Tangled in a web of wiring, who should I call for help?
July 29, 2021 6:44 AM Subscribe
What kind of service provider can I call to help organize, rationalize, remove and reconfigure the absolute kelp forest of (non-electrical) wiring in our 1920s era house?
We have so many wires running through our house. The previous owners were audiophiles that ran a business from home -- there are speaker, coax, and (oh gosh, so many) telephone wires. All we as new owners need is the ethernet cable to our wireless router. But even that comes into the basement, goes through walls up two flights to the attic, then BACK DOWN ONE FLIGHT to the guest bedroom (ex home office). This started with just wanting to improve wifi reception on the ground floor.
I just want to rip everything out and start again but that seems unlikely given the age of our home. Any ideas on who could help?
We have so many wires running through our house. The previous owners were audiophiles that ran a business from home -- there are speaker, coax, and (oh gosh, so many) telephone wires. All we as new owners need is the ethernet cable to our wireless router. But even that comes into the basement, goes through walls up two flights to the attic, then BACK DOWN ONE FLIGHT to the guest bedroom (ex home office). This started with just wanting to improve wifi reception on the ground floor.
I just want to rip everything out and start again but that seems unlikely given the age of our home. Any ideas on who could help?
Best answer: Yes, electricians do this. The term of art is "low voltage wiring."
posted by pullayup at 7:00 AM on July 29, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by pullayup at 7:00 AM on July 29, 2021 [4 favorites]
If all you need is an ethernet cable, why don't you either abandon everything else in place, or cut it off and yank out what you can remove? If you can afford an electrician, and aren't comfortable doing this, then call one. If not, low voltage stuff is not in any way a shock hazard.
My house - 1912 - has wiring of a dozen vintages. The doorbell wiring was laid loosely over the joists and the floor dropped on top of it. It was used as an office and there's dead phone wiring everywhere. There's coax sticking out of walls here and there. If I can get it out I do, otherwise I cut it short and leave it.
If you can tell the difference, go for it. If you can't, either get a multi-tester and see what's live, or get someone who will know.
posted by AugustusCrunch at 1:01 PM on July 29, 2021 [1 favorite]
My house - 1912 - has wiring of a dozen vintages. The doorbell wiring was laid loosely over the joists and the floor dropped on top of it. It was used as an office and there's dead phone wiring everywhere. There's coax sticking out of walls here and there. If I can get it out I do, otherwise I cut it short and leave it.
If you can tell the difference, go for it. If you can't, either get a multi-tester and see what's live, or get someone who will know.
posted by AugustusCrunch at 1:01 PM on July 29, 2021 [1 favorite]
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posted by DarlingBri at 6:59 AM on July 29, 2021