Are You Allowed to Run Electrical Wires in an Attic?

Inspection

• One of the simplest ways to determine whether or not you're allowed to run electrical wires in your attic is to call an electrical inspector and have him come out and look at what you intend to do. While many communities have no codes against running wires in the attic, some may, and you'll need to ensure that yours isn't that one community that doesn't allow it. An inspector may also offer you a few pointers about potential dangers you may face -- and what to avoid so you don't violate any building codes.

Rationale

• One reason to run electrical wiring through the attic is that it can simplify just about any electrical installation job. If you're installing outlets or even another access panel in the home, you can easily fish the line up through the wall, into the attic and connect to your existing power supply. The Home Depot recommends this method because it may allow you to minimize the amount of damage to your existing walls. It will also allow you to easily locate your lines and provide you with additional room to work. Furthermore, you don't have to be as neat when finishing your work, since it won't necessarily be completed in a high-traffic area.

Planning

• To effectively run wiring through the attic, plan in advance how you'll lay out your wiring and where to connect. Creating a diagram for this purpose is the simplest method. This step will help you take measurements and determine exactly how much wiring you'll need. Plan on buying additional wiring just to ensure you don't run out during installation. Follow the basic guidelines of your diagram, but adapt it as necessary. Your diagram should provide you with a rough guide of where you'll go with the wires.

Attic-to-Basement Installation

• In homes that have both an attic and a basement, you can run wires from one to the other for the sake of convenience. Doing so can provide you with a way to deliver wiring to other parts of the house as needed. First, you must check for existing plumbing or air ducts. These will serve as guides to get you from the attic to the basement and vice versa. Feed your electrical lines along the paths of these ducts and pipes -- to help you easily locate them again -- as you go from one location to another.