When you are doing some home improvement projects or you are hanging a TV or picture, sometimes you hit electrical wiring behind the wall. If you think that you might have just hit an electrical wire behind the wall, this could turn into a major problem. First, it is important to not hit any electrical wiring running through the wall, but it is also important to know what to do if you did hit an electrical wire. If you find yourself in this situation, Burley Electrical Services will share how you can better avoid hitting an electrical wire behind the wall and what to do should this happen.
How Do You Protect Electrical Wires Behind Drywall?
If you are hanging a shelf, picture or doing some home improvement project, it is important not to hit or damage the electrical wiring. The key to avoiding the electrical wiring throughout your home is by knowing where they are at. Unless you ran the electrical wiring yourself, you will not know for sure where the wiring is. However, electrical wiring will run vertical and horizontally along the studs that are used to frame the home. The studs in a home are usually spaced every 16 to 24 inches apart. The wiring is secured to the side of the stud and not directly in the center. When running a bolt, screw, or nail into the wall you need to find the center of the stud. If you hit the wiring, you can expose the inner copper or aluminum wiring that may start a fire.
What Happens if You Accidentally Drill Through a Wire?
When you hammer or drill into the wall, should you hear a crackling noise or see the lights flicker, this is a sign that you hit the wiring. If you hit an electrical wire, take your hands off of your tools and step back quickly. Additionally, do not touch anything. Go to the breaker panel and turn off the breaker to the damaged circuit. This will ensure a fire will not start and that you do not get electrocuted. Make sure the power to the circuit has been shut off. You can then remove your tool and inspect the damage. If you hit an electrical wire and are not sure what you should do, it is time to contact a professional electrician.
How Do You Fix a Broken Wire?
If you hit an electrical wire it is important that the wiring gets repaired properly. Often a hole will need to be cut out to reach the wiring. The site of the damage will need to have a splicer repair kit to connect the two ends of the damaged wire. It is important that the wiring is repaired properly to prevent an electrical hazard. A wiring splicer brings the wiring back together and seals off and protects the wiring. The wiring will need to be safely repaired to ensure no future fire hazards.
Electrical Wiring Inspections & More in Pompano Beach, Imperial Point, Plantation, Deerfield Beach, Boca Raton, Davie, Lighthouse Point, Parkland & Fort Lauderdale, Florida
If you hit an electrical wire when doing some home improvement projects and you need help repairing the wiring, contact Burley Electrical Services for all your electrical services today.
