How to Fish Wire From Below the Floor

In the course of doing your own home improvements, especially in the electrical field, you may have to venture into the basement to get the job done. One reason is that many homes have their electrical panels installed in the basement, so any additions or replacements that have to do with the electric will have to come from there. Here is how to fish wire from below the floor when your electric panel is located in the basement.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Non-metallic fish tape
• Drill
• 1/16-inch or 1/8-inch drill bit
• Drywall saw
• 3/4-inch wood bit
• Guide wire

1. Decide where upstairs you are going to be installing the new receptacle or switch. Once you find the place, outline the outlet box on the wall and cut along the outline with your drywall saw.
2. Directly below where the box is to be installed, use the drill with the 1/16 or 1/8-inch drill bit attached to drill a hole in the floor. For best results, remove the baseboard before drilling so you can get as close to the wall as possible.
3. Slide the guide wire (a single wire about four to six feet long) through the hole so that it reaches into the space below. Wrap the wire around a pencil to keep it from falling through all together.
4. Locate the soleplate or the bottom stud of the wall you are going to be fishing your wire through. You can do this by measuring approximately 2 inches behind your guide wire. That should place you in the center of the soleplate above. Mark the place with a pencil.
5. Remove the current bit from the drill and attach the 3/4-inch wood bit. Drill a hole up through the soleplate at the place where you marked it with a pencil. This should place you between the framing studs.
6. Now that you have the fishing hole drilled and your box location cut open, all you have to do is run the wire up to it. If you are running wire to a new receptacle, then you will probably be able to grab the wire with your hands once it is fished up through the soleplate.
   
   
   
   If you are running wire to a new switch, then you will find that using the non-metallic fish tape to be the easiest way to get the wire run. In extreme cases, you may be forced to cut additional access points in the drywall to get the wire to its final destination. While this does make for more repair and finishing work, it can help save you plenty of time and headaches when running the wire.
7. When you get the wire run to the new outlet or switch, always finish the installation at the outlet or switch before you make your connections at the electrical panel.

Tips & Warnings

• Removing the baseboard for the guide wire hole will ensure that once the baseboard is replaced, the hole will be covered up.
• If you have carpet in the room, cut a small "X" in the carpet at the point where you are going to drill to prevent the carpet fibers from getting caught up in the drill bit.
• Having someone fishing the wire from below while you are upstairs can help move the job along much faster.
• Never make your connections at the electrical panel first when running a new circuit. That is always the last step.
• Always make sure the new breaker is toggled OFF when making your connections.