How to Re-Wire Your Home Without an Electrician and Save Big

Introduction

Re-wiring a home can seem like an intimidating task, but with proper planning and precautions, I was able to re-wire most of my home without hiring an electrician, saving thousands of dollars in the process. In this article, I will walk through the complete process I followed to safely re-wire my home room-by-room.

Gather Supplies and Create a Plan

Before starting any electrical work, it's essential to make sure you have the proper supplies and tools. Here is a list of the basic items you'll need:

• Electrical wire - 14/2 or 12/2 NM wire is commonly used for 15 amp and 20 amp home circuits. Make sure to get enough wire for each room.

• Wire strippers - A proper wire stripper makes stripping the plastic insulation off the wire quick and easy.

• Voltage tester - This lets you safely check whether wires are live before working on them.

• Wire nuts - Used to connect and cap multiple wires together.

• Electrical tape - Helps insulate wire connections.

• Basic hand tools - Hammer, screwdriver, pliers, etc.

In addition to supplies, it's crucial to create a detailed plan of which circuits need to be re-wired and the path the new wiring will take. Having a solid plan makes the job go smoothly and minimizes any potential confusion.

Shut Off Power and Remove Old Wiring

The first step is to shut off power to the room you are working on at the main electrical panel. Remember to double check wires with a voltage tester to be 100% sure power is off. Once the power is off, I carefully removed any loose or exposed wiring in the room back to the outlets or switches they were connected to.

Be methodical in removing one wire at a time, taking note of where each wire was originally connected. If re-using any parts of the existing wiring system, inspect the wires closely for damage or deterioration and replace any questionable sections. Safety first!

Run and Secure New Wiring

With the old wires removed, I was ready to run the new wiring through the house. I started by feeding the new NM electrical wire from the panel to the first outlet or switch box in the room. Be sure to leave plenty of extra wire at the panel and terminating end to allow for adjustments. Secure the new wire every 4-5 feet using insulated staples or cable clips.

Important note: Do not run wire parallel to or right against water pipes or HVAC ductwork. Keep at least 6 inches of space between.

I repeated this process, running wire between each outlet and switch in the room in a logical daisy chain, until all boxes were wired.

Connect Switches and Outlets

With the new wire run to each box, it was time to make the final connections. I matched the corresponding hot (black), neutral (white), and ground (green or bare) wires between the outlet and the new wiring. Twist the copper ends together tightly using wire nuts and wrap the connection in electrical tape for a secure bond.

It's crucial to pay close attention to connecting the hot and neutral wires correctly based on your desired switching configuration. Reference diagrams online as needed. Double check your work, as mistakes here could create serious hazards once the power is restored.

Restore Power and Test

Once all connections were made securely, I turned the power back on at the panel and tested each switch and outlet with a voltage tester and lamp to ensure proper functionality. I recommend leaving the power on for a while and checking connections for heat, arcing, or burn smells that could indicate faulty wiring. Once satisfied everything was correctly wired, I screwed all receptacles and switches back into the boxes and replaced any trim.

Conclusion

While re-wiring a home is very doable without an electrician if done carefully, make sure you research thoroughly, follow local building codes, and take proper safety precautions. Empower yourself to save thousands on electrical work with a methodical room-by-room re-wiring project. Stay safe and be meticulous for best results. Let me know if you have any other questions!