Auto & Home Media Innovations LLC

"When we received the request from the customer, his call was very hurried and had a lack of detail. I did ask the customer when making the appointment if he indeed had in-wall rated cables and he replied 'yes'. When we went out to the home, we called ahead of time, since we thought we may not make the actual appointment time of 3pm. The customer in turn indicated that he would be late getting home and if possible, to delay the time as much as possible so he could be present for the installation (I believe his wife was home). When the installers got there (about 5pm, he still wasn't home) and the HDMI cables were checked, they were indeed NOT in-wall rated (I'll explain the the UL rating later). They told him about the specific brand of cables that we carried which he refused. They then offered to install the cables that he currently had out of the wall and return to install in-wall cables at no additional labor when he received them. He refused and told them that it was all made up. The National Electric Code is what's used by home inspectors to determine if things are wired properly in your home to prevent fires and other hazards from developing. The biggest common install mistake made by contractors in home theater is to use extension cords or simply run the TV's power plug inside the wall; that is a big violation of the NEC code and also causes several fires throughout the United States based on the load they carry and the heat they can build up inside of the walls in your home. Low Voltage cables like HDMI are also rated for in wall if you look for them. The rated cables will be stamped UL listed and will have a CL-2 or CL-3 rating printed or stamped on them as well. The rated cables are based on the material that they-re made of. Most things in the walls of a home will either promote or prevent the spreading of fire through the walls of the home, hence the necessary use of the cables. For those reading the review and response as reference, PLEASE research the information that I'm giving, it can save you a great headache and potential loss in the future. The previous company that I managed for had to deal with a fire insurance claim NOT caused by the installation but merely because CL rated cables were not used in the installation and because the fire was generated on that wall, (not at the point of the TV but the TV was affected from the damage), the claim was denied because of non-UL listed material being used. In the case of the customer presenting this review, he thought that the installers were making up a story of the CL rated wiring. We are licensed and expected to follow all related codes based on the work being completed and were merely doing so. The following is an explanation taken from 'Crutchfield Online explaining the proper use of cables: Choosing the right wire The type of in-wall wire and cables you use will depend on what kind of signal you need to carry, where you're going to route the wire, and how far the signal will have to travel to go between your gear. Whatever type of wire you choose, be sure to get one that's rated for in-wall use by the Underwriters Laboratory (UL). This is normally denoted with a CL2 or CL3 rating for speaker wire and audio/video cables. Many Ethernet cables are rated for in-wall use, denoted with a CM, CMR, or CMP rating. The UL looks at heat generated from current flowing through wire, how quickly the cable will catch and spread fire when exposed to flame, and the wire's susceptibility to damage from external stresses. Also look for cable that's rated for your specific scenario. For example, you'll want cable rated CL2P or CL3P if you're placing it in heating ducts, and you'll want cable rated for direct burial if you're running it through the ground to outdoor speakers. Also, be sure to check your local building and fire code and buy wire accordingly."