How do you know its safe to drill/screw into a wall?

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Dry_Action1734@reddit

I am under the (hopefully correct) understanding that drilling anywhere from a socket to the ceiling is a bad idea, but anywhere not above a socket is fair game, at least re: electrics. No idea about avoiding pipes, I would think they’d be very high or very low, except in the kitchen.

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ratbum@reddit

Wires have to be either horizonally or vertically in line with sockets or fuse boxes or within 15cm of a croner

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Puzzleheaded_Drink76@reddit

Logic should help. E.g. in my flat all the water using things are along one outside wall. There's no logical reason why there would be a pipe through any of the other ones because what's would it be supplying/draining?

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Yachting-Mishaps@reddit

Assuming people have played by the rules with where they run cables. I know for a fact people do some dick things and bodge things in the most unexpected and dangerous that aren't regulation compliant.

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liquidio@reddit

Read up on electrical safety zones first.

https://www.brightsparkelectrician.co.uk/knowledge-centre/wires-and-cables/where-is-it-safe-to-drill-into-my-wall

Similar concept with plumbing but not as well-regulated - studying what you can see of your pipe work can normally tell you a lot about what you can’t see. Boxed-in vertical and horizontal runs often house pipework.

Detector is useful as others have said. But they aren’t always reliable either.

A good quality drill should have non-conductive parts you hold.

Know where your stopcock is.

If you feel you are drilling into metal, pause. It may be a structural component like a lintel, but it could also be shielding across a cable run.

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TheAngryBad@reddit

If it's a plasterboard (stud) wall, drill slowly through it with a small bit. Even going slowly and taking care you'll be through it in a few seconds.

Once you've got your hole, poke a nail or a drill bit through and wiggle it around. If you can't feel it hit anything but air, you're probably good to go.

In general though, pipes and wires usually (but never take that for granted; exercise caution) go straight up or down. As a rule, avoid drilling directly above or below sockets or pipe outlets and you should be good.

If you're planning on doing a lot of this, though, a pipe finder is a good investment.

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Swatch843@reddit

I don't know but that looks like a fish on the wall.

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Morazma@reddit

I got one of these 9 years ago. I use it every time I drill into a wall. It detects metal and electrical wires.

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/6195816

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treeseacar@reddit

It won't find plastic speedfit water pipes. But it would be unlikely/unlucky to find them in that wall which doesn't have a radiator visible nearby. That said people do silly things with pipes.

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ASGT908@reddit

This is the answer. They are also relatively easy to use and will indicate whether there is live wires or metals within the walls.

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terryjuicelawson@reddit

That is just a plain old wall, other than avoiding a direct line under the sockets for cables there aren't pipes hiding anywhere under there.

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Fellowes321@reddit

Other than the general answer of buy a detector, there are some clues.

Electricians don't randomly stick wires all over. They're either dropping down from above or coming up from below in a straight line to a socket. They may be horizontal between the two sockets. Dont drill above a socket or between those two sockets.

You know what's on the other side of that wall. Is it a solid wall? - does it join to your neighbour or is it an internal wall between rooms? What's above it or below it? These give you an idea whether a water pipe is in line with your drill bit.

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chilli_con_camera@reddit

You use a hammer drill and an 8mm masonry bit to test

Or, you buy a cable and pipe detector and avoid drilling where it tells you there are cables and pipes

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Kvark33@reddit

wires and pipes will most likely not be in front of a stud. I would stay away from anything at plug level, if there is a bathroom, on the adjoining wall, don't screw or drill anything near it's vicinity. You might be able to see plasterboard screw bulging, from there measure every 16" or 40cm either side and that will be your studs.

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