Need to hang tracklights. How do I find pipes in the ceiling?

[emmett518]

I just bought my boyhood home. We have radiant heat in the ceiling. The lighting in the kitchen is horrible, so I want to hang some track lighting. I don't want to accidentally puncture one of the pipes. Nor do I want to punch a hole, find a pipe, and have to move the track, leaving holes everywhere.

Can a studfinder find copper pipe? If not, how do I drill the holes without causing problems?

Thanks
Emmett

 

[frodo]

do you have any idea how the pipes are run? where? i would bet if you used 1 1/4' screws and a stud finder. you would be fine
your ceiling is 1/2'' thick, fixtue is 1/4'' 1/2'' into the wood is plenty

 

[emmett518]

No idea how the pipes are run. They were installed before I was even born.

I obviously want to screw into the rafters, but want to avoid the pipe. I wonder if an IR camera would show the warm pipes?

 

[frodo]

yes it would, your over thinking it, they will not be right on top of the sheetrock. use short screws.

you do not need 2'' screws.

 

[pcride]

Do you have sheet rock or lathe and plaster walls? How are you fastening the poles to the ceiling?

 

[emmett518]

Used one of these to look for the pipes after we opened the thermostat. It worked incredibly well.

Ceiling is a skim coat of textured plaster over this grey cement-looking stuff that is soft like plaster. Have no idea what it is. It's not sheetrock.

http://www.flir-direct.com/product/...ision-camera?gclid=CJS16uj_p8MCFatj7AodJEEAsw