Detecting heating pipes beneath floor boards

[Craig-SM]

My brother is wanting to fit a double radiator in place of the old huge and starting to rust single that is currently fitted. The double will be narrower so will need both pipes moving. The problem is he has a beautiful wooden floor and wants to minimise the boards been lifted but has no idea of the pipe layout beneath the boards.
Is it possible to detect the copper pipes through the floor boards, oak around an inch thick, using one of those wall scanners for electrics, batten and pipe work or will it be a case of lifting a floorboard and searching underneath to see where they go?

 

[jsf55]

Probably better of with an infra red thermometer and the heating on?

 

[addjunkie]

A thermal camera will find them

 

[Bladevane]

I would suggest a thermal camera too. Possibly find a local plumber who has one or buy your own. I have a Hikmicro which I bought last year for about £120 from TestforLess.

 

[pawsnizzy]

metal detector?

 

[Craig-SM]

I have an infra red thermometer already so can try that just didn’t think the heat would be detected through the floor boards.
Thermal camera, you’re just trying to get me to buy more toys and you know I’m weak willed. I was trying not to buy anything else if I could help it. The wall detector a mate has that I could borrow if needed hence why I wondered if that would work.

 

[dobbslc]

Get a cat as they will always find the pipes!

 

[bricol]

Fit a double rad of the same pipe fitting dimensions, and run it at a lower temp?

 

[knighty]

either way you'll have to take up the floorboard (or two?) that's under the radiator anyway, once you have them up you'll be able to see and adjust the pipes underneath to suit?

 

[ajlelectronics]

Why can't you take the valves off the existing pipes, fit elbows and short stubs, then refit in line valves? No destruction required.

 

[MetalMonkey]

Try putting in some screws - that's a guaranteed way of finding a pipe....

 

[voipio]

I have an infra red thermometer already so can try that just didn’t think the heat would be detected through the floor boards.
Thermal camera, you’re just trying to get me to buy more toys and you know I’m weak willed. I was trying not to buy anything else if I could help it. The wall detector a mate has that I could borrow if needed hence why I wondered if that would work.

Turn the heating on for an hour or two, before using the IR thermometer or thermal camera, in order to give a decent chance of detection. It's also worth looking up at the ceiling below the floor, since the heat from the pipes will probably show up there, as well, especially if the pipework touches the ceiling at any point.

Metal detectors will produce lots of false alarms, from nails and screws. A Terahertz scanner would be good. Not cheap, though! Or maybe hire a ground penetrating RADAR :-)

 

[awemawson]

Can feel ours in the bedroom with bare feet, and that's through carpet and underlay.

 

[gaz1]

first off what is the size difference between the old and new rads

if its 1-2" you can buy extenders and there is bigger extenders if needed

but also note if extenders are used you may need to change the valves as well

 

[Morris]

Get a cat as they will always find the pipes!

This is the correct answer

 

[Kayos]

Get a joiner in, will find the pipes with the first bloody screw

 

[Stuartg1]

Get a joiner in, will find the pipes with the first bloody screw

The true words of a plumber.....

 

[Craig-SM]

Get a cat as they will always find the pipes!

That will go down great with his greyhound

 

[dobbslc]

One will come out as the boss...

 

[dobbslc]

About the pipes, if the boards run left to right under the radiator then take a couple up and adjust the pipes, if they run the other way it's lots more work so worth considering just extending the pipes inward or finding a rad the same size.