Comments on: How to Run Wires Through a Wall

on 1/6/2007 My house is two-story. I need to run wire on first floor for surround-sound. Need to know how to run wire through walls from crawl space.

on 1/6/2007 My house is two-story and I need to install surround-sound wire on first floor. Need to know how to pull wire through walls from crawl space.

on 4/3/2006 Depending on where you live, and how you house is constructed, the easiest way to run a wire from the attic or second floor to your basement would be to use you return air ducts. Go to the highest point, tie a nut (bolt) to a long string and drop it down. You will hear it in the basement part of the duct. Tie your wire to the string a pull it up.

on 2/7/2006 When you need to fish a wire through an insulated wall, attach the wire to a fish tape then feed it up (or down) the wall, then from the attic or basement use a short piece of fish tape or a coat hanger with a hook bent on the end and feel around for the wire. The fish tape will force the wire through the insulation.

on 11/22/2005 Do not drill further into a wall than necessary. Water pipes and electrical lines are often attached to the sides of studs, which is right where you want to drill to install a new outlet! Be careful!

Make sure you shut off the breaker and test the circuit before wiring--have a friend with you in case you get into trouble.

on 11/22/2005 I re-wired my house using this method to help me along: I used a parts retrieval magnet (about 1/2" dia.) and poked it throught the outlet box into the void space. After I located and drilled the hole for the wire, I would drop a string with a small nut attached to it down to the box. The magent would catch the nut if it came near, I could then pull the string into the box and attach my fishtape or romex to the string.

on 11/22/2005 Pick a desired location for an outlet. Cut the hole, then have someone hold a flashlight (or insert it into the hole). Go to the attic (measuring to approximate the location) and drill holes until you find the light.

on 11/22/2005 Browse these tools to help with the wire fishing and running.

http://www.hometech.com/tools/wiring.html

on 11/22/2005 Find a fiberglass bike flag. Remove the flag and all hardware. Round end with a file. Drill a 1/8" hole in one end. Attach wire through hole in "pole". Push pole in drilled wall hole and "fish" out at desired location. Pull "pole" with wire attached.

on 10/21/2007 Use a length of "jack chain" to fish wire through walls. Drop chain through a hole in attic. Attach wire to chain. Chain will snake through wall past most obstacles and be caught with fishtape or wire.