How can I safely drill holes in my ceiling?

Question

I want to hang some blinds from my ceiling but to do so I need to drill holes. I bought a metal/voltage detector but it doesn't work (it either does nothing or screams continually, depending where I set the dial). So, if I can get a better one (recommendations, please!) will it be safe to put my faith in it and just drill where it says there is nothing?
What happens if I do hit a wire? Do I end up dead, or just calling an electrician?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Im still laughing too hard to answer yet, let me get ahold of myself. There, thats better. I love the way you posed your question, problems and concerns for death but I'm puzzled, why do you want to hang blinds from the ceiling? You need a stud finder, not a metal voltage detector. When you find your roof trusses, mark them and drill accordingly. You will be in little to no danger of hitting any electrical wires, especially if you have properly located and marked roof trusses. If by chance you do hapen to drill into a wire it will scare you more than it will hurt you, unless you drop the drill on your head.

Answer 2

You do not say what colour the wiring is. It is usually that it is rather historical, and no longer used. If it isn't in an historical house or if this is unlikely, the damaged wire will want exchanging, ideally the whole piece. The drawback of this, of path relies on where it's, where the wire began and the place it will. An electrician will be ready to investigate it there is a present in it, and change if crucial. An alternative is also (when the vigor is absolutely off) is to make the entire greater, and check out and investigate if there's any slack in the wire and if it could in reality be pulled by means of the gap. If you are able to do this which you can purchase a wall floor hooked up box, reduce the wires and exchange with a correct connector and cover with a suitable flat plastic duvet. It is not viewed excellent practise to have wire connections in a wall which aren't available. Any doubt in any respect name an electrician. Do not simply duvet it up, it would intent a hearth.

Answer 3

you do no longer say what colour the wiring is. it may desire to be that that's incredibly previous, and not used. no count if that's no longer in an previous abode or if that's no longer likely, the broken cord will want changing, ideally the completed piece. the difficulty of this, of direction relies upon on the place that's, the place the cord started and the place it is going to. An electrician would be waiting to be sure it there's a modern in it, and replace if mandatory. An option may be (whilst the potential is unquestionably off) is to make the completed larger, and attempt and be sure if there is any slack interior the cord and if it may relatively be pulled contained in direction of the hollow. in case you're able to try this you ought to purchase a wall floor fastened container, shrink the wires and replace with a proper connector and canopy with a proper flat plastic cover. that's no longer seen stable education to have cord connections in a wall which at the instant are not available. Any doubt in any respect call an electrician. do no longer basically cover it up, it may desire to reason a hearth.

Answer 4

I would not worry about hitting wires in the ceiling unless there is a outlet right below on the wall close by usually a good amount of wires are run in the walls and just dont use real long screws and you will be fine

Answer 5

You do,nt need a drill , stud finder at all mark where you want the blinds, us a finish nain to find out if there is a rafter at that point if so u wo,nt need an ancor same thing @ other end if its holow use ancors, Use a philips scew driver to punch hole in cieling if its hollow just a bit smaller than your ancor, if you have EZZ ancors they hold much better than mollys

Answer 6

I would use a stud finder to find the ceiling joists. Water pipes and electrical circuits will not be run on the bottom of the joists.

Answer 7

if its a plaster celing look for nail indentations, thats where the celing joists are, try useing a phillips screw driver, if your going to use wall mollys, just twist the screw driver to make a hole, it wont cut thru wires if you happen to hit one, most celing wireing is ran over the top of rafters any way, so it would be about 3 inches away from the celing,