How to Fix a Shorted Speaker Wire in Floor

Unplug your supply unit. Look on the back of the unit to find the speaker wire connections. Disconnect the existing wire from the supply unit. Press the release buttons or loosen the retaining screws with a small Phillips screwdriver to free the wires from the unit.

Look at the back of the affected speaker to find the speaker wire connections. Disconnect the existing wire from the speaker by pressing the release buttons or by loosening the retaining screws. Pull the wires free of the speaker.

Unroll a new piece of speaker wire. Hold one end of the new wire against the end of the existing wire. Line up the two wires in a straight line. Overlap the ends of the wires by two inches. Wrap electric tape around the two pieces of wire to form a secure bond.

Pull the free end of the existing wire to remove it from the conduit under the floor. Pull the wire gently to avoid breaking the new wire it is dragging along behind it. Continue pulling the wire until you have exposed enough of the new wire on each end of the conduit to reach the items being connected.

Remove the tape holding the two wires together. Discard the tape and the old speaker wire. Leave the new speaker wire in place in the conduit under the floor.

Cut the center of one end of the new wire. Pull the two halves of wire apart. Strip the ends of both halves of the wire with your stripping tool. Connect the bare ends of the wire to the supply unit. Repeat the process at the other end of the wire to hook up the speaker.

Test your system. Try the volume at different levels. Listen for static or sound stoppage that indicates a short in the new speaker wire.