Re: Using the Sewer Vent for Cable or Cat5e Run?

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> I'm trying to figure out the best path, other than drilling and the
> time consuming process of fishing/drilling through floors, to get a RG6
> cable and Cat5e cable from my attic to my basement.
>
> I have heard that you can run plenium Cat5 down environmental vents
> without any issues...

That is not correct, friend.  Plenum cable is allowed to be used in
plenum air spaces.  These are usually found in the area above a drop
ceiling in office complexes.  That's about the only place where plenum
cable is allowed other than as normal in-wall wiring.  It can't be run
in air ducts or plumbing pipes, including your vent stack.

> The sewer vent runs from the attic to the basement and is the only
> direct path I can see...

As others have already mentioned, there may be enough space between the
pipe and the cut-out area where it passes through the floor.  If the
home is older the cut-out is usually square, leaving lots of space to
fish a cable.  Newer construction is often tighter since the plumbers
use hole saws to cut s snugger opening and it may even be fire-caulked.

Other places where you may find an open chase include the various "wet
walls" which have pipes for toilets, siomks and bathrooms.  Sometimes a
home will have one closet located above another.  If you're lucky
enough to have that layout you can easily open the wall inside an
upstairs closet, drill down into the one below and so forth to reach
the basement.  A small reach hole inside the closet wall can be covered
with a single-gang plate, providing easy access should you ever need to
make changes.  Accessing the top of the wall from an unfinished attic
is a snap.

At times when installing in multi-story homes I've deliberately
selected a place low on a hallway wall, directly outside the master
bedroom for a flush mounted siren speaker.  Installing a keypad in the
bedroom side of the wall, several feet above the speaker makes it easy
to fish from the attic down.  Another speaker goes in the wall on the
first floor, just above the baseboard.  This arrangement makes it easy
to reach into the wall with a drill and open a 3/4" hole from attic to
basement.  Note that this works best if the wall is load-bearing since
the wall on the upper floor will be directly above the one below.

There are numerous ways to run new cable in existing homes.  Sometimes
you just need to get a little creative in your planning but with a
little patience and a modicum of tool skills it's not difficult.

Regards,
Robert L Bass
Bass Home Electronics
DIY Alarm and Home Automation Store
www.BassBurglarAlarms.com