How to Add Outlets to a Room | Ask This Old House

[@rfehr613]

Gotta love how everything always works out so perfect with the basement situation

[@LostMySauce]

Right, I'm on a slab. This wouldn't be nearly as easy for my house.

[@jackpast]

Yup. I’m guessing that panel was just added too.

[@The_Savage_Wombat]

It's best to install a basement under your slab before you do this.

[@eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-s3p]

@@The_Savage_Wombat lol

[@EnchantedSmellyWolf]

@@LostMySauce especially with mold, web, and spiders in attic.

[@_DixonCider]

4:15 They didn't even edit out when he hit the customer's wall with his pliers. Smooth.

[@tthen3]

Rubber mallet is the correct tool there imo

[@steakwilliams4448]

I love TOH. The solution always involves an ample amount of space in a basement

[@bbtank3000]

Steak Williams and they always edit out some steps in the process

[@puglydoodle]

Oh you have a basement? Try installing outlets on the first floor of a two story home built on a concrete slab.

[@christophercrawford2736]

Vortex 369 that’s what I was hoping would be demonstrated.

[@yomomma6492]

Or adding a light on the first floor and having no strapping

[@_DixonCider]

Those of us not in century old houses on the upper East cost of the US are like; geez...thanks.

[@youdig3691]

showed everything and nothing at the same time, awesome job

[@thunderpower5339]

One of the worst of "This Old House series". Wasted my time too.

[@kw6713a]

Just run the romex up the bubble frame without any drilling, the junction box will just magically appear in the basement all wired up correct for you to run to these outlets. The romex runs itself too from the panel so don't worry about passing through joists correctly etc. What's so hard to understand lol. Though I never expected to be a licensed electrician after a six minute video. Btw my house is bubble frame and I'm gonna have to drill like a madman. Place is built like a tank. 120 years ago, they didn't think about me having to run some romex upstairs

[@Googaliemoogalie]

I'm sure the actual episode had details.

[@ilo5736]

“To get started i use an insulation rod...” “What is that? A drill-bit?” “Not really. It’s an insulation rod.”

[@bfsgman]

"And we put it on the end of a drill and use it as a drill bit."

[@bellyroar3206]

@Crotch Banister yup and I've used it many times for coax fishing. Nice because it's an easy hole to repair if you miss your mark. Only issue it they don't seem to make coat hangers like that anymore lol

[@Geoff_G]

I've used a cut coat hanger to drill a pilot hole from outside my house through the cedar siding, the house wrap, the sheathing, the insulation, the vapour barrier and the drywall. About 7-1/2" total thickness.

[@JJ-rf7dg]

lol

[@Justin1020304]

This girl would be screwed without a man in her life

[@justgivemethetruth]

LOL .... "what is that, a drill bit?" no, this here's a long sharp wire we use as a drill bit.

[@FixItYerself]

"ok, pull about 4 feet". customer pulls 10 for good measure

[@quiensoyyo900]

Just in case, u never know...

[@conqwiztadore2213]

They're not trades people ok. I bet they would cry if they had to use a Porto- potty with no running water everyday at work

[@jetlaw_1]

That's why you charge double when the homeowner wants to help.

[@davec.3198]

Sometimes it is nice to marry a woman who is really bad at measurements. Totally unrelated,,,small hands as well.

[@utubedeez908]

I literally lol'd at this

[@angelinimartini]

I want to say, I’ve been watching This Old House for about two decades and I find this show to be such a treasure!!! I feel like I can do anything with my house! Of course, I won’t because some stuff requires more than one person but this show is just so awesome and informative!

[@jimmygrant424]

Actually you are a treasure!!!!

[@chrisdaniels4674]

when did he run the hdmi wires and how

[@faraanhadi]

Probably a PVC pipe or just behind drywall with pipe fitting

[@Geoff_G]

So... that was easy in a hundred year old house. Now try adding an outlet in the ground level of a 1970's house on a concrete slab with no floor voids and 2" high baseboards. That would be my house, by the way.

[@lilibetp]

Yeah, and my apartment.

