Having problems running wire up wall from basement

[TNelson]

Ok heres my problem. I am in an older row home, I would say its early

1900's. The studs are about 24" apart and between the top floor and the main floor ceiling they have continuious flooring from one room to the next threw-out the wall also.

The people before us put in a hot air vent to the upstairs bathroom by cutting a hole into the basement ceiling into the wall cavity and is letting the hair air travel all the way up the wall and into the bathroom without any true duct working.

My problem is I drilled about a foot and a half from the basement duct and the snake is still on the portion of wall with the hot air since the snake finds its way all the way to the bathroom vent. Getting to the other side of the stud isn't possible since the toilet is right where I would need to start tearing everything up.

My question is the air that would occupy that space even remotely be hot enough to cause issues if I take the wire up that portion of wall?

[John Grabowski]

I guess that air space could be considered a plenum in which case non-metallic (Romex) wiring should not be used. Usually metal conduit or perhaps type MC cable is approved for plenums.

It sounds as though there aren't any fire stops to prevent flames and heat from traveling up that wall quickly and spreading to the upper portion of the house. This is not good.

[Colbyt]

Which/what wire?

There are some code issues involved in running an electrical conductor wire in this manner.

Might be okay for phone or network with a properly rated wire. Depends on the temperature of the area involved.

Colbyt

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Millions of homes were built using balloon framing. Fire stops are relatively new.

[John Grabowski]

I've found that many of the balloon construction homes that I have worked in have had fire stops added in the basement. Usually mortared-in bricks or just cement has been placed on top of the sill plate up to the bottom of the floor. In some cases drywall has been installed to block those spaces. It seems at some point it was required to block those openings, at least in New Jersey.

[buffalobill]

also if looking for energy saving, check for any energy lost in these possibly uninsulated cavities and basement. especially don't count on the adjoining neighbor as insulation. or if this is an exterior wall cavity there is lots of wasted heat to the outdoors.

[TNelson]

Thanks for the comments. I left my snake in and turned heater on and the snake did heat up so I think i'm going to find a new way down. I think I found my only other option but would require a lot more effort but worth it in the end.

Thanks again!!