I was asked by one of my coworkers, who had just purchaced another home, if I could locate his drain field. He knows where the tank is but doesn't know where the drain pipes run. I was thinking I could lower my tone generator into the tank (not too far) and hear the ultrasound as it flooded the drain pipes. Has anyone tried this?
Pete

Pete,

I don't know if that will work or not, but you can't use mine

Danny

STOPPPPPP! PU...Remind me NOT to borrow your "Tone Generator"
Don't even go there! A Tone generator emits a signal much like a flashlight emits a beam of light and light as sound does not bend around corners very well. Drain fields can be designed so that one pipe comes out of the tank and then another pipe joins it perpendicular to it were other pieces of pipe are then joined in straight runs (or perpendicular to it) to make a drain field. Better yet envision a fork, (handle and tines). The tone method would be ineffective.
Now, to help locate the drain fields. You might get an IR signature during the night, and you may try the old "veining" (? spelling) method of two metal rods. Hold one in each hand and walk the suspect area allowing the rods to move toward the center as you approach the line. The problem with this is, is if the drain field is not working properly and the ground is saturated finding the pipes can be difficult. You may chemically treat the septic tank with chemicals that will raise the temperature of the waste water to get an IR signature. But again this depends on the working condition of the drain field. Another way I know is probing the ground with a T-Handle (steel rod & handle).

I only need to use your tone generator Danny. Yours will work underwater right?

Come on Jim, I know you have a war story for this one. I think it would work if Danny lets me barrow his equipment.
What is the science behind the "two rods" (veining) theory? Is this like finding water with a forked branch?

IMO it will work if the tank is empty. We usually do it with ballast tanks, on ships when they are in dock. Just lower the tone generator in the tank, and inspect every seam from the outside. We are working with ultrasound, that reflects on the surface

Svanel
yes it works for shipboard tank or vessels but drain fields are pipes typcially with 90 degree angels and typcially tanks are concrete but he is not looking for a leak in the tank he only wants to locate the pipes in the field.
No War Stories on this one. I got out of plumbing in the 70's. I had enough of the 1/4" to the foot (fall) business (__it flows downhill). Veining is just like the water detection, I do know plumbers who have found drain lines with the rods (water in the lines of the drain fields).

Pete,

I don't know about the science of the two rods, but I have seen it done very long ago.

I was only about 7 or 8, but I remember it being explained to me that it worked like a Ouija Board. Even at that age, I thought the guy of full of bull, but damn if he didn't find the pipe we were looking for.

As I recall (and you must realize that I was 7 or 8 a real long time ago) he used two copper rods about 1/8" in diameter and bent them at right angles with one leg about 3" long and the other about 10". He held them in his fists in front of him with the 3" leg vertical and the long legs pointed directly in front of him. Then he slowly walked in a straight line and when he crossed the pipe, they swung out along the line of the pipe. I don't know what the pipe was made of and that may make a difference with drain fields being in plastic now.

Good Luck and lst us know if any of this witchcraft works.

Danny

ps Of course, you know that this could just be a clever hoax on my part to make you look like a fool in front of your friends.

We call in devining for water here. My father could do it but I couldnt get it to work. He put down plenty of wells using two long welding rods. It is easier to take one of the rods and push down through the soil and feel the pipe.

Aubrey

Its been fun, but I have to go to work now...I have an underwater leak to locate at warehouse (my other business). Have a good weekend.

the most activity this board has ever seen and look what it took to start it.

Well, so far it looks like the witchcraft may work if I have the ability. I think I'll make the guy a rod he can probe around the yard with (seeing Danny won't let me use his tone generator). This will save him some money and keep my equipment from smelling like poop. Thanks.....It has been fun!