Cable Zones

How to Avoid Damaging Electrical Cables When Hanging Pictures?

As your local electrician in Corby, I often get called out to properties where suddenly the fuse-board has tripped and the customer can't reset the power.

The very first thing I always ask is:

"Have you tried to put up a picture on the wall or have you tried fix something to the wall?"

If your answer is yes, do not worry, you're not alone. It's a common mistake that many homeowners in Corby and Kettering make when trying to do little DIY projects around the house.

So, as a local electrician in Corby I thought today I'd talk about cable zones, to help you understand where your cables may run behind your walls where you can't see them to help you avoid this unpleasant situation next time and hopefully save you some money on call out fees and such.

I have also made a video regards to this to our YouTube channel so if you wish to take a look you can find it in the videos page on my website or just head to our YouTube channel for more. So as my poem says, electrical cables can run vertically or horizontally behind the wall, from any switches or socket outlets.

Here are some tips to help you:

1. Use a stud finder or cable detector to locate any electrical cables behind the wall before you start drilling or nailing. They are not too expensive nowadays and if you do bits and pieces around the house it is well worth it. I saw one in Screwfix in Corby the other day for about £35.
2. Definitely avoid drilling or nailing in horizontal or vertical way to any switch or socket outlet.
3. If you not exactly sure of the location of electrical cables, or you do not feel confident doing so hire a qualified electrician in Corby to give you an advice.
4. You should always switch off the power supply in the room you're working before you start drilling, so that if you drill through on a cable it wouldn't be live at the time reducing the risk of you receiving an electric shock. You will of course find out if you drilled in to a cable once you try to turn the circuit back on, because you simply will not be able to.

If you do accidentally drill or nail through an electrical cable, stop immediately and call your local qualified electrician in Corby to assess the damage and fix it. Do not try to fix this in anyway. 

So, the next time you are about to put a picture up on your wall, remember to take these precautions and think through where any electrical cables behind the wall could be to avoid any damage. It may take a little extra time but it will well worth it at the end.