Pinpoint Excavation: How to Locate Broken Sewer Lines in Colorado

The Nightmare of a Collapsed Sewer Line

Few things strike fear into the hearts of Colorado homeowners and property managers quite like a major sewer line backup. When the plunger fails and the drains stop draining, the usual next step is to call a plumber to snake or jet the line.

But what happens when the plumber’s camera reveals that the pipe isn’t just clogged—it’s completely crushed by tree roots or collapsed due to shifting soils?

The pipe has to be dug up and replaced. However, your sewer lateral runs deep underground, somewhere between your house and the street. If you don’t know exactly where the break is, the excavation crew will have to trench your entire front yard, destroying your landscaping, driveway, and sidewalk in the process.

The Challenge of Locating Deep PVC and Clay Pipes

To avoid trenching the entire yard, you need to dig a single, pinpoint hole directly above the broken section of the pipe. The problem is that most modern sewer lines are made of PVC, and older Colorado homes often have clay pipes.

Because these materials are non-metallic, standard Electromagnetic (EM) locators cannot trace them from the surface. Furthermore, because sewer lines are often buried 6 to 12 feet deep, they can sometimes be difficult to clearly map using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) if the soil is heavily saturated with water.

So, how do you find an invisible, deep plastic pipe? You make it broadcast a signal.

The Solution: Sonde Locating and Traceable Rodders

At JLP Tech, we partner with local plumbing companies and homeowners to provide absolute precision using a technology called Sonde Locating.

A “sonde” (sometimes called a beacon) is a small, battery-powered transmitter. It is attached to the end of a flexible fiberglass rod or a plumbing camera and pushed directly into the sewer cleanout.

How Sonde Locating Works:

1. Insert the Sonde: The plumber or technician pushes the sonde down the interior of the pipe until it physically hits the blockage or the collapsed section of the pipe.
2. Broadcast the Signal: Once at the blockage, the sonde emits a very specific, low-frequency electromagnetic signal that easily passes through the pipe walls, dirt, and concrete.
3. Pinpoint from the Surface: Our expert locators walk the surface of your yard with a highly sensitive EM receiver tuned specifically to the sonde’s frequency.
4. Mark the Spot: The receiver guides us to the exact spot directly above the sonde. We can then mark the precise location and depth of the break on the ground.

The Benefits of Pinpoint Locating

Using a sonde to map out a sewer line or pinpoint a blockage provides massive benefits for the property owner:

• Saves Your Landscaping: Instead of a 50-foot trench destroying your lawn, the excavation crew only needs to dig a single 4x4 foot hole.
• Drastically Reduces Repair Costs: Less digging means less labor, less heavy equipment time, and significantly lower restoration costs for your driveway and yard.
• Speeds Up the Repair: Knowing exactly where and how deep to dig allows contractors to complete the repair and get your plumbing working again in a fraction of the time.

Don’t Dig Blind

If you are facing a major plumbing excavation in Denver, Aurora, or anywhere in the Front Range, do not let an excavator tear up your property on a guess.

Contact JLP Tech to utilize our advanced sonde and private utility locating services. We will find the exact location of the problem so your contractors can fix it fast and efficiently.