What to Do When You Hit an Electric Wire Within a Wall

Assess the Situation

• Before drilling or cutting into a wall, it's best to turn off the circuit breaker that controls any wires you might encounter. This eliminates the risk of electrical shock. However, if you forgot to turn off the power, or turned off the wrong breaker, electrical shocks are possible. Check to see if everyone in the home is safe and seek emergency medical care if needed. If you or someone in the home knows first aid, take the appropriate steps for any minor burns.

Turn Off the Power

• Regardless of the extent of injuries or damage, the first thing you need to do after assessing the situation is to turn off the power. If you don't know how to isolate the wires you hit, turn off power to the entire house. This will reduce the risk of an electrical fire and allow you to move forward with inspecting the damage.

Inspect the Damage

• Once you're certain that the power is off, inspect the electrical wires you hit. The wires will likely require replacement to ensure that they're safe to use again. If you have multiple wires bundled together in the wall, you can splice or tape damaged TV, Internet, telephone and intercom wires. Remove any debris from the area where you were cutting to get the best look inside the wall possible.

Call an Electrician

• Unless you have a high level of skill and experience with electrical wiring, call a professional electrician to perform repairs. While it may be inconvenient to wait for an electrician, improper repairs, such as using commercial-grade tape to cover an exposed wire, or installing the wrong type of replacement wiring, can cause problems with your home's electrical system in the future.