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

Why Rewire Your Home Yourself?

Rewiring your home can be an intimidating task, especially if you don't have any electrical experience. Hiring an electrician can cost thousands of dollars, depending on the size of your home and the extent of the rewiring needed. I decided to rewire my home myself to save a significant amount of money.

There are a few key reasons why you may want to consider rewiring your home yourself:

• It can save you thousands of dollars in electrician fees. Electricians typically charge $50-$100 per hour, and a full rewire can take days or weeks to complete. Just the labor costs alone can amount to thousands for a whole home rewire.

• You can rewire at your own pace. Depending on your DIY skills and schedule, you may prefer to tackle a rewire over weekends and evenings rather than having electricians at your home for days on end.

• You'll gain valuable electrical skills. Rewiring a home is an ambitious project, but gives you first-hand experience working with electrical systems. This knowledge can help you become more handy and equipped to take on electrical projects.

• Customize your home's electrics. When you rewire a home yourself, you can more easily customize your home's electrical system, like adding more circuits or outlets to specific rooms or areas.

• Increase your home's value. A rewired home is an upgraded home. Being able to highlight upgraded or new electrical systems can increase resale value.

Evaluating Your Electrical Needs

Before beginning a DIY rewiring project, it's important to thoroughly evaluate your home's electrical needs. This involves:

• Considering any new appliances or devices. If you'll be adding larger appliances like electric vehicles, HVAC systems, hot tubs, etc, you'll need to plan electrical loads accordingly.

• Accounting for expansion. You don't want to complete a full rewire, only to find you don't have enough circuits or outlets in certain rooms for future needs. Plan ahead.

• Inspecting current wiring. Evaluate the type (e.g. knob and tube), condition, and location of existing wiring. This will inform the scope of work.

• Researching local codes. Electrical codes can vary regionally. Make sure you familiarize yourself with local regulations.

Proper planning and due diligence at the outset will ensure your DIY rewire goes smoothly and safely. Consider consulting an electrician if needed to evaluate your existing electrical systems.

Safely Working with Electrical Systems

Rewiring a home involves working first-hand with dangerous electrical systems. As with any DIY electrical project, safety should be your top priority:

• Turn off power at the main breaker. Cut power to the entire home before beginning work. Never work on live wiring!

• Wear insulated gloves and eye protection. Make sure no skin is exposed when handling wires. Wear safety goggles or glasses.

• Use insulated tools. Regular metal tools can be hazardous. Use screwdrivers, wire strippers, pliers, etc. specifically designed for electrical work.

• Take precautions on ladders. Don't let tools or wiring touch conductive surfaces when working off ladders. Have both hands free for climbing.

• Double check connections. Faulty connections can cause arcing, sparks, and fires. Confirm wires are securely joined with no copper exposed.

• Consult local building codes. Follow all wiring specifications and safety guidelines outlined by local regulations.

Working slowly and carefully is key. If you're ever uncomfortable performing a task, consider hiring an electrician or asking a more experienced DIYer for guidance. Safety first!

DIY Rewiring Process Step-by-Step

Once you've evaluated your home's electrical needs and put safety precautions in place, you can begin the rewiring process:

Step 1: Turn Off Power and Remove Old Wiring

• Shut off power at your home's main circuit breaker before starting any work. Verify power is off with a non-contact voltage tester.

• Carefully remove any molding or covers concealing the old wiring using a pry bar or other flat tool.

• Remove the old wires from their connections. Cut back to the closest junction box.

• For old knob and tube wiring, remove each knob or tube one section at a time.

• Coil up wiring as you remove it to keep it manageable.

Step 2: Plan New Circuits and Install Breaker Panel

• Based on your home's electrical needs, plan which rooms and areas will be served by each new circuit. Include plenty of capacity for future expansion.

• Obtain the appropriately sized breaker panel and have it installed according to local codes.

• With panel installed, arrange and connect the new circuit breakers, leaving space for extra capacity.

Step 3: Run and Connect New Wiring

• Starting at your new breaker panel, run 14/2 or 12/2 NM electrical cable through your home to each room's junction boxes. Staple the cable securely along the way for safety and stability.

• Review local codes to determine required wire gauge based on your home's electrical load. Heavier 12 gauge wire is preferable for 20 amp circuits.

• At each box, use wire nuts to connect the hot wire to the device's hot terminal, neutral to neutral, and ground to ground. Maintain consistency with hot/neutral wire colors.

Step 4: Connect Devices and Fixtures

• Once wiring is routed from the panel to all junction boxes, you can start connecting switches, outlets, and light fixtures.

• Attach the device's ground first, then connect hot and neutral wires to the appropriate terminals.

• Maintain hot/neutral consistency and consult diagrams to ensure correct connections.

Step 5: Install New Breakers and Restore Power

• With all new wiring and devices installed and connected, flip each circuit breaker one by one to restore power.

• Test each outlet, switch, and light to confirm proper operation. Use a voltage tester to be sure power is live.

• Install switch, outlet, and junction box covers to complete the job.

Take it slow and be meticulous at each step. Thoroughly checking your work is key for safety. If all goes well, you've just saved yourself thousands!

Tips for a Successful DIY Rewire

Based on my experience rewiring my home, here are some helpful tips:

• Take pictures before removing any existing wiring. This provides a helpful visual reference for the rewiring process.

• Label everything with masking tape as you work. Clearly noting circuit numbers and terminal connections will help keep everything organized.

• Test wiring with a multimeter to be sure of proper hot/neutral connections before powering up.

• Only open walls/ceilings necessary for rewiring to limit repairs needed after.

• Consult local codes frequently and have all work inspected to ensure compliance.

• Address insulation and air sealing needs while walls are open to maximize energy efficiency.

The more care and attention to detail you put in, the greater the reward of a major DIY milestone accomplished! Just remember to always place safety first.

Conclusion

While rewiring an entire home is an ambitious task, these steps demonstrate it can absolutely be DIYed without prior electrical experience and save you thousands in electrician fees. The key is taking the necessary safety precautions, evaluating your home's electrical needs, and following local building codes. With patience and care, you can gain invaluable electrical knowledge and customize your home's electrics to your needs and preferences. So don't be afraid to give a DIY rewire a shot yourself! Just be sure to research thoroughly and exercise extreme caution when working with electrical systems.