How to Rewire Your Entire House in Just One Weekend

Rewiring an entire house is a big project, but with some planning and hard work, it's possible to complete in a weekend. Here's how I was able to rewire my whole house in just two days:

Safety First

• Turn off the main circuit breaker before starting any electrical work. This ensures you don't get shocked while handling wires.
• Wear insulated gloves and eye protection when working with electrical wires. Safety should always be the priority.
• Only work on one circuit at a time to avoid accidental shocks. Turn off individual breakers as needed.
• Use a voltage tester to double check wires are not live before touching them. Better safe than sorry!

Gather the Right Supplies

• Electrical wire - Estimate how much new wire you'll need and buy 10-20% extra just in case. I used 12/2 NM-B wire for most branch circuits.
• Wire nuts - You'll need lots of these to join copper wires together. Get a variety pack with different sizes.
• Conduit and fittings - To protect wire running through studs and joists. 1/2" EMT conduit works for most home wiring.
• Breakers - Match the amperage and number of poles on your existing breakers.
• Wire strippers, cutters, staple gun, hammer - Other essential tools for the job.

Rewire One Room at a Time

• Start by selecting one room, like the kitchen or a bathroom. Rewiring is much less daunting when taken one room at a time.
• Turn off the breaker supplying power to that room before getting started.
• Remove existing outlet and switch cover plates in that room. Take out the old wires from the boxes but leave switches/outlets in place for now.
• Starting at the outlet farthest from the breaker panel, run new wire through studs back to the panel, stapling it in place as you go.
• At the panel, connect the new circuit wire to an appropriate breaker.
• Return to the room and start replacing switches and outlets with the new wire. Join to existing wires with wire nuts.
• Replace covers when done and turn the breaker back on to test. Fix any issues before moving on.
• Repeat the same process for the other rooms until the whole house is rewired!

Handy Tips for Rewiring Success

• Label all wires with tape so you know what they connect to. This avoids confusion later.
• Only connect wires when the circuit is off - working on live wires is extremely dangerous.
• Run 2-3 circuits per room so you don't overload any one circuit.
• Use AFCI breakers for bedroom circuits for added fire protection.
• Consult an electrician if dealing with aluminum wiring. This requires special handling.
• Inspect the electrical panel for any issues while you have it open, like corrosion or loose wires.

Final Testing and Inspection

Once all rooms are rewired, do a final check:
- Verify all outlets are wired correctly by plugging in a lamp and testing switches.
- Check for loose wire connections by gently tugging on them. They should be secure.
- Turn on all circuits and test GFCI outlets as well using a outlet tester.
- Replace all switch and outlet covers.
- Turn main breaker back on and plug in appliances to verify proper operation.

Finally, consider having the completed work inspected by the local building department for added safety and peace of mind.

With good preparation and diligence, rewiring a house in a weekend is an ambitious but achievable goal. Just be sure to work safely! Let me know if you have any other questions.