How to Rewire Your Entire Home in Just One Weekend (Shockingly Simple!)

Introduction

Rewiring your entire home may seem like an intimidating task, but with the right planning and preparation, it can be accomplished in a single weekend. As a first-time homeowner who recently took on this massive project, I want to share my step-by-step guide on how I successfully rewired my house in under 48 hours.

Gather Supplies

The first step is to gather all the necessary supplies and tools. Here's what you'll need:

Wire - Estimate the total length of wire needed for each room. It's better to have extra than not enough. I recommend 12/2 NM wire with ground.
Wire nuts - Stock up on a variety of sizes to connect wires.
Electrical tape - Used to insulate wire connections.
Voltage tester - To safely check if power is off to wires.
Fish tape - To route wires through walls and ceilings.
Cable staples - To tack wires in place.
Wire strippers - To strip insulation off wires.
Needle nose pliers - Helpful for pulling wires.
Philips screwdriver - For removing outlet and switch covers.
Drywall saw - For cutting holes to route wires.
Stud finder - Locate studs to drill holes through.
Drill/driver - For drilling holes and driving screws.
Electrical boxes, outlets, switches and cover plates - For replacing old electrical components.

Safety First

When dealing with electrical wiring, safety should be your top concern. Here are some key tips:

Turn off power at the main circuit breaker before starting any work.
Double check wires with a voltage tester to confirm power is off.
Work with a partner so someone can flip the breaker if needed.
Wear personal protective equipment like gloves and eye protection.
Never work on live wires. De-energize circuits before wiring.

Paying attention to safety will help avoid shocks, burns or other injuries.

Remove Old Wiring

With the power off, I began the major task of removing all the old wiring from the house. Here is the process I followed:

Remove outlet and switch cover plates with a screwdriver.
Unscrew the outlet/switch from the electrical box.
Disconnect the wires - there may be multiple wires connected to each outlet/switch.
Label each wire as you disconnect it to identify where it runs to.
Coil up the disconnected wires and leave them in the box to pull new wires through later.
Use a drywall saw to cut holes around the electrical box so you can remove it from the wall.
For runs to other rooms, locate where wire enters through walls/ceilings and pull it out.
Use fish tape to pull out any stubborn wires.
Fully extract all wiring from the house.

Route New Wires

Once all the old wires were removed, I began routing the new wiring:

Plan the wiring layout room by room. Group runs to lights, outlets and switches together.
Select central entry points between rooms to pass wires through walls and ceilings.
Start by pulling wires to centrally located boxes first, then branch off to other locations.
Use fish tape to route wires through walls. Drill holes in joists and studs for easier access.
Make sure to leave plenty of extra wire at boxes for connections.
Use cable staples to neatly secure wires against joists in unfinished areas like the basement and attic.

Install Outlets and Switches

With my wires fully run, it was time to install the new outlets, switches and electrical boxes:

Carefully review wiring diagrams for each type of outlet and switch.
Prepare wires by stripping off the right amount of insulation for the connection.
For outlets, attach the hot (black), neutral (white) and ground.
Connect ground wires to the green screw or wire on the outlet.
Use a wire nut to secure wires together, with electrical tape over the nut.
Push wires into electrical boxes and mount devices with long screws.
Make sure outlets and switches are properly oriented and level.
Attach cover plates once everything is positioned correctly.

Restore Power and Test

The final step was to restore power and test my work:

Turn off all lights and unplug appliances before turning power back on.
Flip the main breaker on. Check for any sparks or burning smells around boxes.
One room at a time, turn on lights and switches to verify proper operation.
Plug in and turn on appliances to confirm outlets are correctly wired.
Use a voltage tester to sample outlets - the hot slot should light up the tester.
Replace any dead outlets or switches and correct any wiring issues.
Add labeling at the circuit breaker indicating which rooms each breaker controls.

With everything in working order, my home rewiring project was complete! While tiring, I saved thousands of dollars in one weekend. Stay safe and be meticulous, and you can rewire your home too. Let me know if you have any other questions!