How to Rewire Your Home Without an Electrician Even If You Have No Experience

Assess Your Electrical Needs

Before attempting to rewire my home, I first needed to determine exactly what I hoped to accomplish. Some key questions I asked myself:

• What rooms or areas of my house did I want to update with new wiring?
• Was I hoping to just replace old, outdated wiring? Or did I need to add additional circuits to support more lights, outlets, or appliances?
• Did I want to upgrade from fuse boxes to circuit breakers? Or from an old 100 amp service to 200 amps?
• What safety hazards needed to be addressed, like overloaded circuits, improper wire gauges, faulty connections, etc?

Making a list of electrical goals and problem areas ensured I didn't take on more than I could safely handle. I focused on small upgrades I felt comfortable doing as an inexperienced homeowner.

Learn the Basics of Electrical Systems

Before touching a single wire, I needed to educate myself on some electrical fundamentals:

• How to properly size wires based on intended use (15 amp vs 20 amp circuits)
• How to choose the right wire gauge for long runs or high-draw appliances
• What the different colored wires signify (black for hot, white for neutral)
• How to make secure wire connections with wire nuts or lever connectors
• The purpose of ground wires, grounding rods, junction boxes, and conduit
• Basic specifications for breakers, fuses, switches, and outlets
• Safety protocols like turning off power at the breaker before working

I studied DIY books and websites, watched instructional videos, and familiarized myself with the National Electrical Code. Taking a beginner electrical class at a local home improvement store can also be tremendously helpful.

Get the Right Tools and Materials

Rewiring a home, even partially, requires having the proper tools and materials on hand. Essentials for me included:

• Non-contact voltage tester - to safely check for live wires
• Cable ripper - to remove old wiring from walls
• Fish tapes - to route new wiring through walls
• Cable strippers - to strip insulation from new wiring
• Screwdrivers, pliers, wire cutters, staple gun, hammer, drywall saw
• Extra breakers and fuses for electrical panel upgrades
• Assorted wire gauges and lengths of Romex NM-B cable
• Enough junction boxes, outlets, switches, cover plates for rewired areas
• GFCI outlets for kitchen, bathrooms, laundry, and outdoor areas

Having everything pre-purchased prevented delays and allowed me to methodically tackle projects from start to finish.

Work Methodically and Safely

Each step of my DIY rewiring project needed to be done carefully, safely, and in the proper order. The key steps I followed:

• Turn off all power at the main breaker before starting any work
• Remove old wiring, outlets, switches - rip and replace
• Run new wiring through walls and ceilings from box to box
• Make tightly wound electrical connections with wire nuts
• Attach new outlets, switches, cover plates and test with a multimeter
• Upgrade electrical panels with new breakers as needed
• Label all circuits clearly on the inside of panel doors
• Restore drywall, paint, etc to cover up rewiring work

I worked slowly, double checked everything, and got experienced friends to review my work. Taking the time to be cautious, even when it felt tedious, ensured safety and success.

Inspect and Test Extensively

Each step of my project needed to be inspected and tested:

• I visually inspected every connection to confirm no bare wire or loose wire nuts
• I tugged on wires to test connections to make sure they were secure
• I carefully compared wired and breaker labelling to the original circuit mapping
• I used a multimeter to confirm wires were dead before touching them
• I tested GFCI outlets to ensure proper function
• I turned circuits on individually to verify correct breaker-wiring connections
• I checked for secure conduit, junction box covers, and wall plates

It was tempting to rush through inspections in my eagerness to complete the project. However, meticulous testing ensured everything functioned properly and safely.

Call an Electrician When Needed

Despite diligent research and hard work, there were elements of my rewiring project that ultimately required professional help:

• Upgrading the main electrical service panel from 100 amps to 200 amps
• Adding new 220 volt circuits for large appliances like dryers or air conditioners
• Running wiring to detached garages or exterior buildings
• Adding new circuits in cramped attic crawl spaces or concrete foundation walls
• Troubleshooting unexpected problems like short circuits or faulty grounds

Knowing my own skill limitations, I called certified electricians whenever a task seemed overly complex or hazardous. Paying professionals for specialized work gave me peace of mind.

In the end, by developing a strong DIY knowledge base and knowing when to seek expert assistance, I successfully upgraded my home's electrical system and saved thousands in electrician fees. The improved lighting, added outlets, and mitigated fire hazards have made my house safer, more modern, and more livable.