Check before drilling. Whether you're looking to put up some new shelves, mount a light or screw a cabinet on to the wall – before you reach for the drill, you should pick up a digital detection device. It can help you reduce the risks associated with drilling holes in your walls.
Drilling into walls is generally safe if you've ensured no electrical wires or plumbing are in the area. Use a stud finder with live wire detection, or consult building plans to identify safe spots. Avoid drilling near outlets or switches as wires commonly run vertically or horizontally from these points.
Use a heavy duty magnet and run it where the stud should be. When the magnet sticks, you've found the drywall screw and you know you are in good shape.
To avoid hitting electrical lines while drilling, use a stud finder to locate wires behind the wall. Additionally, drill a small pilot hole and listen for any unusual sounds that might indicate a wire. If uncertain, consider consulting a professional or using a wire locator tool for extra safety.
Measure up to the installation height of the fastener and mark the wall at that point on painters tape. If you want to confirm the presence of a stud, you can drive a small finish nail into the wall at the suspected location. If a stud is present, you should feel resistance as the nail encounters the wood.
Once you think you're on point, one last way to confirm that you're into a stud is to predrill a hole through the drywall with a narrow drill bit (think: 1/16-inch sized bit). You'll be able to feel resistance if the bit hits a stud once it passes through the drywall.
However, if you don't have access to this, most wiring runs horizontally 6 inches or 12 inches above the receptacle, so avoid these areas. If it is possible, only drill shallow holes. Most cables will be at least an inch deep into the wall, so by avoiding deep drilling, you can be sure to avoid wires.
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.
If you suspect that an electric cable has been hit, it is absolutely necessary to repair it. You should immediately ensure that the power is switched off before touching anything. In the worst case, if the protective earth conductor has been damaged you otherwise run the risk of a fatal electric shock.
How do You Know if You've Drilled into a Cable? Your first warning would be the thing that the wire is carrying electricity to suddenly losing power, but of course that would be contingent on that thing being powered on at the time you drilled through the wire.
Most modern outlets are installed with a certain amount of space between the outlet box and the wall surface, so drilling too deep could potentially breach the outlet box itself, causing electrical hazards. Therefore, using a shorter drill bit might be advisable when drilling above an outlet.
Studs are typically 16 inches apart from each other. There are always studs on either side of a window or door, so you can measure 16 inches from the edge to get general guidance on where the next stud is located in the room.
Per the 2018 International Residential Code, electrical wires should be set back no less than 1-1/4 inches from the edge of the framing lumber. Limiting drilling depth to less than 1-1/4 inches is a good start to reducing the risk of damaging wiring behind the drywall.
Using a Stud Finder
The stud finder will indicate the presence of wiring by detecting changes in density. When the stud finder detects a possible wire, mark the location on the wall and move the tool horizontally and vertically to trace the wire's path.
“One common rule is to avoid drilling around light switches and sockets, as the electrical wires can go horizontally and vertically around these fixtures,” Williams explains. “You can also get an idea of where wires and pipes run by looking in the attic and basement to see where they go up or down through framing.”
To check for electrical wires before drilling, use a stud finder with wire-detection capabilities or an electronic wire detector to scan the area. These tools will alert you to any live wires within the wall. Avoid drilling directly above or below outlets and switches as wiring usually runs in these areas.
You'll likely know if you drill into a water pipe in your home. If the sound of a screw cutting into something other than wood and plaster doesn't tip you off, the leaking water will. Depending on the hole's size, the water will burble out or stream-line out.
Yes, you can use a normal drill when drilling into drywall. However, you should ensure that you use appropriate drill bits. These include twist bits, spade bits, and masonry bits. The key is to determine which bit type will best suit your intended purpose.
To detect pipes or wiring behind drywall, use a stud finder with live wire detection or a multi-function detector.
There are generally two types of stud finders: magnetic and electronic. Magnetic stud finders use a magnet to detect metal studs and other materials, including pipes, behind a wall. Electronic stud finders are able to sense a wider range of materials behind a wall, including wiring and PVC pipes.
Puddles are a clear sign of a burst pipe. Small puddles in one area usually mean a leak, but large pools of water in multiple areas indicates a burst. These puddles often move across rooms or through walls. Burst pipes continuously leak water until the supply is off, so the puddle grows quickly.
Wall studs are framing components in timber or steel-framed walls, that run between the top and bottom plates. It is a fundamental element in frame building. The majority non-masonry buildings rely on wall studs, with wood being the most common and least-expensive material used for studs.