Utility Locating Learning Center
Utility Locating Learning Center
Discover practical guides, training videos, troubleshooting resources, and field-proven techniques to help you locate utilities more confidently and excavate more safely.
Popular Resources
Start with our most popular guides and educational resources:
Pipehorn 800-H vs. 800-HL Comparison
Compare frequencies, features, and applications to choose the right Pipehorn locator for the job.
FAQ & Glossary
Learn common utility locating terms, answers to frequently asked questions, and industry best practices.
Safety Sweep
Discover how crews use Pipehorn to find unmarked utilities before digging.
New to Pipehorn? Start with these essential guides before heading into the field.
Getting Started
Pipehorn 800-H vs. 800-HL Comparison
Compare features, frequencies, and applications to choose the right Pipehorn locator.
Benefits of Pipehorn
Discover why utility crews rely on Pipehorn for difficult locating situations.
FAQ & Glossary
Find answers to common questions and understand utility locating terminology.
User Training
Learn about hands-on Pipehorn training and upcoming classes.
Learn proven utility locating methods and field techniques for accurate, confident locates.
Locating Techniques
Steps to an Accurate Locate
Learn the four-step process for pinpointing, determining direction and signal source, and verifying a balanced locate.
Safety Sweep
Learn the two-minute verification method for identifying unmarked utilities before excavation.
Pinpointing Utility Locating
Learn techniques for narrowing the signal response and accurately identifying the utility's location.
Tracer Wire Locating
Learn techniques for tracing utilities with tracer wire, including frequency selection and difficult locating conditions.
Sonde Locating
Learn how to locate sondes inside non-conductive pipes, ducts and conduits.
Traceable Rodder Locating
Learn how to trace non-conductive utilities by applying a signal to a traceable rodder.
Direct Connection Through a Valve Key
Learn how a valve key can provide a direct connection point for locating conductive water lines.
Finding Buried Valves & Valve Boxes
Learn how to locate, narrow, and verify buried ferrous valves, valve boxes, meter boxes, and other utility access points.
Locating Private Utilities
See how to locate private water, power, and propane lines, verify existing utility marks, and sweep for additional unmarked utilities.
Locating Parking Lot & Streetlight Lines
See how to use high-frequency induction to locate underground lighting circuits when direct connection or clamping isn't possible.
Solve common locating challenges and difficult locates with practical field guidance.
Troubleshooting
Difficult Utility Locates
Learn practical techniques for damaged tracer wire, short services, poor conductors, and other difficult locating conditions.
Tracing Water Service Lines to the Main
See when to switch from low to high frequency to trace a water service line with tracer wire all the way to the main.
Locating Water Lines in Congested Areas
See how high frequency and nulling techniques can help isolate a water line with broken tracer wire in a congested area.
Signal Bleed-Over
Learn why signal transfers to adjacent conductors and techniques for isolating the intended utility.
Reduce utility strikes with practical pre-excavation verification and damage prevention resources.
Damage Prevention
Safety Sweep: Find Unmarked Utilities Before Digging
Learn how crews use a Safety Sweep to verify utility marks and identify unmarked utilities before excavation.
Before You Dig: 5 Questions to Ask Before Excavation
Walk through five questions crews should ask to evaluate utility markings, jobsite conditions, verification needs, and excavation risk before breaking ground.
Before You Dig: Pre-Excavation Checklist
Download a printable checklist crews can use during pre-job meetings to review key steps before excavation begins.
How to Verify Utility Marks Before Excavation
Watch the Position. Sweep. Confirm. process for verifying utility marks before excavation.
Pipehorn Safety Sweep
Watch how to perform a Safety Sweep to check the excavation area for additional buried conductors.
Browse locating resources by application, utility type, and industry.
Applications & Industries
Traceable Rodder Locating
Learn how to locate plastic pipe and conduit using a traceable rodder with Pipehorn.
Sonde Locating
Learn how to locate sondes in sewer, drain, pipe, and other non-conductive applications.
Water Line Direct Connection
Learn how to locate conductive water lines using a direct connection through a valve key.
Finding Buried Valves & Valve Boxes
Learn how to find and verify buried valves, valve boxes, and other ferrous utility access points.
Tracer Wire Locating
Learn techniques for tracing utilities with tracer wire, including frequency selection and difficult locating conditions.
Gas
Find resources for damaged tracer wire, short gas services, Safety Sweeps, and difficult gas utility locates.
Gas Utility Locating with the Pipehorn 800-HL
See how the Pipehorn 800-HL is used to locate difficult gas utilities and find lines other locating equipment may miss.
Water
Find resources for broken tracer wire, buried valves and boxes, water service locating, and leak detection.
Telecom & Fiber Optic
Find resources for locating fiber, telecom, conduit, and underground communications in congested utility areas.
Power & Electric
Find resources for verifying utility marks and locating underground utilities before pole setting, trenching, and excavation.
Plumbers
Find resources for locating private sewer lines, water services, plastic pipe, and hidden underground utilities.
Contract Locators
Find resources for difficult utility locates, DTLs, turnbacks, verification, and repeat locate attempts.
Municipal & Public Works
Find resources for locating undocumented utilities, aging infrastructure, and challenging underground conditions.
Golf Courses
Find resources for locating irrigation systems, valve wires, drainage, leaks, and underground course utilities.
Golf Course Irrigation Pipe & Wire Locating
See how inductive locating is used to trace irrigation pipe and wire on a golf course.
Understand Pipehorn equipment, signal application, frequency selection, and locating technology.
Equipment & Technology
Pipehorn 800-H vs. 800-HL Comparison
Compare frequencies, features, and applications to choose the right Pipehorn locator for the job.
Simple vs. Complex Utility Locators
See how locator design, controls, frequencies, audio response, and features affect field use.
Setting Up the Transmitter for Inductive Locating
Learn how to position the transmitter to apply signal without making a direct connection to the target conductor.
Setting Up the Transmitter for Conductive Locating
Learn how to connect the transmitter directly to a target conductor and establish an effective signal path.
Pipehorn 800-HL Introduction
Get an overview of the Pipehorn 800-HL and its 9 kHz and 480 kHz locating capabilities.
Maghorn Introduction
See how the Maghorn magnetic locator detects buried ferrous objects such as valves, boxes, manholes, and tanks.
Subsurface Water Leak Detectors Introduction
Get an overview of Pipehorn's acoustic leak detection equipment and how the models are used to find underground water leaks.
Pipehorn 800 Series System Check
Learn how to check the transmitter, receiver, conductive cables, and signal clamp to verify your locator system is operating properly before use.