Most people assume Smurf tubing only goes one direction. Straight up into the attic and that’s it. That works. But it’s not the only option, and it’s not always the best one.
Running Smurf Tubing Up Into the Attic
This is the setup most builders are familiar with.
You run Smurf tubing from the wall up into the attic, then drop Ethernet cable down to wherever you need it. TVs, offices, bedrooms, future workspaces. It’s clean and it works.
The big win here is flexibility. If a cable ever fails or internet standards change, you’re not opening drywall. You just pull a new line through the tubing and you’re done.
This is especially useful for wall mounted TVs, office desks, and any room that might turn into a home office down the line.
Running Smurf Tubing Down Into the Crawlspace
Smurf tubing doesn’t have to go up. It can also go down into the crawlspace or basement. This is huge for lower level rooms, exterior walls, and areas where attic access is limited or messy.
From the crawlspace, wiring can be routed just as cleanly as from above. And in many homes, the best setup is actually both. Some tubing goes up and some goes down. Everything still connects back to one central location.
Everything Should Lead Back to One Spot
Whether the tubing runs up or down, it should all end at a small network area where the router lives.
This might be a closet, utility room, or dedicated low voltage panel. From there, all the internet wiring feeds out to the house. Attic runs, crawlspace runs, all of it.
That’s how you hardwire a TV above the fireplace, your office desk, cameras, or future smart devices without weird workarounds.
Once it’s set up this way, the house just works.
Where Smurf Tubing Actually Makes Sense
Anywhere you might want internet is worth planning for.
TV locations are obvious. Office desks too. But also think about doorbells, cameras, speakers, lighting hubs, and future tech you haven’t thought about yet.
Smurf tubing gives you an insurance policy. You may never use it. But if you need it, you’ll be very glad it’s there.
WiFi Is Fine… Until It’s Not
You can rely on WiFi. Most people do.
But it’s slower, affected by walls, distance, and interference. Hardwiring key devices like TVs and work computers gives you better speed and and takes the load off Wifi so devices that are wireless have zero lag.
If you’re building or renovating, this is the easiest time to do it right.
It’s An Easy Decision
Once drywall goes up, changes like this get expensive fast.
Details like Smurf tubing are exactly the kind of thing homeowners wish they’d known earlier. That’s why I put everything like this into The Ultimate Home Building Checklist.
If you want more home building tips and ideas like this, all organized and easy to follow, they’re in the checklist. It helps you think through these decisions before it’s too late and saves you from fixing regrets later.
