Running wire under carpet (noob)

[Razorback_Fan]

Ok I need to run my speaker wire to my rear surrounds poplem is I will need to run the wire under the carpet so the wifey will not throw a fit. What is the easiest way to do this?

 

[majorloser]

There is a flat wire available from companies like (dare I say) Monster and others. This will lay flat under carpet so it won't make a huge bulge. You can use a regular wire fish to pull the wire under the carpet and padding but they can be a PAIN to push through to the other side. There is also a device called an "under carpet fish tape" that is flatter and pushes easier under padding:

http://www.lsdinc.com/content/product_details/57

Just make sure you take all the furniture off from around the area you planning on working so you can get a little slack in the carpet.

 

[Razorback_Fan]

Great I ordered the fish tape.

 

[Rickster71]

If you have a space between the carpet's tackless strip, and the base molding, maybe you could run wire there?
Also, sometimes in carpeted rooms, the base molding has a half inch space, between it and the floor. That may be another place to run the wire.
Over time any wire that is subjected to foot traffic, will fray.
Good Luck, and be carefull out there.

 

[markw]

Great I ordered the fish tape.

While I may be stating the obvious, make sure the wire doesn't twist as you're feeding it under the carpet.

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

What is the easiest way to do this?

The unfortunate answer to that question is..... at the same time the carpet is being installed.

I think fishing it through & all the way around a room would be an arduous task indeed!!

Another option would be tucking it under the baseboard. In my experience, a butter knife works wonders when it comes to tucking speaker wire under baseboards, but it only works well for a single wire. IE... like tucking the wires running to each front. If you're running an entire set of wires in the same direction around a room, those will be more difficult. You might need to loosen the baseboard at the bottom to tuck those.

 

[MDS]

As an alternative to running the speaker wire under the carpet or under the baseboards you could consider running it along the baseboard and using the little 3M command adhesive wire hooks to hold it in place (no drilling or screws required). If you get white wire or dab it with paint you might not even notice it all that much since it is so close to the ground.

I've also seen products that are wire channels that can be attached directly to the baseboard and look kind of like a small extension to the baseboard. The advantage of something like that is that you can easily remove the wire if say you find out you need a longer or shorter length.

I think 'WireTrack' is the name of one such product.

 

[markw]

Since running along the wall was mentioned,

I've been eyeing this stuff for use in a buddy's apartment along the moulding and up the wall to the surrounds. It's a little more than I want to spend but, if it does the job...

http://www.pacificcable.com/More_Pages/Flat-Adhesive-Wire/Flat-Adhesive-Stereo-Speaker-Wiring.html

I'm sure there are similar products as well.

 

[Slats]

I use a wiretrack solution in my room and it helps a ton. I have speaker wire, cat5e, a set RC cables, and quad shielded RG6 all tucked into it. The best part is when you need to change a cable or replace one all you have to do it pop the cover off.

http://cableorganizer.com/wire-tracks/

 

[jagdriver]

Under carpet speaker wire

I just did this during a remodel, before the carpet was laid on the concrete slab. I had the wire taped to the floor and thought the carpet installer could just make a slit in the padding, but they recommended against this. Instead, I got four concrete blades for my Skillsaw, set the depth on the saw to about 5/8" or so, and cut a channel. It took about an hour to do 20' or so...not bad, though note that concrete dust will get on stuff so there will be some cleaning up to do. Do wear a top-grade respirator (the "gas mask" type) if you do this.

Now the carpet's in, we're enjoying the surround sound system and no one's the wiser that a thick Monster cable is under the carpet.

 

[markw]

Were you using flat wire?

I just did this during a remodel, before the carpet was laid on the concrete slab. I had the wire taped to the floor and thought the carpet installer could just make a slit in the padding, but they recommended against this.

I ask because I did just this when I had w2w installed in my apartment with wooden floors over a concrete slab. It worked fine for the three years I was there.

I had it coming out at the edges, not in the middle and he just didn't put the wooden edging over two inches or so where the wire fed in and out.
Now, if you used standard speaker wire (not flat), then you did the right thing. It would look and feel funky and be visible.

 

[rumonkey2]

I'm using this....not bad when painted....and less $$$ than some others....

http://www.wiremold.com/www/consumer/products/cordmate2/index.asp

 

[pikers]

Do you have an unfinished basement and drill? Nuff said.