Replacing in-wall wires.

Paul in Canada

When I was building my house, back about 9 years ago, I installed speaker wires that ran up the wall, over a vaulted ceiling and down the back wall for surrounds. I'd say that there is about 2 runs of 50 feet and I would like to replace the wires with better wire and was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on how this could be done without making a big mess or should I just leave it alone for now. I was thinking about taping the new wire onto the old and pulling it through. The wires would be pulled through insullation and holes drilled through the studs. The wire that is there now is (I think) 18 ga and not rated for in-wall. Can it be done? Should it be done? Thanks.

disneyjoe7

When you ran it the first time did you "Staple It" in to studs on the way down to the wall opening? If not I don't have any issues using a wire as a "Pull Wire" I even may use a wire to pull up the new wire and a new pull wire. This way in the end I have the original, the new, and a new pull wire for future.


If "Stapled" it will not be as easy but anything can be done when you put your mind to it.

Paul in Canada

There was no staples used (I don't think so anyway). So do you think if I just splice the new wire to the old and then taped them well it would keep them together. Thanks.

disneyjoe7

The trick here is to have as "Smooth and Tight" splice as possible. So I all depends how big the hole is in the attic. If only 3/8" then you need to make joint this size or smaller if 1" no problem just tape the together lying one to the other, taping smooth. 3/8" then yes remove insulations twisting wire together taping in all just that you're not trying to get a 1/2" splice through a 3/8 hole.

When you done it best to try to pull it apart yourself while you can "See It" before it come apart in the wall if weak. Also its best to have a helper to feed the wire up as you pull also to pull back down if you get stuck to try again over trouble area.

polktiger

If there are no staples, using the old to pull new won't be too bad. But it can not be said how important it is to "over build" your splice or tape job. Last thing in the world you want is to get hung, give it that extra tug and pop lose. Then you will be stuck with an old wire that can't be used anymore.

One thing to check also - not all vaulted ceilings are what i call a "true vault." My old house had a "fake vault" which looks like a vaulted ceiling, but when you go up into the atic, the ceilng joists are not the same as the roof truss or rafters. I had about a 4 foot gap between my den ceiling and the actual roof of the house. If your house is framed this way things might be a little easier because you can probably get to the old wire this way.

EFW

This may sound silly:rolleyes: , but one thing I use when pulling new wire with old is chinese hand cufs. If you have kids or were a kid yourself not that long ago you are probably familiar with these. You insert the old wire in one end and the new wire in the other. Then use electrical tape to secure the chinese hand cuffs to each wire old and new. The harder you pull the wire the tighter the hand cuffs will get around the wire. This works particularly well for pulling through the caps if the holes are not big enough to accomidate a large diameter. Again, I know it sounds silly but it works. Hope it helps.:cool:

zeffer

It might be a good idea to put a little vasaline on the splice so it will be less prone to catching .