How to Rewire Your Home Without An Electrician

Introduction

Rewiring a home can seem like a daunting task, but with proper planning and precautions, it is possible for a homeowner to rewire their house without hiring an electrician. There are significant cost savings to be had by doing it yourself, but safety should always be the number one priority. In this guide, I will walk through the complete process of rewiring a home, from acquiring the necessary permits, to selecting the right wire and outlets, to step-by-step installation instructions. With adequate research and preparation, you can safely rewire your home and avoid the high costs of hiring an electrician.

Reasons to Rewire Your Home

Here are some of the top reasons you may want to rewire your house:

• Upgrading to a larger electrical service - If your home's electrical demands have increased, you may need to upgrade to a 200 amp or 400 amp service. Rewiring gives you the opportunity to increase the capacity.

• Faulty or outdated wiring - Older homes can have unsafe aluminum wiring or knob and tube wiring that needs replacement. Rewiring allows you to upgrade to modern and safer wiring.

• Remodeling projects - Any significant remodel of the kitchen, bathrooms or additions to the home will require rewiring. Running new circuits allows you to meet the electrical needs of remodels.

• Installing new devices and fixtures - If you want to add a hot tub, EV charger, workshop tools or modern lighting, rewiring makes it easy to install new circuits for these items.

• Safety and fire prevention - Outdated wiring is a major fire hazard. Rewiring lets you use modern wires that meet current building codes and dramatically improve electrical safety.

Prepare for the Project

Before you get started on a rewiring project, there are a few important steps to take:

Get Necessary Permits

Most areas require you obtain a permit before starting electrical work. Contact your local building department to inquire about permit requirements and inspections. Failing to get permits can risk fines, insurance problems and issues when selling the home.

Create a Wiring Plan

Map out a wiring plan including:

• Which circuits you want
• The wire gauge needed for each circuit
• Where outlets, switches and lighting should go

Reference the National Electrical Code for required outlet spacing, circuit capacities and more.

Purchase Supplies and Tools

At a minimum you'll need:

• Wire - Use copper wiring meeting current code requirements. Have a variety of gauges for different circuit needs.
• Breakers - Match your panel. 15 or 20 amp standard breakers are common.
• Junction boxes - For splicing wires together.
• Outlets and switches - Buy decora style. Include GFCI outlets for bathrooms, exterior, etc.
• Conduit - As required by code. EMT metal conduit is common.
• Wire strippers - A variety will help with different gauge wires.
• Voltage tester - To safely check wires are de-energized.
• Drill/bits - For new electrical boxes.
• Fish tape - For running wires through walls.

Having all materials and tools ahead of time will make the job smoother.

Shut Off Power and Remove Old Wiring

Safety first! Turn off power at the main breaker panel before doing any work. Verify it is off with a voltage tester. Then, you can start removing old wires.

Steps for Removal:

• Remove outlets/switches and disconnect wires.
• Junction boxes can stay if in good shape. Disconnect old wires from them.
• For runs of cable through walls, cut the cable in the boxes, leaving as much length as possible at both ends.
• Pull the old wires out completely whenever possible as new wiring is installed.
• Remove any abandoned wires that will not be reused. Title as much as possible to the new wiring.
• Ensure wires are released from any electrical staples in the walls/joists so they pull out freely.

Taking it slow and methodical during removal allows you to inspect everything as you go.

Install New Wires

Now the fun part begins - running the new wires! Here are the steps:

Plan Your Circuit Runs

• Lay out how each circuit will run from the panel to outlets/fixtures based on your wiring plan.
• Minimize length and avoid too many sharp corners.
• Plan key junction points if splicing wires to continue the run.

Select Appropriate Wire Size

Refer to the amp rating and your wire run distance to determine the right gauge. Some common sizes:

• 15 amp circuit: 14 gauge wire
• 20 amp circuit: 12 gauge wire
• 30 amp circuit: 10 gauge wire

Run Cables Through Walls

• Cut small holes through drywall/plaster at strategic locations to route wires between boxes.
• Drill openings in joists and studs the wire will pass through.
• Use fish tape to pull cables through walls. Have a helper feed wire as you pull.
• Staple the wire to studs/joists per code requirements to provide support.

Take it slow and be patient during this step.

Connect Wires at Boxes

• Identify hot/live, neutral and ground wires correctly.
• Strip insulation properly based on gauge.
• Use wire nuts to join wires of the same gauge.
• Install grounds and get them connected to boxes/fixtures.
• Neatly fold and tuck connected wires into boxes.

Follow basic electrical safety at all times.

Install Outlets, Switches and Fixtures

You're on the home stretch now! Here's how to complete the job:

• Mount new electrical boxes if needed. Ensure they are flush and properly supported.
• Start installing switches and outlets. Get cover plates on.
• If installing light fixtures, connect the fixture wires to the cables coming from the switch.
• For unswitched fixtures, attach wires directly to the power cables.
• Install items like EV chargers, subpanels, etc per manufacturer instructions.
• Attach cover plates once all connections are made.

Double check connections are tight and secure.

Inspect, Test and Finish Up

You've made it to the most important part - verifying safety:

• Call for inspection. Do not power things on until the inspector has approved your work.
• They will check for proper installation techniques, sufficient junction boxes, wire stapling, and more.
• Once approved, carefully turn the main breaker back on. Then test outlets and fixtures in each room.
• Fix any loose connections or troubleshoot issues.
• Install covers on junction boxes and patch drywall at wire holes.
• Clean up thoroughly - remove all old wires, bundles of clippings, trash, and tools.
• Celebrate completing a major DIY project! You just saved yourself thousands of dollars and improved your home at the same time.

Rewiring a house yourself is a big endeavor, but extremely rewarding. By taking proper safety precautions and doing thorough research, homeowners can take on this project and get professional-looking results. The improvement to your home's electrical system will make the hard work worth it.