Snaking EMT conduit through soffit into attic

[cryptic0]

Good morning everyone!

I am running a couple of 20amp circuits to my bathroom. My service is panel is on the exterior wall of the house (1950s construction, brick veneer, gable roof with very narrow attic).

My original plan was to drill a hole through soffit and insert a bent conduit into the attic space, then add couplers to extend it further into attic. However, I have run into issues and was hoping to get some feedback.

When I insert the conduit through soffit, It hits a blockage at about 3 inches. It seems that the blockage is wood. My question is what part of the roofing eaves is this wood? When I penetrated soffit, am I already in the attic or do I need to go past the wood before I enter it?

I am unable to submit pictures, being a new user.

 

[mm08822]

Yes pics would help especially a square-on profile pic.
Post 4 more times then you can add pics. All you need is 4-5 characters for each post IIRC. "...."

I have done exactly what you are trying do a couple of times. I make the shortest 90 degree stub and insert it up into the soffit hole and rotate it into place. Then go into attic and add coupling and continue conduit. Depth of rafters, location of hole between rafters, and free space on the wall to rotate conduit needs to be thought out before making hole.

 

[ford33]

Why EMT? Could you use a flexible conduit? Other option is an LB fitting.

 

[exranger06]

You can also use pull-elbows to make really tight corners. I've used several in my garage.

 

[cryptic0]

Thanks for the ideas. However, the main problem is how to access the attic through the soffit. That's where I am stuck. I might just have to remove parts of the soffit to see the eave structure.

 

[Bert_]

You can also use pull-elbows to make really tight corners. I've used several in my garage.

Keep in mind any fitting with a cover needs to remain accessible after installation. Inside the soffit is not accessible unless you put in an access panel or something.

 

[cryptic0]

Keep in mind any fitting with a cover needs to remain accessible after installation. Inside the soffit is not accessible unless you put in an access panel or something.

Is that true even if the fitting does not have any wire junctions or splices? There is really nothing to check there. The cover is merely there to allow for easier pulling of cables through.

 

[rburke65]

You can only use those IF they are accessible

 

[Bert_]

Is that true even if the fitting does not have any wire junctions or splices? There is really nothing to check there. The cover is merely there to allow for easier pulling of cables through.

You can't pull wire though it without removing the cover, that is why it must remain accessible. Does not matter if it contains splices.

 

[engineer2]

Do you have EMT now? For upgrades we just pull new 12G, replace the breaker, and outlets for 20A.

 

[The Cobbler]

running thru soffits may be tough, could be all kinds of wood in your way, rafter tails, etc.
is this a single story house? can you get access thru the basement ?

 

[strutaeng]

Blocking between rafters? I was watching a video from Larry Huan and was showing this blocking, along with all of the nails installed.

Blocking has been omitted by modern framers over the years. My framer didn't do this blocking on a recent addition project (but had monster pile of scraps left over.)

I took these scraps and installed them. It's much more difficult after the fact, of course. From a structural perspective they make sense...

Anyway, you are probably hitting blocking. If you can take along drill bit from the attic and drill through it, that will probably work for you.

 

[JRas]

Why are you running EMT in the attic?

Panel is exterior mounted: bend some conduit set an exterior box (backside attic hole), transition from building wire to romex, and take her home.

 

[cryptic0]

And that’s exactly how it was. I decided to drill through and ended up in attic space. It was a joy to see from inside attic th emt pushed through soffit. Now working on bending conduit and securing it.

What type of string should I leave inside conduit to make pulling wires easy?

Blocking between rafters? I was watching a video from Larry Huan and was showing this blocking, along with all of the nails installed.

Blocking has been omitted by modern framers over the years. My framer didn't do this blocking on a recent addition project (but had monster pile of scraps left over.)

I took these scraps and installed them. It's much more difficult after the fact, of course. From a structural perspective they make sense...

Anyway, you are probably hitting blocking. If you can take along drill bit from the attic and drill through it, that will probably work for you.

 

[strutaeng]

And that’s exactly how it was. I decided to drill through and ended up in attic space. It was a joy to see from inside attic th emt pushed through soffit. Now working on bending conduit and securing it.

What type of string should I leave inside conduit to make pulling wires easy?

Inexpensive mason line is what I've used. I'm curious how you made the bend in the EMT....but you seemed to have figured it out.

That armor cable, I don't know if that's the correct name, may have been easier to feed though?

 

[rburke65]

Fishing up into the attic can be a realPITA