I just drilled a few holes in a bedroom wall to mount a couple of small shelves. I used a stud finder and found two areas to drill into to put the supports for the shelves. I realized afterwards that I was drilling into a wall that has a bathroom on the other side. I'm paranoid that I might have drilled through the pipe. There's no sign that anything happened (the drill bit wasn't wet or anything), but I'm still worried.
Any tips on 1) figuring out whether I did any damage and 2) preventing me from making a similar mistake in the future?
2006-11-25 15:03:03 · 10 answers · asked by Albert 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
The wall I drilled into was on the second floor above the level of the sink.
2006-11-25 15:24:36 · update #1
i did use a stud finder but as you can tell i don't know much about this stuff yet.
it's really funny how many people wanted to give me advice and tell me how stupid i was at the same time. thanks to all for the advice though as it seemed mostly well thought out and certainly was helpful. :)
2006-11-26 17:30:44 · update #2
chances are if you drilled into a pipe, you'd know it immediately. If you're hanging shelves don't you want to mount them to studs? There are a few things to consider: where your hot water heater is, whether or not your house is multi-story, where on the wall you want to drill. Most reputable plumbers, electricians etc use nail plates, a metal protective plate that fits over where pipe or wire passes through a stud to prevent drywallers or subsequent homeowners from damaging their installations. But for future reference, figure that piping will most always run in the most logical route, from where it enters your house to the furthest outlet. Kitchens, bathrooms etc will usually be designed where they share a common wall. In your case, just because there's a bathroom behind the wall you wish to mount your shelves on doesn't mean the piping is within that wall. Most times, you'll find the shower/bath, sinks and toilet share a common wall, this is because its simpler to run the piping thus saving costs. If the wall you're drilling into is the same wall your bathroom fixtures are on and/or you have 2 or more stories then use a little care..If they're not then don't worry. Homebuilders take into account this ocurrence and take measures to prevent it. Relax.
2006-11-25 15:34:52 · answer #1 · answered by uvmyattn 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
What is on the other side of where you are drilling? Sink or shower head coming out of that wall? If not, then there is almost zero chance of water pipes being in there. If they are, are you on the second floor? If so, then there shouldn't be any water pipes over the sink higher than the level of the faucet, so if the shelves are higher, then you should still be good. Also, if you are going into studs, then the water supply pipes are only 1/2 inch wide. The chances of you hitting them are tiny. And you would feel it. The drill would just stop going in. It WILL drill through the copper pipe, but not as easily as the wood and you would feel the difference in resistance. Don't be paranoid. You didn't hit anything. If you had, you would be asking how to "shut off the water and clean up all this water!"
2016-03-12 23:15:06 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Drilling Into A Wall
2016-11-07 08:58:53 · answer #3 · answered by feagle 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unless there is a bathroom above most of the pipes will run lower in the wall (below 4' from the floor) The exception is the shower feed which only has water when you use the shower.
also if you drilled through the pipe you would get WET!
In the future just do a survey of where plumbing or electrical runs may be.
2006-11-25 15:25:29 · answer #4 · answered by arrowcv 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
gravity check the area at the botom of where you drilled if you have a cellar check there to chances are you will be ok but if you did hit one go play the lottery the chances of hitting 1/2 inch pipe in a wall are slim could only be done by me at 5:00 pm on a Friday when all supply houses close at 4:30
2006-11-25 15:11:10 · answer #5 · answered by Fergie 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you do not hear any water running then you probably did not hit a pipe. If you have city water you can check by making sure there is no water running in the house such as a toilet or ice maker and then go outside and check the meter if ti is not turning then you don't have a leak.
2006-11-25 15:14:44 · answer #6 · answered by jgpurvis1 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you hit a water pipe, you would know by now. In the future, look on the other side of the wall and note where any fixtures are. That's what tape measures are made for. Handymen like you keep handymen like me in business.
2006-11-25 15:08:20 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
are you in a two story house with a bathroom upstairs? if not, most likely the pipes for the bathtoom come from the ground to the fixtures, so unless you were hanging something really low, then you should have no worries.
2006-11-25 15:08:14 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
always check where pipes come up from basement...and drill with little pressure.....and if you hit one you would know by now
2006-11-26 04:02:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
open up the dry wall and trace the pipes.
then patch the whole in the dry wall and sand it smooth.
2006-11-25 15:07:01 · answer #10 · answered by 987654321abc 5 · 0⤊ 4⤋