How Do You Replace Coaxial Cable In A Wall (Easy Steps Guideline)

Coaxial cables are responsible for not only your internet, but also your smart TV box, security cams, and so on. So it stands pretty important, right after the power cable.

Often times they do get damaged due to wear and tear, old age, and whatnot. At this point, you have to take on the frustrating task of changing it. But how do you replace coaxial cable in a wall? You cannot just use a pickaxe and get on your way, can you?

The easiest thing to do is use your old coax cable and pull it out of the other side. This way you won’t have to deal with a lot of wires, drilling, and other stuff. How do you do that? We are going to walk you through the steps today.

5 Easy Step Guide to Replace a Coaxial Cable in a Wall

While it may sound frustrating to replace a coax cable, that too inside a wall, it’s as easy as making a cake! The only thing you have to do is attach and pull. But you will need a few companies along with it to help you. Here is a list of them. 

Things you will need

1. New coaxial cable.
2. Male and female attachment plugs.
3. Wire stripper and tightener.
4. Screwdrivers.
5. Safety gloves and glasses.

Step 1: Disconnect All Devices 

First things first, disconnect all the devices that are connected to the old coax cable. You don’t want to pull on them and drop them. Also, make sure to turn off your main power switch for better measures. 

Step 2: Unscrew the Starting Point 

Unscrew the starting point of your coaxial cable connection. This can be on your basement, or directly on some outlet in your home. This is where the screwdriver will come one handy. Unscrew and expose the coax cables. 

Step 3: Attach the New Replacement Cable to the Old One

When the cable is exposed, check for the attachment type. It will either be a male or a female. Use the other type on the new coax cable and secure it with the tightener. Then attach it to the old exposed cable head. 

Step 4: Secure With Tape and Pull From the Other End

For better measures, secure both cable attachments with electric tape. And move on to the end point of your old coax cable. You might need to unscrew and expose it like before from the outlet. And put on some gloves and start pulling the cable. Do it slowly but gradually, as there can be bends where the cable might get stuck. So do not yank hard or it will detach or damage the coax cable internally. 

Step 5: Check and Secure the Connection As Before

When you get all the cable through, simply secure the connection, check if it is working fine, and put on the sockets in place and you are done!

Safety Tips:

• If you don’t have any experience with house wiring, it is best to ask for help from a professional.
• Never use low-quality coaxial wires in the walls.
• Always turn off the main power before working with any wiring. 
• Never yank the wires if it gets stuck in a position. Slowly wiggle it and pull to get it through. 

Frequently Asked Questions And Answers (FAQs)

Is it safe to cut a coaxial cable?

Yes, it is safe to cut coaxial cable. But you have to make sure to turn off the power line when you are working with any type of house wiring. 

How do I know if my coax cable is bad?

To know if your coax cable is bad, you have to use an ohmmeter. This will tell you if your cable’s resistance is good to use. The reading should be between 75-100 ohms. If the reading is out of this range, then your cable is bad. 

Can you fix a coaxial cable?

Yes. You can fix a coaxial cable by getting the range reading and cutting off the bad part of your cable. Then join the part with a new cable. But keep in mind, it won’t be as good as a whole cable. There might be a slight distortion. 

Should I remove the coaxial cable from the house?

If you don’t need a coaxial cable in your house, you can remove or replace them. But make sure to turn off the main power line before you do anything. And do not yank it out as it might damage the walls or get trapped inside the conduit. 

Conclusion

Replacing coaxial cable might seem like time-consuming work of labor. But it isn’t if you know how to do it. There is a saying, a lazy person knows how to do work efficiently within small time period. So you got to know how to do things efficiently rather than making it hard. And also, make sure you follow safety.