[@bleachfamingtoniii7196]

And my axe

[@DaniPrays]

I was born in the 70’s....I am not “Old” 😩 I am Forever 21...Your house doesn’t apply 😁

[@Geoff_G]

@Mr. Meeseeks I ended up ripping into the ceiling because the attic is above the second floor. Some jobs there's just no easy way. LOL

[@bb5242]

my basement is finished, impossible to fish wires to the box due to duct work

[@KarlH1980]

Enjoyed reading the comments. Particularly found the comments from those outside the US interesting. As to the video I have some comments/questions. Why use metal boxes vs. plastic. I don't see the advantage and I've been installing outlets in my homes and for friends for many years. Also I strongly discourage putting the outlets in the baseboard and certainly don't like to do place them in sideways. I did that all over the second floor in our home when I ran into issues with lots of cracking when trying to put them into plaster. My wife H-A-T-E-D the sideways plugs. There were too many things that the plug is designed to be vertical not horizontal. She liked those oil fragrance things for awhile and she couldn't use them on the second floor. And you know what they say. If the wife ain't happy... tell her to get you a beer. That'll get her out of your hair for a minute. The biggest reason I won't use the baseboards again though is that I don't know what the home owner is going to want in 20, 30, 70 years. There is no repairing that hole you put into a solid oak board. I've actually come looking for better methods to install outlets into plaster walls than what I've used in the past. Too bad we weren't shown how he worked the entertainment system items. Thanks for making the video. I picked up some tips. One final question. You used a power drill to screw in the anchor screws. Why did you use a hand screwdriver to tighten the outlet screws. I'm impatient and lazy (in other words ... efficient). I use my power drill for everything. I'm so spoiled:) Speaking of which. I just got a battery for my original Black and Decker VersaPak screwdriver. That is THE BEST power screw driver I've ever had. I used to use it on everything small. Home stuff. computer stuff.

[@thenexthobby]

"Why use metal boxes vs. plastic." Because that wasn't being installed in drywall, which is the only kind of wall plastic boxes are intended for.

[@blackdog850]

What a great episode! Highly functional value for the homeowner! Great job THS! :)

[@chrisofnottingham]

How to Add Outlets to a Room - that is unlike 99% of rooms

[@lucaschan9079]

next on this old house how to install an outlet in the bottom of your bathtub for your hairdryer

[@vwtroy]

i guess its a different part of the country , cause i aint never seen it be that easy.

[@valentingutierrez9374]

@@vwtroy that's what I said 😂😂

[@jsprdn]

That's a standard room in ... an old house. Kinda like the title of the tv show !!

[@wizard3z868]

Yup a lot of homes in the north east are like this one

[@matblack9288]

Happy New Year This Old House! May I wish you a prosperous, happy & healthy year! ❤️

[@ericwood8745]

When he beat on that box with his lineman’s I felt that lol

[@MrAndyCarlos]

2:46 Watch your back, girl! Lol.

[@HisLoveArmy]

These videos are great but you can totally tell that they give those questions for the client to ask. haha

[@everynewdayisablessing8509]

You are probably right. I dd not stand behind my electrician asking him questions.I wanted him to do it right, so I left him to it.You will not become an electrician in 20minutes.

[@shaire99]

That's what This Old House does almost every time, , , they show the easiest scenario where there's plenty of room to just daisy chain through a nice big crawlspace of basement. My grandma could do that . . . . show us how to add outlets where its NOT easy enough for a child to do!

[@troybush5899]

How did you route the wire from the first outlet to the other 2? Or were they all directly connected (individual, dedicated circuits) to the breaker box ?

[@Googaliemoogalie]

Because the basement ceiling isn't finished, he probably routed it along the joists there. Daisy chaining each one

[@brucecyganoski4200]

I have a couple of electrical outlets that have No Power GOING to them , they use to work before, I CHECKED the circuit breakers they seem to be fine, I also checked the electrical outlet, the connections they also seem fine.Can you assist me with this problem, I am in the Rhode Island area, PLEASE Advise

[@lal12]

The cables allowed here in Germany are definitely rigid enough to withstand stepping on it, unless maybe you are in some kind of hotel where very many people would step on it for years. But besides the would only be one arc before the breaker or the residual current circuit breaker depending on the wires touching. This usually cannot make a fire.

