Pro tip: always check the attic before you drill...

Last week in a 1970s split-level, I was about to run a wire down an interior wall when I found a full HVAC duct right behind the drywall... my stud finder didn't pick it up at all. How do you guys handle old houses where the plans are totally wrong?

3 comments

3 Comments

linda_mason821mo ago

Old houses are a total nightmare for that. My stud finder is basically useless half the time. Ended up just using a really small drill bit to poke a test hole first, saves a lot of trouble.

viola_patel721mo ago

That test hole trick is smart, @linda_mason82. What size drill bit do you use?

eric_price23d ago

@viola_patel72, you asking for the exact drill bit size is like asking a guy what kind of nail to use to patch drywall. The answer is "the smallest one that still makes a hole you can see." Just grab whatever's least likely to punch through a pipe.