Introduction
Rewiring your entire house may seem like a daunting task, but with some preparation and a solid plan, it's totally doable for a motivated DIYer like me to tackle in a single weekend. In this comprehensive guide, I'll walk you step-by-step through everything you need to know to rewire your entire house safely and efficiently in just two days.
Not only will learning how to rewire my house save me thousands compared to hiring an electrician, but it will also give me the satisfaction of having done the job myself. I've gathered all the necessary supplies, watched tutorials, and feel ready to take this project on. Here is my plan for how I will rewire my entire house in just one weekend and save a bundle doing it myself.
Safety First
Before I start any electrical work, safety is paramount. Playing with electrical wiring can be extremely dangerous if proper precautions aren't taken. Here are some important safety tips I'll be following:
- Turn off power at the main breaker panel - This ensures all wiring in the house is dead and safe to handle. I'll double check with a voltmeter.
- Use personal protective equipment - This includes safety goggles, electrical gloves, long sleeves/pants. I don't want any shock hazards.
- Work with a partner - Having someone who can call for help or assist will make things safer. I've enlisted my brother to help with my rewiring project.
- Label all wires - I'll use masking tape to label each wire I disconnect so I can keep track of what goes where.
Following these simple safety tips will help ensure my DIY rewiring project goes smoothly and safely. Now let's get to the project overview!
Project Overview
Here is an overview of the main steps I'll need to take to rewire my entire house in one weekend:
Day 1
- Turn off main power and disconnect all wires from breaker panel
- Remove all outlets, switches and light fixtures
- Run new wires from breaker panel to each room
- Install new outlets and switches and rewire lights
Day 2
- Connect all new wires to circuit breakers
- Ensure neutral and ground wires properly connected
- Label all breakers and test circuits for functionality
- Install wall plates, covers and fixtures
- Restore power and test all lighting/outlets
It's an ambitious schedule, but with hard work and focus I know I can rewire my whole house in two days. Having the right materials will also be key.
Gathering the Right Supplies
To complete my whole house rewiring project, I'll need to stock up on some essential supplies:
- Electrical wire - I'll need 500-1000 ft of 12/2 and 14/2 NM electrical wire with ground. This will be run to all new outlets and switches.
- Breakers - I'll need 10-20 new 15/20 amp breakers to connect the new wire runs to.
- Wall plates - New decorative wall plates for all outlets/switches.
- Wire stripper - To strip sheathing from wires for connections.
- Voltage tester - For safely checking if wires are live.
- Junction boxes - For connecting wires within walls.
- Wire nuts - For securing wire connections.
- Cable staples - To attach wire to studs/joists when running it.
Having all of these supplies on hand will really speed up the rewiring process and help me stay on schedule. I've also cleared my whole weekend so I can focus 100% on this project.
Step-by-Step Rewiring Process
Now that I've covered the basics, here is the step-by-step process I'll follow to rewire my entire house in just one weekend:
Day 1
The first day is all about demo and running the new wires.
Turn Off Power and Remove Old Wires
- I'll start by shutting off power at the main breaker panel.
- Next I'll remove all the wire connections and label each one.
- Once all wiring is disconnected, I'll start removing outlets, switches and fixtures.
- For each one, I'll note which wires connect to it for easy reassembly.
Run New Wires
- Now the fun part begins - running all new wire through the house.
- I'll start by drilling holes through joists/studs to route wire between rooms.
- Using cable staples, I'll secure the new NM electrical wire and run it to each outlet and switch.
- For the lights, I'll fish wire through ceilings and walls to each fixture.
- I plan to run ~800 ft of 12/2 wire and ~300 ft of 14/2 wire which should cover all the circuits.
Install New Outlets, Switches and Lights
- With the new wires run, I can start mounting the electrical boxes and outlets/switches.
- I'll connect the new wires to each outlet/switch using pigtails.
- For the lights, I'll connect the wire to the fixture and ensure good connections.
- After mounting all boxes and fixtures, I'll call it a day.
My goal is to get at least 50% of the rewiring completed on day 1. This will leave me nicely setup for the finish work on day 2.
Day 2
On day 2, I'll focus on connecting everything to the panel and testing all the new circuits.
Connect Wires to Breakers
- With all the new wires run, I can start connecting them to the appropriate circuit breakers in the panel.
- I'll ensure the neutral and ground wires are properly bonded.
- Using my photos, I'll match the wires back to their original breakers to balance loads.
Label and Test Circuits
- With everything connected, I'll label each new breaker clearly.
- Before turning the main power back on, I'll do a full circuit check to ensure all wire connections are secure.
- Once I verify everything is ready, I'll restore power and methodically test each outlet, switch and light.
- I'll check for proper functionality and use my voltmeter to check for issues.
Install Plates and Covers
- For the finishing touch, I'll install new wall plates on each outlet and switch.
- I'll also put any removed light fixtures and covers back in place.
- Finally, I'll securely close up the electrical panel.
Once all these final steps are complete, I can sit back and relax knowing I successfully rewired my entire house in one weekend!
Final Thoughts
Although it will be a ton of work, I'm excited to take on this rewiring project. By following the steps outlined above and taking all necessary safety precautions, I'm confident I can complete it in two days.
Rewiring my entire house myself will give me an invaluable learning experience while saving thousands over hiring an electrician. This will be one of my most ambitious DIY projects yet, but one that I know will be extremely satisfying once completed. I can't wait to have brand new electrical wiring that will serve my home for decades to come!