You may be able to see the pipe and if you can run the flashlight. Use a utility knife to score a line about 10 inches 25 cm long into your drywall at the location where you see visible signs of a water leak mold discolored drywall etc.
Fix Leaks Around Waterline Pipe And Penetrations In A Concrete Basement Wall
How to find pipes in walls. Look for pools of water or leaks where the plumbing pipes run through holes in the floor. Listen for the. Metalliscanner m40 finds plumbing ductwork rebar nails and screws in your walls floors and ceilings and is great for scanning reclaimed lumber for hidden metal. Most of them will tell you to practice on a section of wall or other surface where you know there to be timber pipes or cables. Hold a flashlight inside the wall and point it toward the ceiling while you examine the insides of the wall with a hand mirror. Typically a combination detector will find studs.
Inspect your crawlspace or basement in the area directly beneath where you find water damage. Read the distance between the outside edge of one wall to the outside edge of the opposite wall to find the outside diameter. Purchase or rent a combination detector from a home improvement or plumbing supply store. How to find water lines in walls. Practice using the detector on a wall where you know the location of pipes studs and wires. Measure the outside diameter of the pipe using your measuring tool.
Put your ruler or tape measure across the middle of the pipes opening. Combination detectors can find timber pipes and wires by changing the setting on the detector. In my experience plumbing is usually run directly to where its needed so if there are no pipes in the basementcrawlspace or vents going up to the attic and out your roof there are probably no. In this step youre measuring the furthest distance across the pipes opening but from the outside of the walls instead of. To use a detector read the instructions first. Most homes have a number of pipes and wires running through any given wall and unless you know how to find them you risk injuring yourself seriously damaging your home or both.
Cut a hole in the wall large enough for your head to fit inside. Then using a drywall saw cut along the line you just scored.