[@Wowzersdude-k5c]

Old houses like this don't have arc fault breakers. Arc fault breakers became code in the U.S. around the year 2000. And it's only been in the past few years that they are required on all circuits. That said, I agree with the guy in this video. You should avoid extension cables where possible.

[@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power]

"i'm going to give you outlets everywhere; how does that sound?" "well that sounds re---" "great, let's get on with it." 😂😂

[@richardm1075]

LMAO :)

[@johnsmith-qe2fd]

“It’s a freakn outlet bonanza, now call ya friends we’re gonna have a potty”.....her: “ummmmm?”

[@eksine]

Next I'm gonna replace all your lamps with light sabers

[@agarcia8800]

She said it sounds great.

[@athay14]

I am so done. I told an electrician I wanted my outlets recessed into the wall and he told me he couldn't without tearing the wall apart. His solution was putting those ugly external boxes on the baseboards. Had no idea this was an option.

[@NeighborSenpai]

Idk man this electrician doesn't look very professional or maybe you have a cement wall

[@electriciantv5174]

I would’ve called a new electrician when you heard him say that

[@phlythaiguy1]

If you have a wall with typical stud construction and no void spaces, the only other way would be to open up the wall 12” wide the length of the wall 18” above the floor. Then you’d have to drill every stud to run wiring. Your electrician is right

[@noelv1976]

This house sbown is not common in other parts of the country. There are no basements in Texas, I can tell you that much. What he did in this video would require a massive demo and replacement of drywall, if you want the outlet to be recessed with the wall.

[@MAGAMAN]

This is only an option in a perfect scenario. Do you have a basement or crawl space? No? then this won't work. shows like this give people an unrealistic expectation. Not only is this scenario rare, they cut out all of the hard work from the video, making it look really easy.

[@larrygill2223]

Good lord! Did they specifically scout for the easiest place to work?? Like many others have said, this isn’t normal lol.

[@johnnyboy13642]

Yeah that is just...not right...LOL.

[@LuisGomez-le4vk]

Is a tv scam no real job no concrete in wall no damage drill bit very easy no dust

[@adam1885282]

They absolutely do, every one of these videos has 100% easy access to whatever needs fixing.

[@uptopmikep7065]

That's great if you have a basement. How would you do it when you have a slab?

[@foxfiresidechats5227]

I think he just broke a new world record for the fastest, best looking pigtails lol. I’ve still got work to do

[@vandammefan34]

Right??!! Man alive, takes me forever. I doubt that he blinked lol

[@MAGAMAN]

@@vandammefan34 You think this is difficult?

[@vandammefan34]

@@MAGAMAN I dont do it everyday so it takes me a bit. I wouldnt say difficult though.

[@emanuelgrella8090]

Awesome instructions! Should the metal boxes have been grounded for extra protection?

[@Googaliemoogalie]

you should always do that. Its code in a lot of areas too.

[@Jesse-gv9tf]

Sounds like a good project for this weekend.

[@felixjimenez7272]

Is there a video of how to fix outlets if they don't work?

[@MAGAMAN]

You don't fix them, you replace them.

[@rachelzacherl8245]

What if you don't have studs? I have an old house with plank framing. Nobody ever seems to have info on dealing with plank framing.

[@vampiregoat69]

I LOVE the look of the house

[@briankohlenberg]

Nice job, Could u send more time explaining the solution to running the wires in the house, screwing the wire to and outlet gets old after the 1st time. What about in houses WO basements, where drywall is covering up everything and you have to go into the attic.

[@MAGWolf]

Isn't the first outlet from the power box suppose to be a GFI?

[@bhough410]

Only near water..i.e. sink, tub etc.

[@leonardholt5311]

No

[@electricaf365]

Nope

[@mikefox2379]

Glad to see instruction done by someone who actually knows what he is doing. I have seen a few videos on KZbin that were code violation after code violation. One kid had open splices in the attic and he's showing other people how to create the same fire hazards.... Oh my

[@MAGAMAN]

KZbin is full of safety violations and people are destroying their property and in some cases killing or severely injuring themselves because of it. KZbin should be held 100% financially and legally responsible for all its content.

