Live mains water pipe??

[stanwilcock]

Polypipe (blue) mains water pipe. How can you tell if a pipe is live (full of water under pressure) or dead (just an empty pipe) without cutting,drillinf, breaking, etc,. Is there a tool on the market that can measure temperature, resistance, etc,.Many thanks

[NazNomad]

Divining rods ... I'm not joking.

[NazNomad]

... or if it's being used (i.e. water is flowing, rather than static) put your ear to it.

[The Builder]

Nazbo's right Stan ................. rods. I can't do it but I've had someone do it for me many times.

[NazNomad]

It's always highly ridiculed by people that haven't witnessed it, wouldn't you agree?

[The Builder]

Definitely Naz.
Farmers and digger drivers, for some reason, can divine with nothing more than a bent piece of fencing wire. Works for water, electric cables, and drains.
Why it works with water is probably some biological connection, but with cables ....... maybe magnetic fields?

[gingejbee]

I don't know what the location or circumstances are, but a call to the Customer Services of your Water Company may help. A water "inspector" could visit and will quickly tell you the answer and there should be no charge.

[Old_Geezer]

You freeze it, and if it bursts it's full of water.

[woofgang]

could you warm up the air around it and see if you get condensation?

[The Builder]

Geezer could be right ................. well, almost ;o)

A bit complicated maybe, but you could rent some pipe freezing kit ........ make frozen plugs in two places .................. cut between the plugs ............. see what's in there (if anything) ............ then join up again.

[ChuckFickens]

That would please everyone downstream of where the cut was made if it is live!

[The Builder]

Good point Chuck ............... but, in my job, sometimes you have to take a punt ................. but just be quick :o)

[redcrx]

you may need a punt if its not fully frozen when you cut it :)

[ChuckFickens]

I think personally I'd be tempted to drill a very small hole in it and if it does turn out to be live just plug the hole with a screw and some sealant.

[The Builder]

Haha Red ............ oh yes, I've seen that happen............... :o)))

Chuck, I did that with a petrol tank once with a rust pin-hole............. lasted for ever (I was very young ,,,,,,,,,, and skint)

[ChuckFickens]

I was braver, I welded the holes in my petrol tanks when I was younger :)

[NazNomad]

We're all assuming this isn't an 18'' main we're talking about. Where drilling a small hole to 'test' it would likely result in you orbiting Jupiter. :-))

[ChuckFickens]

Some people have no sense of adventure :)