How to Rewire Your 100 Year Old Farmhouse Without Burning it Down

Rewiring a 100 year old farmhouse can seem like a daunting task, but with some planning, patience, and by following safety guidelines, it is very doable without catastrophic mishaps. Here is my guide on how I successfully rewired my century-old farmhouse while keeping it standing.

Assess the Existing Electrical System

Before diving into a rewiring project, I needed to thoroughly examine the existing electrical setup. Here are the key things I looked at:

Check the Electrical Panel

• Locate the main electrical panel and open it up. Check the condition of the wiring, circuit breakers/fuses, and whether it's up to modern electrical code.

• For my 1920s panel, the wiring was brittle and frayed in areas, I had outdated glass tube fuses, and no grounding system. It clearly needed an upgrade.

Look at Outlets and Light Fixtures

• Uncover all outlets/switches and light fixtures to view the wire condition.

• I found fabrics-wrapped wiring without a ground wire, with splices wrapped in electrical tape. This wiring would all be replaced.

Consider Kitchen/Appliance Circuits

• Kitchens tend to have insufficient or damaged wiring in old homes. Verify if appliances like large fridges or stoves can run safely.

• My ancient 2-wire kitchen circuit was clearly unsuitable for modern appliances. Running a new circuit was a top priority.

Create a Rewiring Plan

Once I understood the scope of the project, it was time to map out a plan:

Prioritize Safety Hazards

• Focus first on replacing hazardous wiring like damaged wires or improper grounding. This reduces the fire danger.

Upgrade the Panel

• A modern electrical panel properly distributes power. I needed to install a new breaker panel early on.

Run Circuits Logically

• Think about what rooms require more power and plan circuits accordingly. Group rooms with similar needs.

• For example, I ran one circuit for the kitchen appliances and another for the master bedroom.

Follow Proper Safety Precautions

Electrical work carries inherent hazards. Here are some key safety steps I followed:

Turn Off Power at Main Breaker

• Shut off all power at the main breaker before touching any wiring. Use a contact voltage tester to confirm it's dead.

Wear Protective Equipment

• Always wear insulated gloves, long sleeves, safety goggles when handling wires. Prevent shocks or burns.

Install GFCI Outlets

• Upgrade to GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlets. These will shut off power in case of a shock hazard.

Keep Area Clear

• Do not let debris or tools clutter the workspace. Tidy up often to prevent tripping or falling on tools.

Get Permits/Inspections

• Obtain the proper permits and have an experienced electrician check the finished work. This ensures compliance with electrical code.

Tackle the Rewiring in Phases

It's easy to get overwhelmed staring at all the electrical work needed in an old home. Break it down into manageable phases:

1. Install New Electrical Panel

• I first mounted the new 200 amp breaker panel and re-fed the main power into it.

2. Run New Circuits and Conduit

• I was then able to take my time running new 12/2 and 12/3 NM cables through the attic and walls to each room.

3. Replace Outlets and Switches

• With the infrastructure in place, it was fairly quick to remove the old wiring and install new receptacles, switches, and other fixtures room-by-room.

4. Connect Lighting Fixtures

• Finally, I could connect recessed lighting, chandeliers, and other fixtures to the new wiring.

Be Patient and Check Your Work

• I tackled the project slowly over several weekends. Rushing leads to mistakes.

• I checked my work at each step for quality. Having to re-do botched wiring is incredibly frustrating!

• Hiring an electrician buddy to review the finished rewiring gave me further peace of mind before flipping on the main power.

While rewiring an old farmhouse demands time and diligence, it can be accomplished safely by homeowners. Methodically evaluating, planning, and upgrading the existing electrical system prevents burning down a historic home. I now have reliable, modern wiring that will serve my farmhouse for the next 100 years!