[@TitanicTruths]

Actually, as long as you use a power strip as intended, it will be just fine even when fully loaded. What you dont want to do is put more than one together, or add splitters to create more plugs than the manufacturer gave. The strips and surge protectors and other safe guards buily in, use them right and youll be fine. As with anything.

[@binthrdonthat]

Isn't there a minimum distance from the floor on an outlet?

[@electricaf365]

Nope. They could be IN the floor if you wanted

[@geoffmorse4366]

In the Chicago area, you can’t use Romex, code calls for metal conduit

[@jamesdarnell8568]

And in Chicago, they still required lead pipes for your water service until the Feds banned it in 1986. Let's not do things the "Chicago way" if we don't have to.

[@electricaf365]

In Chicago, 10-15 murders take place over a weekend

[@josemacon7385]

Does this method work for adding outlets on a second floor of a home

[@evilAshTheDog]

95% of a job like this is balancing the act of finding a decent outlet location with finding a reasonable wire path before your first cut. It’s rare to find such an easy path as was shown here. Still a good video!

[@probegt75]

Show how to get a receptacle on the second floor with a finished basement...

[@Trafficlight678]

Can I use this installation process to install telephone or cable TV wall jacks Because we need to add more phone and cable TV jacks

[@Trafficlight678]

Can I use this same installation process to install cable TV jacks or Telephone jacks for installing a telephone or cable tv and internet

[@MAGAMAN]

If you plug them into you electrical panel like he did, you are going to have problems.

[@Joseph1NJ]

I respect that he pays attention to aesthetics when doing work in people's homes.

[@MAGAMAN]

You mean putting outlets in sideways?

[@ThinkTheory]

What about when you have an old house like this but you need outlets added to the second floor and you can’t just run a wire from the second floor to the basement??

[@andrewjames3908]

At 5.45 i thought for a second he was wearing the tv on his back

[@knight1591]

why did u use lamp wire (white) instead yellow one?

[@wizard3z868]

A lot of outlet circuits only require a 15 amp circuit yes you can plan ahead an d pay more for a 20 Amp circuit but most of time its not needed

[@AR-cp5dz]

Are there any electricians that use Phillips head screw drivers? 3:54

[@surferdude642]

Handyman?

[@MAGAMAN]

The screws on outlets are usually flat head, so it probably just becomes a habit. In all honesty, if you are using the correct size screwdriver, the flat heads are better than the Philips.

[@Bill-ions]

Let’s see a video on how to repair the baseboard because some electrician drilled holes in your baseboards!

[@Dipp182]

Where is that white cable connected at? Into another outlet?

[@Jalenellis929]

Awesome video, not to be that guy but I'm not so sure those receptacles being that low to the floor meets code in most areas! Check code in your area before installing that low!

[@AJourneyOfYourSoul]

My new house has the outlets in the baseboards, but not installed sideways, installed the normal way. Looks so much better with them in the baseboard. Really cleans up the walls. It’s a nice little detail.

[@blakerichardson8426]

Really nice until you have to reach down to the floor to plug something in later on when your 70 years old. The lowest I’ll ever go is 18 inches to the bottom of my plugs.

[@abbywolfe5608]

What about adding an outlet to the second level of the same age/type house? Not as easy to pull the wires.

[@frankchinigo907]

@Abbey Wolfe in a balloon structure house you can pull a wire from the basement all the way up to the attic in less than a minute.

[@Danny-fs1hk]

Another great instructional video.

[@tl3139]

What if you have a finished basement?

[@Robert1965ish]

Nice work, I need my work shop wired up and a 240 for welding ?

[@JonO387]

What do I do if I don't have a basement to pull from?

[@nicholaswalker3200]

"Is that a drill bit?" "No, you put it in a drill and use it as a drill bit." thanks for the clarification

[@azeraeth]

That was a great video!

[@patmash]

Absolutely 1 clean job. Fantastic how to video.

[@anthonya.torchia396]

Idk maybe I missed it but I didn’t see him ground the metallic box. Maybe the outlet has the self grounding clip but I prefer to ground the box the right way anyways.

[@TarekFaham]

Just wow! I learned a lot by watching thus video and I will watch several more times just because I liked it... Thank you so much!

[@RoastBeefSandwich]

floor outlets are wonderful.

