Phone Installation 101

Phone installation is a little more complicated than most people think. The main thing to keep in mind is that planning ahead is key. Once you've developed a sound plan for where you want jacks installed and where you're going to run the wires, the rest of the installation is more or less a matter of following basic procedure. Also, keep in mind that this isn't necessarily a do-it-yourself operation. A patient and experienced home handyman should be able to tackle this job, but if you want no part of drilling holes in the plumbing or being part of a major wiring fiasco, you'll want to call in a professional just to be safe.

What to Plan for
For starters, you'll want to cover all your bases before you start laying down the wire. First and foremost, try to anticipate every possible room you might want phone service in, and wire your entire house at one time. Also, try to think ahead when you develop your whole-house plan. Your two year-old doesn't need a phone jack now, but they'll be begging for internet access before you know it. Anticipating such needs now will save you the trouble of adding additional jacks on an "as needed basis" later on. Whether you're doing your phone installation yourself, or hiring the job out, planning ahead will save you a lot of headaches and money down the road.

Swing for the Fences!
Besides figuring out where you'll need jacks now and in the future, the other thing to be diligent about is correctly installing the wiring. Never run the wiring from one jack to the next in succession (also referred to as a loop-through wiring job). It reduces sound quality with each successive phone and makes trouble shooting nearly impossible. Instead use a "home-run" setup. Make sure each jack has an individual wire that leads back to that central location where the main phone line enters the house. It might seem like extra work now, and you'll have to invest in a little more wiring, but you'll be much better off in the long run.

Once You've Drawn Up The Blueprints
Once you've worked your way through the planning phases, either on your own or with your phone installation professional, the next step is getting it all hooked up. Typically, phone wire is run through a basement or attic, then up (or down) into the walls of designated rooms. If you're working on a remodel or a new home build, remember that it's always easiest to run wire before you hang the drywall. If your home is already finished, you're going to have to work up a little more of a sweat. You'll need to drill holes in the appropriate places and fish the line through the wall to the designated access point. Also, be sure to locate pre-existing electrical wiring and plumbing before you drill. Failure to do so can lead to disastrous consequences.

Hook It Up
Finally, once everything else is completed you'll need to hook up the wiring. Be sure to connect all wires to the proper terminals. Phone wiring usually accommodates several lines, whether you need them or not. By making sure all the wires are connected correctly upon installation, you'll have your house pre-wired for multiple phone lines if you come to need them down the road.

Experience Counts
On a side note, be sure any electrician or installer you hire has previous experience with phone installation. It requires expertise beyond regular electrical work, and an improper installation can lead to a myriad of problems and a lot of extra money spent to repair the problems down the road.