Locating a water pipe can become a laborious task.
Unless you built your house yourself and have a great memory, locating water pipes inside the wall will not be easy. If you need to access a pipe but don't want to do a lot of guessing and drywall removal, there are several things you can do to narrow the search.
Instructions
1. Locate the area where the main water lines comes into your basement, if possible. Trace the water line to the location where it branches off and goes into the wall above. Measure carefully from outside walls to this location, then use these measurements upstairs.
2. Look under your sinks for water line stub-outs. See if these line up with the water lines coming up from the basement. Do the same for any toilet water supply lines for toilets on the first floor of the home.
3. Trace the water lines up to the next floor of the home if you have any sinks or toilets on the next floor. If those fixtures are located directly above the water fixtures on the first floor, the water lines likely run straight up. If they do not, you must use other methods to locate these pipes.
4. Rent a thermal imaging camera from a home improvement supplier and inspect the space behind the wall. A thermal imaging camera shows you hot and cold temperature differences. Hot colors show in red and cold color show in blue.
5. Look for water damage on the drywall if you suspect a leaking pipe. Water will quickly discolor and deteriorate the drywall. This is often an indication of a pipe's location.
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