[@minermen16]

They are unless you are elderly or have a back problem or worse. Having a water damage in that area and have to take up that floor and water could have damaged that outlet sometimes causing a fire because either the box is outdated with no safety measures or simply because there was no ground.

[@mss627]

Yeah, it always looks so easy on TV. Snaking wires requires major drywall work in most homes.

[@wizard3z868]

Like a lot of homes in the north east Basements are a Savior for the main floor at least 😉

[@AT-oj7of]

Can someone who knows explain why the metal box? Is there a particular need for it in this application? Why not an old work plastic box?

[@SeanBaker]

My house was built in 1964, and I'm still often surprised at how many outlets I have in this house. Someone clearly did some work in here before I moved in.

[@pbufh]

Probably a math lab

[@macmorgan6685]

Surprised a #1 square drive screw driver wasn’t used on both the receptacles and the gfi/arc breaker on the circuit breaker box. I also believe that torquing the connections should be done.

[@kingraiderr]

This guy is amazing .

[@toddkratzer7953]

Good job.

[@BigGoldenYoshiFan]

You taught me so much about how easy it is to do simple wiring like this, thanks!

[@UneasyBBJ]

For installing a new outlet off an existing one, do you use 12/2 or 14/2 romex?

[@jamesdarnell8568]

Is it a 15-amp or 20-amp circuit?

[@UneasyBBJ]

@@jamesdarnell8568 truth be told, I'm not sure. The homeowner won't tell me. If there an easy way to tell?

[@NYPDTB]

Johnathan Kelley if you need to ask that, you shouldnt be doing the work.

[@UneasyBBJ]

@Lucky Joestar that's the answer I was looking for. Appreciate it.

[@ottoschless4115]

Where i am from, electrical outlets must be a minimum of 75mm from floor level to the bottom of the outlet.

[@billcahill4218]

The cord under the carpet was staged. It's brand new, you can see the kinks in it from when it was folded up for packaging. It would have been worn flat had it been under there for any real length of time.

[@violetfrank581]

Good spotting. You my friend should be a detective.

[@Bootstrahps]

Nothing gets by Bill cahill

[@shadowblack1987]

Bill Cahill, pet detective!

[@leonardholt5311]

We’ve got a detective here

[@pejpj2890]

Bill cahill to the rescue. Heee haaaaa

[@tcpnetworks]

Scott's philosophy - Everything is a hammer. :)

[@WizardMower]

3:11 He should've left some more rubber sticking out, Because the rubber (insulation) will eventually wear down and the copper touching the metal box can make an electrical short.

[@electricaf365]

🤣🤣🤣

[@sg5725]

Cutting that beautiful molding.

[@jonathansoto4654]

Im confused, so You installed a few new outlets so does that mean you need install a few new circuit breakers, one per each outlet? That may sound dumb but i can't find a video that explains this process.

[@wizard3z868]

A good rules of thumb is to have no more than 12 devices off of a general multi purpose circuit

[@leonardholt5311]

Jonathan Soto no you don’t.

[@CesarGuerrero]

Why every 12 feet? Is that preference? Can I put an outlet on the floor and one on the roof in the same vertical line?

[@bhough410]

Most appliance/electronics cords are 6 ft. Every 12 ft would allow desired placement.

[@jamesdodd400]

Who did the load calculations?

[@electricaf365]

For what?

[@jamesdodd400]

To make sure it’s not over 80%

[@electricaf365]

@@jamesdodd400 to make sure WHAT isn’t over 80%? They are just convenience receptacles. Something may or may not even be plugged into those. You can’t do a load calculation when a load doesn’t even exist.

[@jamesdodd400]

You’re not an electrician. Why not just put all the outlets in the house on the same circuit if there is no load

[@cattigereyes1]

Gauge 20 amp wire for outlet for power draw is better separate lighting on 15 gauge, these outlets are all linked same breaker meaning the draws all from one

[@Tadasis72]

at 2:28 is that a wire you chopped?

[@Tadasis72]

?

[@majesticcremeans7614]

Ok so you add a new breaker to the box?

[@Googaliemoogalie]

When the oscillating tool was cutting the baseboards I could actually smell the sawdust burning just watching that smoke

[@PatHaskell]

Nice to have an assistant with small hands.

