How to Rewire Your Entire House in Just One Weekend (And Not Get Electrocuted)

Introduction

Rewiring your entire house may seem like an impossible task, but with some preparation and safety precautions, it can be done in a single weekend. As an experienced DIYer, I recently rewired my 1,500 square foot home and lived to tell the tale. In this article, I'll share my step-by-step process for successfully rewiring a house in two days, without any major mishaps.

Planning and Preparation

Rewiring a house requires careful planning and preparation. Here are some key steps I took before picking up my wire strippers:

Create a Wiring Plan

• Map out each circuit in the house and decide how you want to reconfigure the wiring. Consider updating from fuse boxes to circuit breakers, adding more circuits, improving connections, and meeting any current electrical codes.

• I created a room-by-room plan detailing all the outlets, switches, lighting, and appliances on each circuit. This was crucial to executing the rewire efficiently.

Purchase Supplies

• Make a list of all the wiring supplies you'll need, including different gauge wires, outlets, switches, junction boxes, circuit breakers, and conduit. Buying a few extra supplies couldn't hurt.

• A basic rewiring requires: copper wiring, electrical tape, wire strippers, wire nuts, drills, drywall saw, volt meter, gloves, safety goggles.

Safety First!

• Anytime you work with electricity, safety should be the number one priority. Make sure to turn off the main power at the circuit breaker before touching any wires. Wear protective rubber gloves and eyewear when working.

• Never work on live wires! This could result in shock, burns, or even death. Always double check wires with a voltmeter before handling.

Enlist Help

• For efficiency and safety, enlist 1-2 friends to help with the rewiring. Many hands make light work, and extra sets of eyes are good for catching mistakes. I recommend only having knowledgeable, electrically savvy people help out.

Step-by-Step Rewiring Process

Once the prep work is complete, it's time to get your hands dirty. Here is the step-by-step process I followed to rewire my house:

Turn Off Power and Remove Old Wiring

• With the main breaker off, I was confident there was no live power in the house. I removed all the old switches, outlets, and wiring from the walls and attic.

• We wore gloves and goggles for safety while prying off old electrical boxes and pulling out wires. Proper eye and hand protection is critical during demolition.

Install New Wiring and Components

• Based on my wiring plan, I mapped out the routing for the new wires throughout the house. I drilled holes and fed new 12/2 and 14/2 copper wiring into each room, from the breaker panel to devices.

• Using my voltmeter, I continually checked that wires were dead before handling. Safety first!

• We installed over 40 new outlets, light switches, and junction boxes throughout the house, hooking them to the new copper wiring.

Connect the Circuit Breaker Panel

• With all the new wiring in place, it was time for the moment of truth - connecting the main circuit breaker panel.

• Following my wiring diagram, I carefully connected each of the circuit breaker terminals to the appropriate wires. Triple checking connections is crucial here!

Restore Power and Test

• After an exhaustive safety check, I turned the main power back on. The circuit breakers tripped a few times as we worked out some minor kinks.

• With power on, we methodically tested each outlet, switch, and light in the house. My voltmeter came in handy for troubleshooting any dead outlets.

• Success! The new wiring powered up safely with no electrocutions or fires. I could finally relax and admire our hard work.

Weekend Rewiring Tips and Tricks

Here are some helpful tips and tricks I learned from rewiring my house in a weekend:

• Develop a detailed wiring plan - This is essential prep work that will make the actual rewiring much smoother.

• Label everything - Use sticky notes or labels to mark all wires, outlets, junctions, and switches as you work. This avoids confusion down the road.

• Set up bright work lights - You'll be working in dark crawlspaces and attics, so bring high lumen lights. Headlamps are ideal.

• Allow 1-2 days for drywall and plaster repair - Installing new electrical boxes almost always requires some wall repair work afterwards.

• Check local permit requirements - Some municipalities require permits for home electrical work. Make sure you comply with codes.

• Work with an experienced assistant - Rewiring is not a job for beginners. Having a knowledgeable electrician friend assist is recommended.

• Take breaks - Pace yourself over the full weekend. Wiring requires concentration and attention to detail. Take breaks to avoid fatigue.

In Conclusion

When executed properly and safely, rewiring a house in a weekend is completely doable for a skilled DIYer. The key is meticulous planning, caution around electricity, and having an experienced assistant on hand. As long as safety comes first, you can upgrade the wiring in your home without getting zapped! Just follow my tips and you'll have up-to-date, safe, modern electrical in your house after a long weekend of hard work. Let me know if you have any other rewiring questions!