Rewiring your home can seem like a daunting task, but with the right planning and safety precautions, it is possible for a homeowner to rewire their house without hiring an electrician. There are several reasons why you may want to consider rewiring your home yourself.
Reasons to Rewire Your Home
Here are some of the top reasons to rewire your home:
Upgrading Outdated Wiring
If your home still has knob and tube wiring, which was common in homes built before the 1930s, rewiring is a must. This old wiring is insufficient for running modern appliances and poses a fire hazard. Upgrading the wiring makes your home safer.
Increasing Electrical Capacity
If you find yourself frequently tripping breakers when running multiple appliances, your home likely needs rewiring to increase its electrical capacity. Rewiring allows you to add more circuits and outlets. This prevents blown fuses and allows you to run more devices safely.
Fixing Faulty Wiring
If you've noticed flickering lights, discolored outlets, or burning smells from fixtures, your wiring may be faulty. Rewiring can fix potentially dangerous wiring issues. Leaving faulty wiring in place risks electrocution and electrical fires.
Preparing for an Addition or Remodel
If you'll be adding an addition or doing a major remodel, rewiring the affected areas is usually required. Doing this on your own rather than hiring an electrician can result in major cost savings.
How to Rewire a House Yourself
Here is an overview of the DIY rewiring process:
Research Local Building Codes
Electrical requirements vary regionally. Check with your local building department to learn about permits, required materials, and wiring methods for DIYers. Failing to follow code is unsafe and illegal.
Draw Up a Wiring Plan
Map out plans showing the new circuit layout and all fixtures and outlets. Planning the wiring layout ahead of time allows the project to go smoothly. Have an electrician review it.
Purchase Supplies
Make a list of required wiring supplies like different gauge wires, junction boxes, outlets, breakers, and conduit. Buy supplies of good quality from electrical supply stores.
Turn Off Power and Remove Old Wiring
Turn off power at the main breaker. Then remove old wiring and disconnect fixtures. Take pictures of existing wiring first as a reference.
Run New Wiring and Add Breaker Boxes
Following your plans, run new cables through the walls and ceilings between the breaker box and outlets/fixtures. Install added subpanels and new breakers.
Connect Outlets and Fixtures
Connect the wires to all outlets, switches, and permanent fixtures. Follow diagrams precisely when making connections. Improper connections can cause fires.
Attach Faceplates and Test Circuits
Install faceplates and covers on outlets/switches. Turn power back on and thoroughly test each circuit to ensure proper function. Check with a voltage tester.
Call for Inspection
In most areas, you must arrange for an electrical inspection after DIY rewiring to get approval and a certificate of occupancy. The inspector will check for safety issues.
Safety Tips for Rewiring
Rewiring a house involves serious safety risks, including electrocution, fires, and explosions. Here are crucial tips to rewire as safely as possible:
- Turn power fully off! Use a contact voltage tester to double check it's dead before working.
- Follow local building codes and electrical standards exactly. Adhere to outlet and breaker box mounting requirements.
- Only work on small sections at a time to avoid confusion.
- Use extreme care and follow conductor size rules when splicing wires.
- Wear personal protective equipment like gloves and eye protection.
- Have GFCI outlets installed where required. They prevent lethal shocks.
- Hire an electrician if you don't feel absolutely certain about any aspect of the rewiring.
Bottom Line
Rewiring a home without professionals is challenging but doable. The financial savings can be significant. But it requires researching local codes thoroughly, designing a detailed wiring plan, having extreme attention to safety, and calling for inspections. Skilled DIYers comfortable working with electrical systems can rewire smarter and safer. However, you should hire an electrician if you lack electrical experience or feel unsure about any part of the process. Taking risks with wiring can endanger your home and family.