[@heinzotto1194]

What’s the point of the ground wire if it just gets connected to neutral anyway in the panel? How is that different from just having a second neutral?

[@surferdude642]

The neutral wire is a current carrying conductor. The ground wire carries no current under normal conditions. The ground wire is necessary in the event of a ground fault in order to trip the circuit breaker.

[@rmcc0621]

I honestly thought he said carpet wiring and then he continued to speak and realized he meant copper.

[@dc4l564]

Where is the other ground wire at?

[@rbeygarcia]

5:10 What happens to that floor outlet in a flood situation?

[@alexparent21]

well the basement would flood first... lol I am guessing they are not in a flood zone

[@devingoins361]

I love this show it is so informative

[@MRSTEEL15]

Makes it look easy 😅

[@nicholasd7731]

My grandparents ran their stereo systems wires through the carpet like that.

[@joaquinsuarez6090]

Speaker wires are not dangerous, so don't worry about your grandparents safety.

[@billyclabough9835]

Does code allow an outlet that low?

[@QuadroNVS]

Billy Clabough I believe so as long as it's not a basement, and because the outlets are so low, they have to be tamper-resistant by code.

[@cup_and_cone]

Billy Clabough - To my knowledge, NEC only specifies a max height, not minimum.

[@billyclabough9835]

Thank you

[@onecrazywheel]

There is not a minimum height requirement except there is a maximum in height. The maximum height is 5' 6" or 66 inches or less to be considered a receptacle for the requirements of outlets for needed wall spacing. NEC Article 210.52(4) Jeff Journeyman Electrician

[@spud9720]

thechosendude There isn't a "maximum height" in general. Tv outlets are usually 72" to the top and so on. It's just that people don't need an outlet way up high in most situations. Garage outlets are a minimum of 48" above finished floor.

[@thellanosfamiy]

awesome work.

[@smilinj6074]

Me: follows instructions and has 5 wires going to circuit breaker.

[@stevesid4403]

I don't think it's necessarily code, but I know the NEC recommends pigtails instead of attaching both sets of wires to the outlet. The method shown in the video will save you some wire nuts and wire but is pretty old school.

[@leonardholt5311]

Steve Sid the NEC doesn’t make recommendations

[@electricaf365]

@@leonardholt5311 🤣🤣🤣 I forgot about that “recommendations” section of the NEC

[@beardedelephant3023]

Does he have any fellow electricians in the Cleveland area?

[@JayWC3333]

I love it when these electrical how to videos are done in locations where conduit are not required. Anyone can install an outlet that way. Do this in conduit and you add a lot of complexity.

[@TheLastSpartan04]

JayWC3333 exactly, and that's why there are licensed electricians

[@jameshawkins809]

JayWC3333 it's not required for homes.

[@JayWC3333]

Where I live and work conduit is required for homes too.

[@jameshawkins809]

JayWC3333 in America?

[@JayWC3333]

Yes! I live and work in Illinois. So, your comment about conduit not being required in homes is not correct.

[@walterpearlman143]

I know it’s frowned on to discuss - but what was the billing estimate to have an Electrician out for this job ?

[@MAGAMAN]

It will all depend on the house. Best to call a few electricians and have them give you an estimate.

[@XxGR4V3R41D3RxX]

Not sure where this is, but where im from, there is a local ordinance that requires everything to be pigtailed

[@kookiemonster412]

Shouldn't that romex be 12g/2 yellow instead of 14g/2 which is mainly used for lighting?

[@myronsmith2114]

David Duong - Your allowed to use 14 -2 in a living-room.Dining rooms have to be 12-2

[@dangerdavefreestyle]

Correct me if im wrong, I have not seen any stipulation in the 2014 NEC for 20 amp circuits other than kitchen, laundry, and bath.

[@myronsmith2114]

DangerDaveFreestyle - Dining rooms

[@linod7265]

Congratulations Scott. Nice and neat job. Just 3 questions, 1st.- When running HDMI cables, What distance between HDMI cables and Power cords I must leave between them to avoid noise? 2nd .- If I run each cable( not three in one insulation) do I need to join them with electrical tape or just knit them, or leave them straight each? and 3th.- How did you run the cables from each outlet in the wall and below the floor? Thank you for your video.