How To Rewire Your 100 Year Old Home Without Burning It Down

Introduction

Rewiring a 100 year old home can seem like a daunting task, but with proper planning and precautions it can be done safely. As the sole owner of this century old home, I learned firsthand how to update the wiring without incident. In this guide, I'll share my step-by-step process for rewiring an antique home while avoiding electrical fires or other disasters.

Determine the Scope of Work

The first step is deciding how much you need to rewire. Does the entire home need new wiring, or are you only upgrading certain circuits?

• Perform an assessment - Examine all electrical components and wiring to determine their condition. Check for cloth-wrapped wiring, open junction boxes, knob-and-tube wiring, etc. These are red flags for rewiring.

• Consult an electrician - Have a licensed electrician inspect your home's electrical system. They can help you determine the extent of rewiring needed. This expert insight is invaluable for planning the project.

• Prioritize improvements - If you don't need to rewire everything right away, focus first on high priority circuits like kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry. You can spread bigger jobs out into phases.

Develop a Rewiring Plan

Once you know what needs rewiring, develop a detailed plan of attack. Planning is crucial for executing a smooth, safe rewiring job.

• Map out the current wiring - Diagram how existing wiring runs through walls and ceilings. This makes it easier to design the new layout.

• Plan the new wiring - Draw up plans showing where you'll run updated wiring and place new switches, outlets, junction boxes, etc.

• Get all necessary permits - Check with your local building department to see what permits and inspections are required. Better to find out beforehand.

• Schedule electrician inspections - If using a licensed electrician, schedule them to inspect, provide input, and sign off on your plans.

Safely Install New Wiring

With a rock-solid wiring plan in place, you're ready to start installation. Take things slow and focus on safety.

• Turn off power at the main panel - Shut off all home electricity at the main circuit breaker before touching any wires.

• Wear personal protective equipment - Use rubber-soled shoes, gloves, and safety goggles when handling electrical wiring.

• Open up walls and ceilings - Carefully cut openings in drywall to access the old wiring. Try to disturb lead paint and asbestos as little as possible.

• Feed new wiring into walls - Use fishing tape to pull modern NM electrical cable through framing cavities. Don't staple it in place yet.

• Label both ends of each wire - Color coding wires makes connecting circuits much smoother.

Update Electrical Components

With the new wiring installed, it's time to upgrade the other electrical elements.

• Install new outlet and switch boxes - Securely mount these in the walls and ceilings using proper mounting hardware.

• Ground all circuits - Make sure to connect the ground wire on all new runs. Ungrounded wiring is outdated and potentially dangerous.

• Install GFCI outlets - Use ground-fault circuit interrupter outlets in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and other wet areas. This adds protection from shocks.

• Connect new breakers - Feed wiring into the proper size circuit breakers in the main panel, labeled clearly.

• Have an electrician double check - Schedule your electrician to inspect all connections before re-energizing the home's electrical system.

Finish Up and Make It Pretty

You're in the home stretch now. Just a few more steps to button up the rewiring job.

• Staple wiring as needed - Secure new wiring to studs and joists, out of the way of drywall work.

• Patch drywall openings - Seal up any holes or gaps with joint compound for a seamless look.

• Add wall plates - Snap on attractive, matching wall plates to cover junction boxes and outlets.

• Paint - Paint any drywall patches and electrical covers to match your home's interior.

• Test all circuits - Turn power back on and methodically test every outlet, light, and switch. Fix any issues.

• Celebrate your success! - Crack open a beer and congratulate yourself on safely rewiring your 100 year old home.

Conclusion

While rewiring an antique home is labor intensive, it can be accomplished DIY-style without incident by following safety precautions. The key is taking a methodical approach - assess, plan, install carefully, and get inspections. Your home's new electrical system will provide safe, reliable power for decades to come.