Hey everyone! I'm in a bit of a situation. I want to run Ethernet from my basement to my attic, but the only way up is through the soil stack. There's a nice empty cavity that runs the whole way, but it's blocked by a fire stop that's really high up. I can't access it easily because it's behind a wall with tub/shower tiles on both sides, making it nearly impossible to create an opening for drilling. I'm wondering if there's a way to cut through it, or if I should hire a contractor. I've tried a four-foot drill bit extension, but it doesn't reach. If I could make a decent hole, I would have no problem dropping a wire from the attic for the cable or conduit. Here's a pic for reference: [https://imgur.com/a/kPU3ir9](https://imgur.com/a/kPU3ir9)
3 Answers
You might want to consider making a small access hole to help with drilling if you've got the drywall skills. I’ve done similar projects by cutting through access points, which made it a breeze to fish cables through. Plus, if you learn some drywall repair, it can make future projects easier too!
Honestly, if you can find a way to drill down instead of up, that might save you some hassle. Also, I noticed some charred wood in your pic. That’s concerning—make sure that’s been addressed. You don’t want any fire hazards leftover in there!
I saw the charring too. It looks like there’s a copper pipe there; maybe the plumber didn't use a protective mat while soldering?
Have you checked out some longer drill bits? There are 10-foot drill bit extensions available online that might be just what you need. Here's a link: https://10ftdrillbit.com/ . Also, a flex bit, like this Milwaukee one that’s 54" long, could help you drill into that wall cavity. If you're not comfortable doing this yourself, definitely consider hiring an electrician to handle it!
That's a solid option! Good to hear there's a $200 drill extension available if you need to go that route!
I’m pretty good with drywall, but I've mentioned in my post why cutting is tricky here.