Finding the main drain pipe in my basement floor?
 

Hello,

I am trying to find the main drain pipe in my basement floor to install a bathroom. I thought I knew where it was but after 8 hours of scoring and jackhammering my floor I came up with nothing..! I dug down down 2-2.5 feet under the concrete.

The drain is cast iron. Could I use a metal detector to find it? My floor is 4 inches thick. Would that make

The next time I go at it I want to know exactly where its at before.

In anyones professional opinion what is the best way to find it with out going to pull records.

Thank you!

John

You could rent an electric drain cable machine (snake), put a 3" or 4" blade on it, depending on your pipe size and you should be able to hear the blade banging around in the pipe which would give you a general location to dig. There also are contractors like Mr. Rooter plumbing that have line location equipment but that could cost 2 or 3 hundred bucks. Don't know about the metal detector.