What Does A Pipe Locator Do? | Dowd's Pipe & Cable

Locating underground pipes and cables is essential before any excavation work can commence. Whether it is construction, landscaping, plumbing or any other work which requires your yard to be dug up, locating pipes first is vital for a number of reasons.
 
Breaking any of these pipes and cables can be a major health and safety issue, and any damage is also going to result in delays and expensive repairs. Plus, there is every likelihood that this damage will cause an outage and a lot of very unhappy neighbours.
 
There are five major types of pipes and cables that need to be located before any excavation work can begin, including:
 
Gas services: It is of the utmost importance to locate gas pipes when scanning for cables and other pipe services underground. Gas leaks caused by construction work can become catastrophic if they are not controlled in a timely manner.
 
Internet services: In many cases, private residents will have high-speed internet and/or television cables running to their premises underground.
 
  Electricity services: Uninsulated underground cables can often be found in several locations. Whenever a cable is chopped, sliced, or severed, the machinery and workers around this area are exposed to very high currents, which can lead to injury or death.
 
Water pipes and sewers: Underground construction is most likely to result in damage to water pipes and sewers since these are often hard to detect.
 
  Petrol pipelines: These are unlikely to be present around residential homes because of government regulations, but they can be present in commercial or industrial estates and other locations. It is always better to be safe than sorry, as rupturing these pipelines can result in millions of dollars in damage and lost product.

Modern Pipe Locators Will Discover All Of These Pipes And Cables

As underground infrastructure is changing, modern pipe locating tools are far more sophisticated than metal detectors. In comparison with conventional methods, they are able to identify cable types and depths much more accurately.
 
In the market today, there is a wide selection of pipe and utility locating equipment. This equipment can locate the majority of underground services that can be found on a project site or construction site using electromagnetic and ground-penetrating radar tools.
 
There are two main parts to an underground utility locator; a transmitter and a receiver. In order to locate the utility, the transmitter sends an AC current, and as the current circulates, an electromagnetic field is formed. Following the electromagnetic field's path, the receiver also accurately determines its depth.
 
However, even with the latest technology, it is imperative to consult a specialist to determine the correct detection technique and to provide advice on safe potholing techniques to ensure there are no incidents that can lead to damage, flooding and personal injury.

Contact The Experts

Dowd's Pipe & Cable Locating is your premier source of pipe and utility locating services in Wollongong. We not only use the latest innovations to discover all utilities at your job site, but our team is also highly trained and experienced for your peace of mind. Don't risk the safety of your workers; give our team a call on 0434 635 134 before you dig.