Is it Difficult to Run Ethernet Cable Through Walls?
You decided to add wired connectivity to your home. Many questions pop-up after this decision. How difficult it is to run ethernet cable through walls? What’s it gonna cost? Do you need a professional or is it’s a DIY project? Is it worth it to run ethernet cable through walls? So many questions. First of all, there are no standard answers to these questions. Regarding how difficult is it to add ethernet wires, it depends on the walls of your home. If they are drywalls, then the installation will be easy. But if they are brick walls, then it might be tricky. The reason you are planning lay ethernet cables through walls is to add several ethernet outlets. These outlets allow you to connect devices using ethernet cables. As wired network is often stable with very low latency, it is definitely worth it. As far as professional help or DIY, again it depends on your situation. Wiring ethernet cables through drywalls is very simple. Make sure that you don’t hit any plumbing or existing cables. If you have a brick wall and don’t want to make holes, then use a PVC Concealers to run ethernet cables.
Before Wiring Ethernet Cables
Let us now see the basic process of wiring ethernet cables through walls. This is just a planning phase of the project. We will see a detailed guide on how to wire ethernet cable through walls in the next section.
Plan Which Rooms/Walls Will Have Ethernet Cable
The first and essential step is to determine which rooms will need ethernet cable. We can divide this situation into two cases. The first case is if your house already has ethernet wiring. Some rooms have ethernet cable wiring and outlets but you plan to expand to other parts of the house. Second case is your house doesn’t have any sort of ethernet wiring. You are planning for a fresh install of ethernet cables from scratch. In either case, you have pre-plan the rooms and number of outlets.
Set the Path
After selecting the rooms, the next step is to create a route for the cables. Set a main starting point. You can call this the distribution point. If you have dedicated network room (or something similar), you can start from there. In case you don’t have a room, the distribution point could be the place where you put the modem, router or switch. The cable from your ISP (fiber, ethernet or coax) will end-up here. Cables from all the rooms terminate at the distribution point. So, plan out a path to all the outlets from the distribution point. Shortest path wins.
Choose the Right Cable
Now the important topic, what ethernet cable to use? There are several classes of ethernet cables. CAT5/5E, CAT6/6A, CAT7 and CAT8 are the popular options. We have articles explaining each of these types. You can refer to comparison of CAT5 and CAT6 and CAT5E vs CAT6. Both the CAT6 variants (CAT6 and CAT6E) support up to 10Gbps transfer speeds. But CAT6 has a distance limit of 55m. CAT6E doesn’t have this limit. It can run up to 100m and provide transfer rates of 10Gbps. We recommend you to invest a little bit more and choose CAT6 or CAT6E. This will futureproof your home network. CAT7 and CAT8 are next level. But at this point, you don’t need them. You can learn more about them in this CAT7vs CAT8 comparison guide. Now-a-days, we are getting fancy flat ethernet cables. We do not recommend using flat ethernet cables for long distance. A study says that regular round ethernet cables have better tolerance to interference than flat cables. As the length of the ethernet cables running through walls is long, it is better to use good quality round ethernet cables. If you want to use flat ethernet cables, you can use the short length ones. For example, you can use them for connecting your PC to the ethernet outlet/router.
Get the Tools
With right set of tools, you can easily run ethernet cable through walls. In fact, you can even make it a DIY project. Some tools you might need are: Drill, Saw, Stud Finder etc. We will see the list of tools and accessories you need in the next section.
Necessary Tools to Have Around
After planning, the important step to run ethernet cable is to have all the necessary tools. We can list out some important tools for this. In addition, we will also list out the accessories you need specific to ethernet cable wiring.
Tools for Wiring
Cordless Drill Stud Finder Reciprocating Saw Fish Tape Wire Stripper Zip Ties Velcro Straps Label Maker
Tools for Ethernet
Ethernet Wall Socket Punch Down Tool Ethernet Switch RJ45 Crimper RJ45 Plugs
This list of tools and accessories is only for reference. You might need additional tools depending on the work.
How to Run Ethernet Cable Through Walls?
Let us now see a detailed guide on how to run ethernet cable through walls. Note that these steps are not universal. You can use these points as a reference or starting point. Depending on your requirements and house you might need to take extra steps.
Rough Wiring Plan
As we mentioned before, having a rough plan on the rooms and path will make the job easy. If you have any blueprints to your house, then use the dimensions in it to estimate the length of the cable you need. Rooms with TV, computer or gaming consoles need ethernet cables. You can run it through garage (for smart features). Or other parts of your house to add a Wi-Fi extender or repeater. You can use software or online tools to draw wiring plans. Although this step is not necessary but it is good to have. In this step, you can identify the path of the cable. Some cables go through the gap in the walls. Others go through the attic. Some even can go through the crawlspace. Map it out.
Setup the Distribution Point
The Distribution Point is where all your ethernet cables terminate. This is also the location where you keep your main modem or router. Let us proceed with creating the distribution point.
First and important thing when cutting/drilling walls is to turn off the power. Running ethernet cable through walls doesn’t involve any electrical wires. But we are making holes in the wall where electrical wires and conduits run. Better safe than sorry. Using a stud finder, locate two studs. The network panel goes in between these studs. Make a small square hole in the center. Use this hole to see behind the wall. If there are no obstacles, you can proceed to cutting the drywall. You can use a wring panel at the distribution point to arrange the cables in a proper manner. So, cut the drywall that fits the panel. Use a network switch to terminate all the ethernet cables. A router/modem will drive the network switch.
Cut/Drill Holes to Run Ethernet Cables
We can now move forward to making holes. Depending on your house and requirements, you have to make holes in walls, floor or ceiling. Start with a hole above the distribution/network panel. Make the necessary cuts and holes in the walls for attaching the ethernet wall sockets. These holes must be near the devices such as TV, PC or Gaming Console.
Feed the Wires Through Holes/Walls
After making all the holes, you can start feeding the cables through the walls and holes. Labelling the cables eliminates confusion. Use a label makes and give names to the cables. Use names such as bedroom, office, TV and PC.
Terminate the Cables
Once you run all the cables through the holes and walls, you can now proceed with crimping the cables. Use a punch down tool to wire the cables at the ethernet wall sockets. Use cable ties or Velcro Straps to secure the cables.
Conclusion
Wired ethernet connectivity has undoubted advantage over wireless connection. You get better speeds, no latency and the network become reliable. Our smartphone, tablets and laptop connect to the internet over Wi-Fi. But gaming PCs, TVs and Gaming consoles can use wired ethernet for better performance. If you house doesn’t have any ethernet outlets, you can add ethernet cable wiring. But how to run ethernet cable through walls? This is a fundamental question many home owners have. In this guide, we saw the challenges of running ethernet cables through walls of a house. We also saw the necessary steps that you can follow to wire your home for wired ethernet connectivity. Comment * Name * Email * Website
Δ
