How to Rewire Your Home Without an Electrician (Save Thousands!)

Introduction

Rewiring a home can seem like an intimidating task, but with proper planning and safety precautions, it is possible for a homeowner to complete some rewiring projects without hiring an electrician. I have successfully rewired parts of my home, saving thousands of dollars in the process. In this guide, I will walk through the steps I took to safely rewire rooms in my house and share tips so you can undertake your own projects.

Evaluating Your Electrical System

Before beginning any rewiring project, the first step is to thoroughly evaluate your existing electrical system. Here are some key things to check:

Circuit breaker panel - Open it up and evaluate the existing wiring and available space for new breakers. Verify it is up to code.
Outlets and switches - Check which outlets and switches are on the same circuits throughout the house. Verify grounding and that polarity is correct.
Electrical load - Estimate the load on your electrical system. Do you have enough capacity to add more circuits?
Age of wiring - Older homes may have outdated, insufficient wiring. Newer homes likely just need minor updates.
Plans for rewiring - Decide which rooms and what type of updates you want to make (e.g. more outlets, overhead lighting).

Thoroughly understanding your current electrical system will enable you to develop a solid rewiring plan. I drew up plans showing existing circuits and my desired new wiring.

Safety Precautions

Working with electrical wiring can be dangerous. Here are essential safety steps I followed:

Turn off power - Turn off electricity to the room at the circuit breaker before starting any work. Verify it is off by testing outlets with a multimeter or voltage tester.
Personal protective equipment - Always wear rubber-soled shoes, gloves, and eye protection when working with electrical wiring.
One circuit at a time - Rewire only one circuit at a time. Do not open up the whole electrical panel at once.
De-energize wires - Before touching any wires, use a tester to confirm wires are completely de-energized.
Carefully remove old wiring - When removing old wiring, carefully detach it from outlets, switches and appliances it is attached to.

Safety should be your top priority. Prevent hazards by thoroughly shutting off and testing electricity to the area you are working on.

Adding New Circuits

One of the most common rewiring tasks is adding new circuits with additional outlets and lighting. Here are the steps I took:

Plan circuit layout - Map out where you want outlets and lights with the new circuit. Group rooms with similar electrical load on the same circuit.
Pull new wires - Run the correct gauge electrical wire through walls and ceilings to each outlet and switch location. Ensure wires have a few extra feet at the ends.
Install outlet and switch boxes - Secure new electrical boxes in the walls and ceilings where you want your outlets, switches and lights located.
Connect wires - At the circuit breaker panel, connect the ends of the new wires to a new dedicated breaker. Connect the other ends at your outlets and switches.
Verify functionality - Turn the new circuit breaker back on and test that all your outlets and switches function properly.

Follow building codes for outlet spacing, wire gauge ratings, grounding and other electrical specifications. Adding new well-planned circuits can significantly increase your home's electrical capacity.

Helpful Tools and Materials

Completing a full home rewiring project requires having the right tools and materials:

Electrical testers - A non-contact voltage tester and multimeter are essential for safely checking that power is off.
Wire strippers - Used to strip insulation off electrical wires.
Cable ripper - Makes opening up drywall easier to route new wiring.
Fish tape - Flexible steel tool used to snake wires through walls.
Cable stapler - Secures wiring to wall studs and joists.
Wall plates - Cover outlets and switches once installed and wired.
Wire connectors - Join wires together securely. I used push-in wire connectors for a fast installation.
Romex 12/2 wire - Common 12 gauge electrical wire for 15 & 20 amp home circuits.

Investing in basic electrical tools will make your DIY rewiring project go much smoother.

Final Touches

Once you complete the main rewiring, there are a few finishing steps:

Check connections - Verify all connections are tight and properly secured.
Insulate wires - Use plastic wire nuts and electrical tape so no conductors are exposed.
Secure wires - Use cable staples to tightly fasten wires inside walls and ceilings.
Install wall plates - Snap on decorative plates to cover boxes and holes.
Label breakers - Clearly label your new circuits on the breaker panel.
Inspect work - Thoroughly inspect your work before turning power back on.
Test functionality - Have lights, outlets and switches work correctly when you restore power.

Taking care with final details ensures safe and reliable new circuits.

Hiring an Electrician for Large Projects

While many home rewiring projects can be DIY, I recommend hiring a licensed electrician for major upgrades like replacing your electrical panel or running wiring through concrete or masonry. Professionals have the expertise to handle complicated electrical work so it is code-compliant. They can also assess if your home's existing wiring needs remediation. While DIY is great for smaller tasks, electricians are trained to provide the highest quality and safety for large-scale electrical projects. Their services are well worth the cost for major upgrades.

In summary, with proper planning and safety precautions, you can take on many home rewiring projects yourself, saving thousands in electrician fees. Evaluate your electrical system, turn off all power, prepare your plans, invest in basic tools, and methodically complete the work. Mastering basic wiring skills allows you to improve and update your home's electrical capacity over time. But never shy away from calling a professional for big jobs. Follow this guide and you can safely rewire many areas of your home!