How do you know if it’s safe to drill into a wall?

What to Know Before Drilling into a Wall

  • Avoid drilling near light sockets or outlets. One of the main reasons drilling into the wall can be dangerous is that you risk hitting electrical wires or gas and water pipes. …
  • Take extra care in bathrooms and kitchens. …
  • Invest in a stud finder. …
  • Contact a professional to be sure.





What happens if you drill into a wire in the wall?

Hitting a wire or pipe could cause serious injuries to the person holding the drill and could damage the home as well. Aside from you getting electrocuted and ending up in the emergency room, a fire could start, or your home could get flooded.

What happens if I drill into electrical?

Damage to electrical wiring from drilling into walls is a surprisingly frequent phenomenon – especially when buildings are being renovated. Not only do the lights go out, but you usually blow a fuse as well. With a bit of luck, you might only have to repair the cable sheath.

Can you drill into a wall with wires behind it?

Electrical Wires



Metal plates are hard to drill through, so if you hit something that your drill won’t penetrate, stop trying! Your drill should easily bite into wood and drywall. If it doesn’t, consider it a warning that you should stop drilling.

How do you know if you hit a wire when drilling?





One way to tell if they have screwed into the wiring is to measure AC volts from screw to hot, screw to neutral screw to ground. A Wire that is somewhat free behind the dry wall might not always be centered and I have seen a wire get caught in a home that was built in 1997.

How do I make sure I don’t drill into a wire?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: If you think you have hit something I would suggest you use an insulated screwdriver just in case you've drilled through an electric cable.

Can you get electrocuted using a drill?

“The main dangers [of drilling into a wall] are hitting an electrical wire, water pipe, or gas pipe,” explains Issabel Williams, a crew member with Fantastic Handyman UK. “All of these scenarios can lead to electrocution or flooding.”

How deep in the wall are wires?

How far into the wall are wires located? Wiring usually runs horizontally, about an inch into the wall. The parameters are 6 inches or 12 inches above the receptacle.

Can a nicked wire cause a fire?



If the nick is deep enough, the wire will overheat at the nicked point. This overheating is not detected by the fuse or circuit breaker and the result is an electrical fire.
7 апр. 1984

How do you check Electrics before drilling?

Check before drilling

  1. No rings, bracelets, watches or mobile phones. …
  2. Position the entire device against the wall. …
  3. Ensure grounding/equalisation. …
  4. Move the device across the wall. …
  5. Move the device over the same place several times. …
  6. Switch on the power supply.


How far behind drywall are wires?



Wires. Electrical cables are usually behind drywall, either running horizontally through holes in the studs or stapled vertically up the sides of studs. Outlet cables tend to be about 12 inches high. Light switches are around 48 inches high, so expect to see electric cables around that area.

How do I know if my wall has electric cables?

A quality cable detector can help you to track buried cables before you start work and avoid the risk of an electric shock. If you dont have a detector a good tip is also to avoid any area horizontally or vertically from any switch or socket.

Is it safe to drill above an outlet?

Electrical wires typically run either vertically, up and down the side of a stud or horizontally. The vertical wires are typically pretty easy to avoid: avoid drilling above a receptacle or light switch.

Can you just drill into a wall?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Measure. Step 3 be careful drilling into a bathroom wall or into any walls that are shared with a bathroom you risk hitting and damaging your pipes.

How do I know where the studs are in my wall?



Here’s how to find a stud in the wall quickly and easily, with or without a stud finder:

  1. Locate the nearest light switch or power outlet. …
  2. Look for dimples in the wall. …
  3. Use windows as a guide. …
  4. Tap the wall. …
  5. Drill a hole. …
  6. Fish around with a wire hanger. …
  7. Try a stud finder app. …
  8. Or just use a stud finder!


How far behind drywall are wires?

How far into the wall are wires located? Wiring usually runs horizontally, about an inch into the wall. The parameters are 6 inches or 12 inches above the receptacle.

How do you know if it’s a stud or a pipe?

You can often tell by the width of the object if it is a stud or a pipe. First, find the left edge of the object, mark it, and repeat for the right edge. Wood studs are about 1.5 inches wide (4 cm). Copper pipes, as well as PEX and PVC pipes for delivering water, are typically smaller than this.

How do you know if you’re drilling into a stud?



Make a fist and knock on the wall with your knuckles. In some places, you’ll hear a hollow sound. Other areas will sound more “solid.” The “solid” sound indicates you have knocked on a stud. Studs are located about 16 to 24-inches apart.

Can stud finder detect wires?

Electronic models with advanced scanners have stud detection technology that can pinpoint electrical wires and a non-ferrous metal like copper piping. With a stud finder, you can locate wires or wood studs using a magnetic stud finder or you can use electronic stud finders.

Do studs have live wires?

Stud finders find studs, not live wires. And they’re notoriously inaccurate – it’s not uncommon to have them go off in a large area, or nowhere at all. My stud finder has a live wire detector. I’ve noticed that the live wire detector often goes off on textured walls in places where I know that there are no wires.

How do I know if my wall has electric cables?

A quality cable detector can help you to track buried cables before you start work and avoid the risk of an electric shock. If you dont have a detector a good tip is also to avoid any area horizontally or vertically from any switch or socket.