So you’ve bought a new TV, dryer, or picture and you’re figuring out how to go about mounting them on your walls. Whatever you do, don’t rush straight in and start drilling holes in the walls just anywhere! You could end up facing costly repairs. Always make sure you check the location of pipes and electrical wires in your walls before drilling or you could face a flooded house or worse, a hospital visit.
Clearly hanging your item requires some planning and forethought, but there are some easy pointers to follow.
Firstly, avoid drilling above or below light switches or electrical outlets. Your home wiring should run in a straight course through the walls, straight down from the ceiling or from the subfloor to your power outlets. If you have a power outlet or switch on the second floor be conscious of this directional wiring and don’t drill directly below it on the first floor either. Cutting the power is the safest course of action if you are unsure.
Be careful to avoid drilling into pipes, particularly in any room that shares walls with a bathroom or laundry. A simple microwave bracket installation can quickly turn into a flooded kitchen and a whole lot of drama if you nick a pipe through carelessness. Check rooms for likely water sources by identifying water fixtures; just like wiring, pipes normally run in a straight line through walls. You can also avoid drilling pipes altogether by drilling directly into a wall stud, which can be located by using any purchased stud finder.
Although pipes and wires should be able to be found through common sense, unfortunately in old houses or homes that have been shoddily constructed the wiring and plumbing may not follow the straight lines that they should. A combination stud finder (NOT the standard but with metal detection included) can help detect studs, wiring and plumbing in the walls for you.
So stay safe (and dry) and plan ahead before you drill. If you HAVE had a DIY disaster you can find local plumbers, plasterers and electricians at our website https://www.looklocalwa.com.au/
