atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring Feeding phone line through insulation.

I am talking with a guy who wants me to install a phone outlet into his home in Flagstaff. I am freaking out that I'll drill into the wall and there will be insulation . How do I get around the insulation.... or through it. I've only worked in Phoenix, AZ and Miami, FL where they rarely use insulation so this job will be a new adventure working where it actually freezes!

Insulation shouldn't be your biggest worry, horizontal studs should be.

To get through insulation, try using glow rods. Even fish tape will sometimes do the trick.

My favourite tool.....a metal clothes hanger. Plentiful & cheap. Open it up, bend a hook on the end and you're in business.

Invest in a 1/4" fish tape.

They don't use insulation in Miami? Of course they do!

well... the one time I ran into insulation I was doing a wallfish. luckily I had access and could feed behind the insulation. Hmmmmm.... I don't remember insulation being in the other walls. Weird.

the insulation paper is against the exterior side of the wall... right?

No the paper is a vapor barrier and it's on the inside.

Like was said, get a fish tape. In insulated walls I put several loops of string on the fish tape, push it past where your fishing and pull back up to leave the string in front of whatever you're fishing. With a bunch of loops in the string it's not hard to catch and pull the fish tape out or just attach your wire to the string an pull it back. I've never tried the rods, but I'd think the same would apply.

there are lots of ways and tools its a skill acquired through experience . how I approach it depends on the construction and available access.

First I would invest in some glow rods if you are goimg to be in the business, then drill the header place the glow rods againsgt the wall and mark from ceiling to floor. Then see if the glow rod goes all the way down to the mark.
If so cut the opening in line with the hole in the header; push apart the insulation and grab the glow rod tape on thw wire and pull it out. sounds more complecated than it is ; aftrer one or 2 you'll get the hang of it.

What's a glow rod? Does that attract fish? Seriously though..... do you have a link?