UCL-05Before drilling any cable clips into the wall, check what's behind itIf the cable run needs clipping to open wall, cables and pipes can run almost anywhere behind it — not just in the usual safe zones. Use a cable and pipe detector to scan the area, but still treat it as if something might be there even when the detector shows nothing: detectors miss cables that are deep, in metal conduit, behind metal-backed plasterboard, or outside the expected zones, and a metal stud frame can confuse a cheap detector further. Before you drill, find your stopcock — usually under the kitchen sink — and check it turns freely, so you can shut the water off at once if you hit a pipe. If you have any doubt at all, isolate the relevant circuit at the consumer unit before drilling.