How to Rewire Your Home Without an Electrician (And Save Thousands)

Why Consider Rewiring Your Home?

Rewiring your home can be a daunting task, but with proper planning and safety precautions, it can be done successfully without hiring an electrician. Here are some key reasons why you may want to rewire your home yourself:

• Save money - Electricians typically charge $50-$100 per hour for home rewiring projects. For a whole house rewire, you could easily spend $5,000 or more in labor costs alone. Doing it yourself can save you thousands.

• Upgrade outdated wiring - If your home still has knob and tube wiring or aluminum wiring, rewiring can bring your electrical up to modern safety standards.

• Increase home value - Updating old wiring, electrical panels, and outlets can increase your home's value and make it more appealing to potential buyers.

• Gain learning experience - Rewiring a home is an excellent way to learn in-depth electrical skills and may inspire you to take on more DIY projects.

• Customize your home's electrical - Rewiring gives you the opportunity to add more circuits, outlets, switches, and lighting to customize your home.

Dangers and Risks of a DIY Rewire

While cost savings are enticing, there are critical dangers and risks to be aware of before rewiring your home yourself:

• Electric shock - Coming into contact with live wires can result in severe injury or death by electrocution. Make sure all power is shut off at the main panel before working.

• Fire hazard - Faulty wiring can overheat and spark electrical fires in your home's walls. All wiring must meet local building codes.

• Equipment damage - Mistakes can fry electrical devices and appliances if circuits are wired incorrectly. Hire an electrician if you lack confidence.

• Resale issues - Rewiring mistakes could make your home difficult to sell unless wiring is brought fully up to code by a licensed electrician.

• Permit requirements - Most municipalities require permits and inspections for home rewiring projects, even if you do the work yourself.

• Injury risks - Climbing into attics and crawlspaces to access wiring can lead to cuts, eye injuries, falls, and strained muscles.

Evaluating Your Electrical Needs

Before deciding on a DIY rewire, inspect your existing electrical system and determine if a full rewire is needed. Consider the following:

• Age of wiring - Old, brittle wiring that is over 50 years old should be replaced.

• Voltage - Upgrading wiring for higher voltage loads (220V for appliances).

• Circuit capacity - Additional circuits needed for more outlets and lighting.

• Electrical panel - Outdated fuse box needs upgrading to a circuit breaker panel.

• Grounded circuits - Ungrounded two-prong outlets need to be converted to modern grounded three-prong outlets.

• Aluminum wiring - Aluminum wiring should be examined by an electrician and possibly replaced.

• Knob and tube wiring - Outdated knob and tube wiring should be replaced because it lacks adequate grounding.

• Added load capacity - If you are adding significant electrical appliances and devices.

Developing a Rewiring Plan

Once you've determined that a rewire is necessary, develop a detailed plan of the scope of work. Key steps in planning include:

• Make an itemized list of all parts, wire, and components you'll need to purchase. Get pricing to estimate total material costs.

• Draw up wiring diagrams mapping out exact new circuit routes and connections. Mark locations of outlets, switches, lighting, appliances, etc.

• Plan circuit layouts based on voltage and load requirements. Follow National Electric Code (NEC) standards.

• Inspect your attic, crawlspaces, and walls to determine feasibility of routing new wires through these areas.

• Figure out which walls and ceilings you are comfortable cutting into and patching to run wires.

• Determine a logical order of operation - Where to start, what to do first, second, third etc. to complete the rewire efficiently.

• Check permitting requirements with your local building department and acquire all needed permits.

Safety Gear and Equipment Needed

Rewiring a home involves working inside walls, attics, crawlspaces, and ceilings. The right safety equipment can prevent shocks, falls, and other injuries:

• Insulated work gloves to protect from shocks and cuts from wires.

• Safety goggles and mask to prevent injury from airborne insulation and materials.

• Head lamp or flashlight to illuminate dark areas.

• Ladder or scaffolding for safely accessing ceilings.

• Test equipment: voltage meter, continuity tester.

• Circuit tracers to identify specific circuit wires.

• ** Junction boxes, receptacles, breakers, wire strippers, conduit.**

• Drywall saw for cutting access holes into walls. Patching cement, drywall to close up access holes.

• Drill, hole saws, fish tape for routing wires through walls and ceilings.

Step-by-Step Rewiring Process

Once equipped and ready, follow these key steps to methodically rewire your home room-by-room:

1. Turn Off Power and Install New Panel

Shut off the main breaker supplying your current electrical panel. Verify power is off by testing outlets with a voltage meter. Install a new main circuit breaker panel centrally located in the home.

2. Run New Circuit Wiring

Working one room at a time, run new wiring through walls, ceilings and attics to supply each room's outlets, switches and fixtures. Use junction boxes to split wire runs.

3. Install Outlets, Switches and Fixtures

With wiring runs complete in a room, carefully connect new outlets, switches, and permanent fixtures such as ceiling lights to the new wiring. Attach devices to junction boxes.

4. Connect Devices and Test Circuits

With the room's wiring complete, turn power back on and carefully test each outlet, switch and fixture. Verify proper polarity and grounding using a circuit tester.

5. Patch and Finish Walls

Once wiring is fully functional, use cement, drywall patches, and paint to cover up access holes cut into walls for running wires. Refinish surfaces to look complete.

6. Inspection and Documentation

Contact the building department to have an electrical inspector review your rewiring work for safety and code compliance. Keep a journal documenting all rewiring details.

Is a Rewire DIY Right for You?

While rewiring a house yourself can certainly save thousands of dollars in labor costs, the process requires advanced electrical skills, proper safety procedures, adhering to building codes, and meticulous planning. Realistically weigh your DIY skills and confidence in taking on such a complex project. Hiring a licensed electrician is the safest option if you have any doubts or concerns about rewiring your home correctly. But for skilled DIYers willing to take the necessary precautions, rewiring without an electrician can be a challenging yet highly rewarding experience.