Dodgy cabling polyfilled into a wall

33forfree

Bought a house last year. It's only about 15 years old and the fittings all look great. Electrics not so much though. In the lounge we have ethernet and HDMI cables for the TV just polyfilled into a hole in the wall, and the other ends come out behind a fitted press that I'd have to chip away plaster and cut planks to get full access to. There's a small hole in the back of the press to pass cables thru but it would be easy to drop one out of reach.

The last owners had Virgin which we decided was too pricey when we don't watch live sport, and their Virgin box was in the press. We've had normal broadband fitted in another room.

Streaming apps work fine on an Apple TV box connected to wifi, but we don't have Saorview. There was a TV cable coming out of the hole in the back of the press (and I can't see where it goes because of the press) but it doesn't work, probably connected with us not having a TV antenna on the roof.

There are two "LED driver" boxes in the same press, connected to small cables that go back into the hole, and still plugged into mains power. Would those have something to do with dimmer switches for the main ceiling lights? If so I already replaced the dimmers with normal switches to get rid of a humming noise, so can I unplug and forget the LED drivers?

We might be wanting a TV antenna installed, and a proper cable run for it with a wall socket. At the same time I guess it's worth having the other cables in the plasterwork replaced, and run properly so I can get at both ends.

There are other electrical changes I'd like to make too (moving light switches, installing an electric shower, replacing dead power cable for bathroom mirror cabinet), and in a few years solar panels and a heat pump. Wondering though if the lounge stuff is a canary in the coal mine for it all being dodgy, and do we need the whole house rewired before something catches fire. I replaced the dimmer switches but that's as far as my electrical knowledge goes. Thoughts?

Calahonda52

op, it would be helpful if you could split this out more clearly into dogy 240 volt elec cable and others such as TV,cat V, sound etc.

Its not clear what your explicit concern is re 240 V

Hotblack Desiato

There's no problem other than cosmetics with ethernet or HDMI cables being plastered into a wall. It's quite likely a DIY job, the mains voltage wiring in the house is (or should be) done by a professional.

It's not ideal but it's commonly done, and not electrically unsafe at all as they are extremely low voltage.

Instant electric showers are basically useless unless you live in the tropics, don't waste your money.