Part of our remodel involves putting in anchor bolts to reinforce existing walls and nailing new divider walls into concrete slab. So, how do we make sure we don't damage any of the radiant pipes during the process.
Actually it is relatively easy to map out your radiant pipes:
1- Go get an "infrared thermometer" from you local home improvement shop. A $30 one will do the job
2- Turn off your radiant heat for a day, and let the slab cool down.
3- Come back after a day and turn on the radiant heat.
4- Give it 30 mins-60 mins for the pipes to warm up. Don't wait too long, otherwise the heat distribution will become uniform.
5- Slowly slide the infrared thermometer across the slab 2-3 inches away.
You'll normally see 64-65 degree readings. But, if you cross a hot pipe, the thermometer will show 75 degrees or so. Just take a painters tape and mark those hot sections.
I've just marked the hot pipe locations, and my contractor avoided from nailing the new wall into slab at those locations. Meantime, we've also discovered that there are no radiant pipes under any of the internal wall we've touched.
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