How to Rewire Your Entire Home Without an Electrician (But Should You?)

Why You Might Want to Rewire Your Home

Rewiring your entire home is a major project that requires care and attention to detail. Here are some reasons why you might want to take on this task:

• Upgrading to a newer electrical system - If your home still has an old 60 amp electrical service from the 1950s or 60s, rewiring can allow you to upgrade to a modern 200 amp service to meet today's energy demands. This will reduce the risk of overloads and allow you to run more high wattage appliances.

• Safety concerns with old wiring - Outdated wiring that is cracked or frayed can present fire and shock hazards. Replacing antiquated wiring improves safety.

• Expanding circuits - If your home lacks enough circuits to meet your needs, a rewire provides an opportunity to add more circuits and outlets. This eliminates the need for extension cords and overloading existing circuits.

• Aesthetics - Rewiring allows you to upgrade from outdated knob and tube wiring to modern NM cables inside walls for a cleaner, less cluttered look.

Dangers and Challenges of a DIY Rewire

While the cost savings of doing your own rewiring can be tempting, this project has considerable risks:

• Electrocution - Mistakes working with live wires and connections put you at serious risk of electrocution or death from shock.

• Fire - Faulty materials or improper connections can lead to electrical fires that can burn down your home.

• Insurance issues - Most insurance policies will not cover damage or medical bills if you are injured doing your own electrical work.

• Complexity - Electrical systems have many intricate safety mechanisms and parts that are difficult for amateurs to understand and implement correctly.

• Meeting code - All electrical work must meet the National Electrical Code (NEC), which has complex specifications that are hard to comply with without training. Failing to meet code can put inspectors' approval at risk.

• No permit - It is illegal to do electrical work without the proper permits, licenses, and inspections in most areas. This can jeopardize insurance coverage and lead to fines.

An Outline of What a Full Home Rewire Entails

To understand the full scope of rewiring your house, here are the key steps involved:

Preparation

• Turn off all power at the main panel and lockout/tagout to prevent accidental shock.
• Test wires with a non-contact voltage tester to confirm power is off.
• Remove all old wiring from walls, attic, and crawlspaces. This includes wires, boxes, and receptacles.
• Plan new circuit layout with panel amperage calculations and wire gauge sizes.

New Wiring Installation

• Run new wires through walls securely and keep insulation away.
• Install sufficient boxes with clamps for all outlets and switches. Use appropriate box types.
• Make tightly secured wire connections with proper connectors - no loose strands orexposed copper.
• Use cable clamps and straps every 4-1/2 ft as required by code for support and protection.
• Label all wires clearly at termination points.
• Install junction boxes where wires branch off or join.
• Mount new outlets and switches properly on boxes and connect wires securely.

Finishing Up

• Update main service panel and install new breakers.
• Ensure all connections are tight and components firmly fixed.
• Inspect all work thoroughly for any loose connections or flaws.
• Have work inspected by the city/township to get approval and pass final electrical inspection.

As you can see, a successful rewire requires expertise in electrical systems, adherence to safety procedures, proper materials, and conformity to electrical code. Without training, the odds of overlooking something important are high.

Dangers of Do-It-Yourself Electrical Work

To drive home the hazards of amateur electrical work, here are some horror stories:

• Jeremy thought he could replace his fuse box with a new circuit breaker panel himself. His improper connections caused a fire that resulted in his kitchen burning down. His insurance refused to pay since it was unpermitted work.

• Madge tried to wire a new ceiling fan in her bedroom to a wall switch. She mixed up the hot and neutral wires, causing the electrical current to flow backwards through the switch. This led to overheating that melted the insulation and started a fire in the walls that destroyed half her home.

• Bill's 1920s house had ancient, brittle wiring that he wanted to upgrade. When stripping insulation from old wires, he damaged the copper and accidentally touched exposed live wires in the basement. The resulting shock injured him severely enough that he needed to be hospitalized.

These examples underscore why rewiring should be left to trained electricians. Lives, property, and finances can be radically impacted by electrical project gone wrong. The risks simply aren't worth it.

Benefits of Hiring a Licensed Electrician

Given the complexity and risks of rewiring done incorrectly, the advantages of hiring a professional electrician are:

• Training - Electricians undergo years of schooling and apprenticing to gain expertise in electrical systems. They understand the nuances that amateurs miss.

• Safety - Electricians have working knowledge of safety procedures like lockout/tagout, voltage testing, and use of PPE to prevent electrical hazards.

• Code expertise - Electricians stay up to date on the NEC so they install components correctly to meet inspection. DIYers often miss code details.

• Permit handling - Electricians know the permit process in your area and handle it as part of the job, ensuring compliance.

• Insurance coverage - Professional electrical work typically comes with liability insurance and bonding that covers damages.

• Warranties - Most electricians warranty their work in case any problems arise down the road.

• Cost effectiveness - Although hiring an electrician costs more upfront, it prevents expensive disasters down the road that DIY mistakes can lead to.

Questions to Ask Prospective Electricians Before Hiring

When hiring an electrician for your rewiring project, ask these questions upfront:

• Are you licensed in my state/city? Can I see your license?
• Do you carry general liability insurance and bonding?
• How extensive is your electrical training and experience? An apprenticeship?
• Will you handle obtaining the necessary permits?
• What specific safety procedures do you follow when working?
• What warranty do you provide on your work?
• Can you provide references from recent jobs similar to mine?
• Do you give free quotes? Can you give me a quote for my project?

Bottom Line: Rewiring Your Home is Best Left to Experts

When weighing the risks and benefits, rewiring your entire home without professional help often ends badly. While the cost can be hard to stomach, hiring a licensed electrician who can handle your rewire safely, legally, and per code requirements is well worth the investment. Unless you have extensive electrical training, this is one project that is too dangerous to DIY. Protect your home, finances, safety, and peace of mind by letting a qualified electrician handle a full rewiring job.