How do I Run a TV Cable?

by Dan Taylor, Demand Media

Cable wires can be stapled flush to walls to keep them largely out of sight.

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It's usually best to let a professional run your cable wires through walls or around rooms, but if you really want to do it yourself, it's not an impossible task. As long as you have the right tools and enough time on your hands, you can run a TV cable from one room to another, through multiple floors or between walls if you want. The process will require you to do some drilling in some cases and generally get your hands dirty.

Step 1

Locate the best route first. See if you can simply route the cable through a basement or attic or around walls to avoid making holes in your house.

Step 2

Turn off all electricity in the house if you find that you will need to drill and aren't sure where the electrical wires are in the house. Get a tool that is grounded by a metal frame and wear rubber gloves.

Step 3

Cut a small rectangular opening in the drywall near the floor using the jigsaw to run the cable to the floor below. Drill vertically through the 2-by-4 at the wall's base, and run the cable through the hole.

Step 4

Use the hammer and crowbar to pry off the baseboard if you are running a cable along a wall. Cut out a small strip of drywall below the baseboard and drill holes about 24 inches apart in the base low on the wall. Use a drill bit designed for going through metal to drill through a stud from one hole to the other, and use the fish tape to pull the cable through the space.

Step 5

Drill through a stud cavity if you are routing the cable to the next room, and run the cable through the hole.

References

  • FamilyEducation: How to Run TV Cable Through Walls
  • Wire It YourseWireityourself.com - Running Wires in Your Home

About the Author

Based in the Washington, D.C., area, Dan Taylor has been a professional journalist since 2004. He has been published in the "Baltimore Sun" and "The Washington Times." He started as a reporter for a newspaper in southwest Virginia and now writes for "Inside the Navy." He holds a Bachelor of Arts in government with a journalism track from Patrick Henry College.

Photo Credits

  • Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images