How to Rewire Your Home Without an Electrician: An Easy DIY Guide

Introduction

Rewiring a home can seem like a daunting task, but with the right preparation and safety precautions, it's entirely possible for a homeowner to rewire their house themselves without hiring an electrician. As someone who has successfully rewired my home, I've put together this comprehensive DIY guide to walk you through the process step-by-step.

Reasons to Rewire Your Home

There are several good reasons you may want to rewire your house:

Upgrading the Electrical System

• If your home still has knob and tube wiring, it's important to upgrade for safety. This old wiring is outdated and prone to overheating and sparking.

• You may want to upgrade from fuse boxes to circuit breakers for modern electrical capacity.

• Rewiring lets you install grounded outlets for protection from shocks.

Expanding Circuits

• Adding lighting fixtures, outlets, or high-power devices may overload existing circuits.

• Rewiring lets you run new dedicated circuits for large appliances like air conditioners, kitchen appliances, etc.

Improving Safety

• Faulty or damaged wiring poses a serious fire and shock hazard. Replacing old wiring prevents electrical fires.

• Properly grounded wiring and circuits prevent dangerous electrical situations.

Preparing to Rewire Your Home

Rewiring your home is not something to take lightly. Proper planning, safety precautions, and preparation are crucial for a successful rewiring project. Here are some key steps to take before getting started:

Research and Education

• Read DIY rewiring guides to understand the overall process and best practices. I read several books and online resources before starting.

• Learn about proper wiring methods, electrical codes, and safety procedures. Know how to properly size wires, install boxes, make connections, and ground wires.

• Watch YouTube tutorials on home rewiring to see the steps in action.

Creating a Wiring Plan

• Map out a wiring diagram marking all circuits, fuse/breaker box location, and devices.

• Plan which sections you'll rewire first and stage the project room by room.

• Note needs for new lighting fixtures, outlets, appliance circuits, etc. in your plan.

Assembly Tools and Materials

• Obtain all necessary electrical tools - wire stripper, cable cutter, volt tester, safety gloves and glasses, etc.

• Purchase sufficient amounts of NM electrical wire in 12 or 14 gauge for 15-20 amp branch circuits.

• Have on hand electrical boxes, receptacles, switches, and other parts required.

• Consider renting or buying a wire fishing system for pulling wires between walls.

Safety Gear

• Wear electrical safety gloves and safety glasses when working with wiring.

• Use a non-contact voltage tester to check wires before touching.

• Consider wearing an electrician's glove with leather protector on one hand for pulling wires.

• Keep a fire extinguisher on hand in case of electrical sparks and emergencies.

Turning Off Power

• Go to the main fuse/breaker panel and switch the main breaker to OFF.

• Then switch all individual breakers to OFF.

• Verify power is off using a non-contact voltage tester.

• Pull all individual circuit fuses.

Rewiring Your Home Room by Room

With proper planning and safety preparations completed, you're ready to start rewiring room by room. Here are the key steps involved:

Rewiring the Kitchen

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The kitchen often contains multiple circuits for lighting, outlets, and appliances which need rewiring.

Planning Circuits

• Plan separate 20 amp circuits for refrigerator, electric stove, microwave, dishwasher, garbage disposal, and countertop outlets.

• Allow multiple 15 amp circuits for lighting fixtures and remaining outlets.

Removing Old Wires

• With power OFF, remove cover plates, outlet/switch faceplates, and fixture covers.

• Take out existing wires from boxes and fixtures - this is where a wire fishing system helps greatly.

Installing New Wires

• Run NM-B wiring through walls and ceilings to boxes and fixtures. Use wire staples to secure.

• Make sure to size wires properly - use 12 gauge for 20 amp circuits and 14 gauge for 15 amp circuits.

• Connect wires securely using wire nuts.

Installing New Boxes and Fixtures

• Mount new electrical boxes for outlets, switches, and fixtures.

• Install new grounded receptacles and light fixtures.

• Use ground wires and connect properly.

Rewiring the Bathroom

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Bathrooms require GFCI outlets and waterproof boxes/fixtures:

Install GFCI Outlets

• Replace normal outlets with GFCI outlets for protection from shocks.

• Wire the load terminals on each GFCI outlet to protect downstream outlets.

Use Waterproof Boxes

• Use plastic weatherproof boxes for outlets near water sources.

• Install fixtures using wet location covers if needed.

Rewiring the Bedrooms

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Bedrooms usually only require standard 15 amp lighting and outlet circuits:

Run 15 Amp Circuits

• Run 14/2 NM-B wires from the panel to room outlets and fixtures.

• Use separate circuits for outlets versus lights.

Include AFCI Protection

• Use AFCI breakers or outlets to protect bedroom circuits from arcs/sparks.

Install Bedside Outlets

• Make sure bedside lamps and phone chargers are within reach using outlets on both sides of the bed.

• Consider installing tamper-resistant outlets if you have kids.

Final Touches for Completing the Rewiring Project

You're almost done! Here are the final steps to button up the rewiring job:

Connect Circuits at the Panel

• Run wire from each new circuit to the main panel and connect to the correct new breaker.

• Keep all wires neatly organized and labeled at the panel.

Insulate and Seal Boxes

• Properly insulate wires inside boxes and seal openings with firestop putty.

Reinstall Fixtures/Covers

• Put light fixtures, outlet/switch covers, and faceplates back on.

• Test each circuit thoroughly by turning power back on.

Safety Checklist

• Verify proper grounding using a receptacle tester.

• Check for loose connections that may spark.

• Confirm no wires are overloaded beyond rated capacity.

• Make sure all junction boxes are easily accessible.

And that covers the full process for how to rewire your home room-by-room! While it's a major DIY project, you can definitely rewire a house without an electrician if you take proper safety precautions. Just be sure to research local electrical codes and get all necessary permits. With some perseverance and care, you can upgrade your electrical system and gain peace of mind knowing your home's wiring is safer and up to modern standards.