Warning: That old coax line in the attic might be a bigger problem than you think

I was on a job in a 1970s house in Springfield last month, running a new drop for a customer. I pulled down the old cable from the attic and found it was stapled directly to a hot water pipe with metal staples. Over the years, the pipe's heat had melted the jacket and exposed the braid. I shut everything down, cut out the damaged section, and re-ran the line with proper standoffs. It took an extra 40 minutes, but saved a potential short. What's the weirdest place you've found old cable run?

4 comments

4 Comments

drew9651mo ago

Yeah, running cable through ductwork is a classic. I always check for that exact wear spot where it rubs against the metal edge. A little foil tape on the sharp part can save you a re-run later.

the_rowan1mo ago

Found a mess like that in my own house. The previous owner ran the coax right through the metal ductwork for the bathroom fan. The sharp edge had worn through the jacket over years of vibration. Had to fish a whole new line through the wall and seal the hole in the duct with foil tape.

sean_johnson161mo ago

That "previous owner" energy is a universal force of chaos in home repair.

tarar271mo ago

My buddy bought a place and found all the light switches were put in upside down. The previous guy said it was a style choice, but really he just mixed up the hot and neutral wires on every single one. Took a whole weekend with a voltage tester to make the house safe again.