How to Know if There is Electrical wiring Behind a Wall When Hanging Shelves, pictures or anything that is being mounted by using a screw or nail.
It is important that you know exactly where the wires are inside your walls when hanging items such as shelves.
When you screw into the sheet rock you could puncture the insulation of a wire. Not only could this give you the shock of your life, it could cause a spark that ignites insulation in the walls. Electrician can snake wires through walls at any point. For this reason, you cannot trust that wires extend only vertically from electrical outlets. A high-quality non-contact voltage tester will help you find the wires in the walls. Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions
Things you need: >you can get this at home depot<
- Non-contact voltage tester
- Turn on the tester and test it next to a known working outlet. The tester has a light or a beeper that will go off. This ensures the tester works.
- Place the tester against the wall where you wish to place the fasteners. If the tester does not go off, there are no wires behind the wall. (always follow tester instructions)
- Slide the tester to the left and to the right and up to ensure there are no wires close to the area that could fall against a screw you place into the wall. This will ensure added safety.
author: eHOW