How to Rewire Your Home Without an Electrician and Not Die

Rewiring a home can seem like a daunting task, but with proper planning and safety precautions, it is possible for a homeowner to rewire their house without hiring an electrician. As someone who has successfully rewired my home without electrocuting myself or burning down the house, I want to share my experience and advice to help you do the same.

Understanding Electrical Basics Before Rewiring

Before tackling a rewiring project, it's important to understand some electrical basics so you can work safely. Here are some key things I learned:

Electricity and Circuit Breakers

• Electricity flows in loops called circuits. Overloading a circuit can cause a breaker to trip or a fire if a breaker fails.
• Most homes have 120-volt circuits powered by a 240-volt electrical service panel. Higher volts = more dangerous shock risk.
• Each circuit breaker controls a specific circuit in the home. Always turn off power at the breaker before working on a circuit.

Current, Amps, and Wire Gauge

• Current is the flow of electricity measured in amps. More amps = more dangerous shock risk.
• The amp rating on a circuit breaker matches the capacity of the wiring for that circuit. Never increase breaker amps without replacing wires.
• Wire gauge refers to the thickness of wires. Thicker wires can safely handle more amps. Follow code for minimum wire gauge when rewiring.

Grounding and GFCIs

• Proper grounding prevents shocks and allows breakers to trip if a short occurs. Always ensure grounding is correct.
• GFCIs (ground fault circuit interrupters) shut off power quickly if electricity leaks through damaged insulation. Use GFCIs to prevent shocks in wet areas.

Gathering the Right Rewiring Supplies

Before I started rewiring, I made sure I had all the necessary supplies. Having the right tools and materials on hand made the project go much more smoothly. Here are the key supplies I recommend having:

• Electrical tape - For taping wire connections
• Wire strippers - For stripping insulation off wires
• Voltage tester - For safely checking if wires are live
• Clamp meter - For measuring current flow in circuits
• Headlamp or flashlight - For illuminating work areas
• Junction boxes - For housing wire connections
• Conduit - For protecting wires inside walls
• Breakers - For replacing old breakers in the service panel
• Electrical wire - For running new circuits. Get the correct wire gauge for each circuit's amperage.
• Wallfish - For pulling wires through walls
• Cable staples - For securing wires against studs
• Wire nuts - For connecting wires together

Having all of these supplies ready ensured that I didn't get stuck without something I needed during the rewiring process.

Creating a Rewiring Plan

Before starting any rewiring, it's crucial to have a detailed plan in place. I made a home electrical plan that included:

• Accurately measured floor plan showing all outlet and fixture locations
• Circuit mapping indicating which outlets/fixtures are on which breakers
• Plan for any new circuits I wanted to add
• Plan for conduit runs inside walls and ceilings
• List of all required materials and supplies

Taking time to make a thorough plan allowed the rewiring itself to go much more efficiently. I could follow my plan step-by-step instead of just winging it.

Shutting Off Power and Removing Old Wiring

Once I had my rewiring plan ready, I was ready to get started. The first steps were:

1. Shut off all power at the main breaker. I also turned off individual breakers and unplugged appliances just to be safe. You can never be too cautious when electricity is involved.

2. I used a voltage tester to double check there was no live power anywhere before touching any wires. Better safe than fried!

3. Next I removed all the old electrical fixtures - outlets, switches, light fixtures.

4. I was then ready to take out the old wires. I unwired them from the breakers and pulled them out of the walls. Tugging on the wires helped dislodge the old staples.

These initial steps created a blank slate for the new wiring. But first, an extremely important safety step:

Calling the Electrical Inspector

Before going any further, I set up an inspection with my local building department. I informed them I was rewiring my home as a DIY project.

Having the electrical inspector review my plans and issue a permit ensured:

• My rewiring plans aligned with the National Electrical Code
• The rewiring would meet minimum safety standards
• The work could be inspected for final approval once complete

Doing this before starting saved me from potential headaches down the road. I highly recommend contacting your local building department and getting a permit before a major rewiring project.

Running New Wires and Circuits

With my plans approved, I proceeded to run all the new wires.

Wiring Best Practices

• I color coded wires consistently to keep things straight. For example, always using white for neutrals and black for hot wires.
• I made sure to size the wire gauge appropriately for the amperage on each circuit.
• I used conduit to protect wires running through ceilings and walls. Conduit also lets you easily pull new wires later if needed.
• I stapled wires every 18 inches and anchored them properly so they won't sag or get damaged.
• I used junction boxes to house wires nut connections and provide good access if maintenance is needed down the road.

Adding New Circuits

In addition to replacing the old wiring, I took the opportunity to add some new circuits:

• I added a dedicated circuit just for the kitchen countertop outlets. This prevents tripping breakers when using multiple appliances.
• I added a new 240-volt circuit for the garage to support larger power tools.
• I added outdoor outlet circuits on front and back porches to make landscape lighting and holiday decor easier.

Adding these new circuits took a bit more work upfront, but makes the house much better wired for my needs.

Installing New Outlets, Switches and Fixtures

Once all the wires were run, it was time to install the fun stuff:

• I installed all the outlets and light switches in their planned locations. I used spacers and careful alignment so they look neat and professional.
• I installed junction boxes and wired up the new ceiling lights and exhaust fans according to local code.
• I added GFCIs in bathrooms, kitchen, garage and other wet areas for added protection.
• For the service panel, I neatly arranged the circuits and labeled each breaker clearly on the panel door. This makes it easier to kill power to specific circuits for future work.

Taking care during this step to do things right made the finished product look great and everything function properly.

Having the Electrical Inspector Confirm Safety

With everything wired up, I called the inspector back out for the final approval.

The inspector checked:

• All wiring was to code for my area
• The new service panel and breakers were working properly
• Outlets and fixtures were installed correctly and grounded
• GFCIs were functioning properly
• All junction boxes were accessible
• And much more!

Getting the inspector's green light was a huge relief and assurance that everything was safe and sound. I can now relax knowing my home's electrical system has been overhauled properly.

Maintaining Home Electrical Safety

While a major rewiring project takes lots of planning and effort, maintaining electrical safety in your home is an ongoing process. Here are a few tips:

• Never overload circuits. Be mindful of amp ratings and spread high-draw appliances across multiple circuits.

• Address any flickering lights, tripping breakers or outlets/switches that are warm to the touch - these can indicate problems.

• Ensure all electrical work in your home is done to code by qualified electricians. Don't take risks with DIY electrical projects unless you thoroughly know what you're doing.

• Test GFCIs monthly by pressing the "Test" button to ensure they trip properly.

• Check for old or damaged wiring and have it repaired by an electrician as needed.

Following these tips, along with having modern, well-installed wiring, will help keep your home's electrical system running safely for years to come.

In Closing

Rewiring a home without an electrician is indeed achievable, but also requires diligent planning, extreme care, and strict adherence to electrical codes and safety practices. If this seems beyond your skill level, hiring a licensed electrician is money well spent to ensure safety. But with the right preparations, materials, and inspections, a major DIY rewiring project can save thousands of dollars and leave you with modern, robust electrical wiring good for decades to come. Just be sure to plan thoroughly, get proper permits, double check your work, and never take shortcuts when dealing with the powers of electricity!