How to Rewire Your Home Without an Electrician

Introduction

Rewiring a home can be a daunting task, but with proper planning and preparation, it is possible for a dedicated DIYer to rewire their home without hiring a professional electrician. As the homeowner, you know your house better than anyone else. By equipping yourself with the right knowledge and tools, you can save thousands of dollars in electrician fees and gain the satisfaction of completing a major home improvement project yourself.

In this comprehensive guide, I will walk you through everything you need to know to safely and successfully rewire your home as an amateur electrician. I'll cover critical topics like:

• Deciding which rooms need rewiring and why
• Obtaining the necessary permits and materials
• Safely shutting off power and removing old wiring
• Installing new electrical boxes, circuits, and fixtures
• Passing final inspections and restoring power

Let's dive in!

Deciding Which Rooms Need Rewiring

The first step is deciding which rooms or areas of your home would benefit from rewiring. There are several common reasons you may need or want to rewire:

Upgrading Outdated Wiring

• Homes older than 1960 likely contain outdated 60 amp electrical panels and 2-wire systems without grounding. Rewiring allows you to upgrade to modern 100+ amp panels and 3-wire grounded circuits for added capacity and safety. This prevents tripped breakers and allows running multiple high-wattage appliances.

Expanding Circuits

• Many older homes have an insufficient number of circuits to power all our modern devices and appliances. Rewiring allows expanding the number of circuits in each room.

Improving Safety

• Old wiring is a fire and shock hazard due to deterioration and lack of grounding. Replacing helps prevent electrical fires and injuries.

Accommodating Additions and Renovations

• When finishing a basement or adding an addition, the existing wiring may not provide enough power. Rewiring these renovated areas provides adequate electricity.

I recommend rewiring any room with very old wiring, too few outlets, frequently tripped breakers, or that needs renovation. Prioritize safety hazards first.

Obtaining Permits and Materials

Before getting started, there are two key steps:

Acquiring Permits

• Most municipalities require permits for rewiring projects to ensure compliance with building codes. Requirements vary by location, but often include:
• Filling out electrical permit application
• Providing rewiring plan with circuits
• Paying permit fee
• Scheduling inspections

Purchasing Materials and Tools

You will need:

• Electrical wire - appropriate gauge (12 or 14 AWG) and amount for number of new circuits
• Breakers - GFCI and AFCI breakers provide critical modern protections
• Junction boxes and receptacles - match electrical load and aesthetic
• Basic electrical tools like strippers, cutters, voltmeter
• Ladders and work lights
• Personal protective equipment like glasses and gloves

Buy quality materials from electrical supply stores. I provide specific product recommendations later.

Safely Shutting Off Power

Before removing any wiring, the power must be completely shut off at the main breaker.

To ensure your safety:

• Turn off all breakers and unplug appliances
• Test outlets with a voltmeter to confirm power is off
• Leave breaker off with a warning sign so it is not turned on accidentally
• Work with a partner who can monitor the breaker if needed

Follow these precautions and you can work safely on wiring without power.

Removing Old Wiring

With the power off, you can start removing old wiring.

Steps for removal:

• Carefully remove cover plates, receptacles, switches, and fixtures
• Cut wires coming into electrical boxes, leaving 6-8 inches attached
• Detach wires from receptacles and switches
• Use needle nose pliers to loosen old staples or screws holding wires
• Carefully pull wires out of boxes and conduit/raceways
• Coil wires neatly, label, and store for reuse or recycling

Take pictures of wiring connections before disconnecting for reference later. Remove insulation carefully avoiding dust.

Installing New Electrical Boxes

With old wiring cleared out, you can map out and install new receptacle, switch, and junction boxes.

Tips for boxing:

• Use included box diagrams to map ideal box locations in each room
• Install receptacle boxes at 18-24 inches above floor
• Install switch boxes at standard 48 inch height
• Ensure all boxes are securely mounted and plumb with wall studs
• Connect multiple boxes using conduit or flexible metal raceway

Follow code for required number of receptacles. Run boxes for new lighting fixtures and appliances as needed.

Running and Securing New Wires

Once boxes are in place, you can run fresh wiring:

• Select proper wire gauge for expected electrical load
• Run individual neutral and ground for each circuit
• Use color coding consistently (black hot, white neutral, green ground)
• Install GFCI first on each branch for protection downstream
• Staple cable neatly every 2-4 feet following code
• Ensure wires are not pinched or pierced by studs/framing
• Leave 6-8 inches of slack wire in each box for connections

Take care not to overload circuits. Don't run wire live until installation is complete.

Connecting Switches, Receptacles and Fixtures

With the wires run to each box, now make all the connections:

• Strip sheathing and trim conductors to proper lengths
• Secure wires tightly with screw terminals or push-in ports
• Connect ground first, then neutral, then hot
• Use pigtails to connect multiple wires
• Wrap connections with electrical tape for insulation

Follow diagrams to wire lights and fans correctly. Test fittings with a voltmeter before mounting.

Passing Final Inspections

Before turning power back on, request final inspections:

• Call municipal building department to schedule rough-in and final inspections
• Inspector will check wiring and connections to ensure compliance
• Make any corrections noted before proceeding
• Install cover plates, receptacles, switches, and fixtures after passing
• Have inspector return to green light turning power back on

Passing these inspections ensures your new wiring meets all electrical codes.

Restoring Power and Testing

The final steps are:

• Turn main breaker back on - should hear a satisfying click
• Confirm outlets/lights have power using voltmeter
• Press test buttons on GFCIs to ensure proper function
• Turn on lights and appliances to verify proper operation
• Make note of any issues to fine tune

Congratulations - with power restored you can enjoy your rewired home!

Tips and Considerations

Here are some additional tips and important considerations for your project:

• Rewiring is labor intensive - expect it to take 2-3 weeks
• Work safely and deliberately to avoid costly mistakes
• Label everything clearly for an organized project
• Consider upgrading electrical panel, receptacles, and switches for maximum improvement
• Seek help for complex wiring like 3-way switch circuits
• Research permit requirements and current electrical code in your area

While rewiring your home is very involved, the electrical and cost savings are immense. With meticulous planning and adherence to safety procedures, you can take on this project DIY. Just be sure to call in an electrician if anything seems unsafe or beyond your skill level.

You now have a detailed overview of everything involved in rewiring your home without an electrician. Let me know if you have any other questions! I'm happy to provide more specifics on recommended materials and walk through diagrams to support your project. With some determination, you'll gain essential electrical knowledge and save big bucks.