Hey everyone! I just moved into a new house and I found some wires that were left hanging outside the wall. I'm not sure how to deal with them, and I've attached a picture for reference. What's the best way to remove or handle these wires? Appreciate any advice!
4 Answers
If you decide you don’t need them, try tying a string to the end of the wires and pushing them back into the wall without kinking them. After that, you can cover the hole with a blank wall plate. Just be sure to patch up any drywall damage to make it look nice.
But honestly, it might be worth getting a low-voltage electrician to check them out first; they could be useful later!
Someone might have a better approach, but I’d advise turning off the power, cutting those wires, and capping them with wire nuts. You can then shove them back in the wall and cover everything with a switch plate. Just make sure it’s safe before you start!
Before taking them out, you might want to determine what they actually do. There's likely a reason someone ran them, so it’s worth checking. They seem to be low-voltage wires—could be for Ethernet, speaker systems, or coaxial cable.
Are they near where your main TV setup is? If yes, you might want to keep them around a bit longer just in case.
Those wires appear to be low-voltage, maybe Cat5 or coaxial. First, check the wires for any markings to identify them. It’s also a good idea to use a non-contact voltage tester to ensure they're safe.
If you want to proceed, you could find where the other end goes—probably in the basement. I’d suggest tucking them back into the wall if they aren't needed, though keeping them could be wise for future use like cable TV or Ethernet connectivity.