How to Rewire Your Home Without an Electrician and Never Get Shocked

Introduction

Rewiring a home can seem like a daunting task, but with the right preparation and safety measures, even an amateur can rewire their house safely. In this comprehensive guide, I will walk through all the steps needed to fully rewire a home without professional help.

Reasons to Rewire Your Home

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

• Upgrade to a higher amperage - If your home still has 60 amp service, rewiring can allow you to upgrade to 100, 150 or 200 amps to meet modern electrical demands. This may be needed to support more high wattage appliances or electronic devices.

• Replace old and outdated wiring - If your home is over 50 years old, the insulation on wiring starts to break down and can cause safety hazards. Rewiring ensures all of your home's electric is up to modern code.

• Add more circuits - Additional circuits help reduce overloading as more electronics and devices are plugged in over time. Rewiring allows you to add circuits for extra capacity.

• Grounding issues - Sometimes in older homes the wiring is not properly grounded, which can lead to shocks. Rewiring gives you a chance to completely re-ground the electrical system.

Dangers of Home Electrical Work

Before deciding to take on a rewiring project yourself, it's crucial that you understand the dangers involved:

• Electrocution - Coming into direct contact with live wires can result in deadly shocks. Turning off the main breaker switch does not always deactivate all electric in the house.

• Fire - Faulty wiring is one of the main causes of residential fires. Improper wire connection and overloaded circuits can overheat and ignite fires.

• Injury - Beyond electrocution, wiring issues can cause electrical burns, falls from ladders, and eye injuries from debris. Proper safety gear is a must.

• Damaging your home - Mistakes in the rewiring process, such as cutting through walls carelessly or leaving wires exposed, can cause severe damage to your home requiring expensive repairs.

Working with Local Permitting Office

Before you get started on a rewiring project, it is essential to check in with your local permitting office. There you can:

• Obtain all required permits and have inspections done before, during, and after the rewiring process.

• Confirm exactly what codes need to be followed in your area. The National Electric Code serves as the basis, but local jurisdictions can have additions.

• See if a homeowner is even allowed to perform a full electrical rewiring without a licensed electrician. Some areas prohibit anything beyond small jobs like adding an outlet.

• Determine if any parts of the rewiring require using a licensed electrician. For example, some areas may require a licensed electrician handle connecting the new electrical panel.

Following all permitting rules prevents issues when it comes time to sell the home.

Buying the Right Materials

Once you are clear on the permits, you can start sourcing the right materials for the rewiring project:

• Wire - For 15 and 20 amp circuits, use 14/2 cable with ground. For 30 amp circuits, use 10/2 cable. Use only copper wiring and select wire gauge rated for the electric load.

• Circuit breaker panel - A new 200 amp panel may be needed if upgrading amperage coming into the home. Make sure it has enough slots for all planned circuits.

• Breakers - Match circuit breaker amperage to wire being used (15 amp breaker on 14 gauge wire). Have GFCI and AFCI breakers on all required circuits.

• Junction boxes - Buy enough electrical boxes to house all planned switches, receptacles, and wire junctions.

• Conduit - Use metal conduit and elbows if you plan to run any exposed wiring. Electrical metallic tubing (EMT) is a good option.

• Receptacles and switches - Purchase high-quality commercial or specification grade. Buy matching colors to your current hardware.

Safety Gear Needed

Safety should be your top concern on a rewiring project. Always wear the following gear when working on wiring:

• Thick rubber insulating gloves rated for the voltage you are working on. They should be periodically tested.

• Electrical hazard safety boots insulate you from accidental contact with live wires.

• Safety goggles protect your eyes from debris while cutting conduit or drilling.

• Dust mask prevents inhaling insulation particles or other contaminants within walls.

• A non-contact voltage tester lets you safely detect live wires before you touch them.

• Lockout/tagout kit used to properly lock down and label circuit breakers while working.

Step-by-Step Process to Rewire a Home

With proper materials, safety gear, and permits in place, you can now start the step-by-step process of rewiring:

1. Turn Off Power and Install New Panel

The first step is to turn off power at the main breaker and install a new upgraded electrical panel if needed, and remove all old breakers. Hire an electrician if your local code requires a licensed electrician to do this.

2. Remove Old Wiring

Now you can start detaching all the old wiring from outlets, switches and light fixtures in the house. As you remove wires, carefully label each one indicating where it is coming from and going to. This will help during reinstallation. Coil up the old wires and leave accessible in case you need to reference them later.

3. Run New Wires

Start routing the new wires through walls and ceilings between the electrical panel and all planned outlet, switch and junction box locations. Follow local building codes on correct wire gauge for each circuit and any distance limitations. Use conduit where wiring will be exposed.

4. Install the Components

With the wires run, you can start installing all the outlets, switches, junction boxes, lighting fixtures and their accompanying wires. Make tight and secure connections. Extend wires 6 inches past outlets and switches into boxes.

5. Connect the Panel

The final stage is connecting all the new wiring to the appropriate circuit breaker in the new electrical panel you installed. Follow diagrams so each wire goes to the correct breaker.

6. Close Up and Turn Power On

As a final step double check your work, then close up all the walls. Have initial inspection done by the permitting office, then turn the main power back on and do functionality tests of all lighting/outlets.

Tips for Staying Safe from Shock

Here are key tips to follow during the rewiring process to ensure you never get shocked while the walls are open and wires exposed:

• Keep wires capped off whenever they are not actively being worked on. Use wire nuts to secure the ends.

• Tape up exposed wire with electrical tape for added protection. This provides an extra insulating layer.

• Only work on one circuit at a time to avoid crossing wires of active circuits.

• Whenever possible, fully disconnect a circuit at the breaker when working on it.

• Take frequent voltage readings with a non-contact tester when wires are exposed.

• Keep your body insulated from contact with any surfaces wires are running across by wearing thick rubber gloves and shoes.

• Triple check that all circuits are off before touching any wires. Assume wires are live until tested.

• Make liberal use of electrical tape and conduit to avoid exposed hot wires when the work is not actively in progress.

When to Call In an Electrician

While a homeowner can perform their own full rewire, it is smart to call in a licensed electrician for certain hazardous tasks:

• Connecting the new panel to the main house electrical wires.

• Running wire to new circuits which are far from the panel.

• Handling aluminum wiring. Aluminum presents extra hazards.

• Technically advanced tasks like installing a new ground wire to water pipes.

• Dealing with older knob and tube wiring which presents fire risk if reused.

Paying an electrician for a few tricky parts you are unsure of is worth avoiding potential disasters.

Conclusion

Rewiring your home is a project any competent DIYer can take on provided they take the proper safety steps. Be sure to get all needed permits, use commercial grade materials, wear protective gear, and focus your efforts only on the circuits you understand. While a slow process, you can save substantially on electrician labor costs and end up with a super safe, modern electrical system.