Relocate Wiring Closet?

[DrunkenLizard]

Well I ran into a bit of a dilemma, the location I choose for my wiring closet happens to be directly under the washing machine now I need to come up with a solution by this weekend. Should I move the wiring closet and rerun everything I've done so far? Nearest location is about 20ft away, would need to rerun aprox 30 cables to the second floor (cat5, rg6, mini-coax).

Or do I attempt to make the existing location more water resistant?

 

[sic0048]

The cheapest thing is to extend the wires to a new location.

You could also look at a water leak detection system (like the Water Cop) that would detect a leak and automatically shut off the main water to the house. This would prevent major damage from occuring, but just the automatic water shut off valve runs several hundred dollars. So the total cost of a sytem is going to run at least that amount.

The advantage to that system is that you could feel comfortable with electronic equipment located on the floor below the washing machine, and you could extend the system to protect the entire house from leaks by placing sensors under each fixture. Don't forget about the dishwasher and any ice makers (even those in freezers) as those commonly have slow leaks that can go undetected for a while causing some major repairs. One detected leak could save your butt and be well worth the cost of the initial installation of the system.

 

[DrunkenLizard]

The cheapest thing is to extend the wires to a new location.

You could also look at a water leak detection system (like the Water Cop) that would detect a leak and automatically shut off the main water to the house. This would prevent major damage from occuring, but just the automatic water shut off valve runs several hundred dollars. So the total cost of a sytem is going to run at least that amount.

The advantage to that system is that you could feel comfortable with electronic equipment located on the floor below the washing machine, and you could extend the system to protect the entire house from leaks by placing sensors under each fixture. Don't forget about the dishwasher and any ice makers (even those in freeezers). One detected leak could save your butt and be well worth the cost of the initial installation of the system.

I'm leaning towards moving the closet at this time, that will give me more room for the bathroom down there (2 1/2 baths currently but there kind of small I think a large bathroom down there would add alot of value to the property)

like the idea of using moisture sensors to detect leaks, I have a well so it might be easier to just kill power to the pump when moisture is detected. but in the event of the drainage hose from the washing machine coming loose I'd have to kill the power to that as well.

fortunately I've been to lazy to terminate the mini coax, trying to figure out the cost per foot of that cable and compare that to the cost of connectors to extend it. Might be cheaper to rerun those. I don't think I'd run into any problems extending the rg6 and cat5.

 

[Digger]

You also have to worry about the drain water from a washing machine. I had floods from the drain overflowing. One goes into my laundry tub sink so I put a water sensor about 3 inches below the top and have the M1 shut off the washer and the main water valve if the sensor detects water nearing the top of the sink.

 

[sic0048]

You also have to worry about the drain water from a washing machine. I had floods from the drain overflowing. One goes into my laundry tub sink so I put a water sensor about 3 inches below the top and have the M1 shut off the washer and the main water valve if the sensor detects water nearing the top of the sink.

Very good point. Turning off the water supply isn't going to help if there is already a tub full of water and the drain fails. I need to figure out how to integrate this into my system.

 

[DrunkenLizard]

Thanks guys,
I suppose I already knew the answer to my original question, It'll be cheaper and an overall better solution to move the closet. Cheaper in the sense that if there was a plumbing failure I'd lose thousands of dollars worth of equipment and far more than that in data. There is bump out in one of the basement walls about 4ft deep by 8ft wide. Seems like it would be the ideal location, about the farthest point down there from any plumbing. Plus there is a closet that shares a wall with the garage above so that would make it easy to run any additional conduit without tearing into visible walls.

Plenty of room for all of my equipment and space to spare, might build some bookshelves into the opening infront of the wiring closet and have one section swing out for access.

Originally I didn't go with that location because I wanted to stay near by the other utility areas and the future location of my home theatre. Also I wanted to use the bump out to house some other projects.

 

[Monk]

The cheapest thing is to extend the wires to a new location.

You could also look at a water leak detection system (like the Water Cop) that would detect a leak and automatically shut off the main water to the house. This would prevent major damage from occuring, but just the automatic water shut off valve runs several hundred dollars. So the total cost of a sytem is going to run at least that amount.

The advantage to that system is that you could feel comfortable with electronic equipment located on the floor below the washing machine, and you could extend the system to protect the entire house from leaks by placing sensors under each fixture. Don't forget about the dishwasher and any ice makers (even those in freeezers). One detected leak could save your butt and be well worth the cost of the initial installation of the system.

I'm leaning towards moving the closet at this time, that will give me more room for the bathroom down there (2 1/2 baths currently but there kind of small I think a large bathroom down there would add alot of value to the property)

like the idea of using moisture sensors to detect leaks, I have a well so it might be easier to just kill power to the pump when moisture is detected. but in the event of the drainage hose from the washing machine coming loose I'd have to kill the power to that as well.

fortunately I've been to lazy to terminate the mini coax, trying to figure out the cost per foot of that cable and compare that to the cost of connectors to extend it. Might be cheaper to rerun those. I don't think I'd run into any problems extending the rg6 and cat5.

How would you intend to extend the cat 5? It really should be a continuous wire unless you are simply using it for low voltage app / not for computer use.

 

[mustangcoupe]

.....the location I choose for my wiring closet happens to be directly under the washing machine......

I hope you picked a short rack or it will put the washing machine out of reach. ( sorry had to)

I agree that extending the wires seems to be the best bet. Maybe another option is to still use this location for a terminal pannel/router ect... and move the very expensive stuff and hard drives to the new location. This way all you have to extend/move are the pieces of importance.

 

[az1324]

or just waterproof the floor of the laundry room with some kerdi and put in a kerdi drain.

 

[MStan]

or just waterproof the floor of the laundry room with some kerdi and put in a kerdi drain.

I would put a pan under the washer with a drain...and make sure to drain the washer into a proper 2'' wall drain.

I would still add auto shutoffs and use braided hoses.



Mark

 

[DrunkenLizard]

.....the location I choose for my wiring closet happens to be directly under the washing machine......

I hope you picked a short rack or it will put the washing machine out of reach. ( sorry had to)

I agree that extending the wires seems to be the best bet. Maybe another option is to still use this location for a terminal pannel/router ect... and move the very expensive stuff and hard drives to the new location. This way all you have to extend/move are the pieces of importance.

lol, well I do have a patch panel mounted to the wall at the current location. I'll probably just leave that in place and run cat5 from there to the new location.

Monk: I need to run more cat5 from the locations up stairs so for I'll use the new runs to connect my office, and anywhere else of importance up there.

Stan: braided hoses sound like a good idea, I just replaced my hoses about 6 months ago but they were just some cheap ones.

I did stop by Menards last night and picked up some 2x4s, only took me 45min to find 14 kind of straight ones
I want to get started tonight on the new wiring closet but it might have to wait till next week when my carpenter friend gets back in town. He has much better tools, I don't even have a nail gun. Was looking around in the garage last night found 3 cordless drills and 3 corded but no nailgun :wacko: