ideas?

mikeswoods

Figure out where the pipe enters the basement and open the ceiling--Shut off the water to the house and install a new shut off---if the old shut off is in the on position and not leaking you're done.

The didn't bury the shut off while it was turned off,did they? That would be a royal pain.
(you aren't the guy that did this?)HaHa--Mike--

davitk

The ceiling was put in two years ago (not me) and conditions have not been right for a freeze up - yet.

How do I locate the shut-offs? Those X-ray glasses I ordered from an ad in Popular Mechanics turned out to be fake.

BCConstruction

can you not hear them running if you open them up. We used to do this quite often when tracking down water pipes. you can get pretty much within a few inches if you can hear it.

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KillerToiletSpider

Run water through that hose bibb and no where else, and use a mechanics stethoscope to hear where the water is running, once you pinpoint it cut an exploratory hole 18" from the outside wall, there is a good chance you will find your valve close to that, if not you have a hole to look into it further.

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A flush is better than a full house.

DetailHandyman

On occasion, I've had luck locating buried pipes by running screws through them.

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The cat box ain't gonna clean itself.

davitk

Thanks guys, you put me on the right track. I will stop by Harbor Freight today and pick up a mechanic's stethoscope and some 12" drywall screws.

Wish me luck!

PrestigeR&D

I have a Deep Metal Stud scanner I use- that works, or you can go primitave on it with the Y wood stick,just kidding,
Brian