How to Rewire Your Home Without an Electrician For Under $100

Introduction

Rewiring your home can seem like a daunting task, but with some planning and basic electrical knowledge, it is possible to do it yourself for less than $100. In this guide, I will walk through the entire process of rewiring a room or certain circuits in your home safely and legally without hiring an expensive electrician.

Reasons to Rewire

Here are some of the main reasons you may want to rewire parts of your home:

• Updating to more modern electrical systems - Older homes often have outdated wiring that cannot handle all of today's electrical demands. Rewiring allows you to upgrade to safer, higher capacity systems.

• Fixing faulty or dangerous wiring - Outdated wiring can become a fire hazard or shock risk. Replacing old wires and connections can make your home much safer.

• Expanding circuits - Sometimes you need to add more outlets or lights to a room or area of the house. Rewiring allows you to add new branching circuits.

• Aesthetic improvements - You may want to remove old or ugly wiring and replace it with nicer looking components. Rewiring allows you to update the look and feel.

Evaluating Your Electrical System

Before beginning any rewiring project, it's important to thoroughly evaluate your existing electrical system to understand what needs to be improved. Here are some things to inspect:

• Age of wiring - Very old wiring that is cloth wrapped or brittle probably needs replacement. Newer copper wiring may be fine.

• Gauge of wires - Smaller gauge wire like 14 or 12 AWG will need to be upgraded to 10 or 8 AWG for higher capacity.

• Grounding - Proper grounding is essential for safety. Check for ground wires or rods. Upgrade if needed.

• Circuit breaker panel - Assess if the panel is modern or can handle added circuit capacity. Panel may need upgrading.

• Types of circuits - Check for three prong outlets and separate dedicated circuits for appliances. Add as needed.

Creating a Rewiring Plan

Once you have evaluated your existing system, create a plan for the rewiring:

• Make a circuit map showing all outlets, lights, switches and their connections back to the breaker panel.

• Decide which circuits need to be rewired and select the wire gauge and capacity.

• Indicate new outlets, switches or lighting you want to add.

• Select upgraded electrical boxes, conduit, breakers, and other components to be installed.

• Plan step-by-step how you will remove old and install new wiring.

Buying Electrical Supplies

With a rewiring plan completed, now you need to purchase the right supplies. Stay within a $100 budget by buying the essentials:

• Electrical wire - Get 10 or 12 AWG solid core copper wire for 15-20 amp home circuits. Need variety of wire lengths.

• Outlet and switch boxes - Buy enough new plastic boxes for outlets, switches, and junction points.

• Breakers - Get breakers to match the amp capacity of your new circuits. 15 amp standard.

• Wire connectors - Get assorted sizes of wire nuts to connect wires. Also purchase electrical tape.

• Conduit - Purchase necessary conduit and fittings to run wires through walls and ceilings.

• Tools - You'll need basic tools like a voltage tester, screwdrivers, wire strippers and a fish tape.

Safety Tips

Safety should be your top concern when rewiring. Follow these tips:

• Turn off the main breaker and verify power is off before starting work.

• Carefully check wires before touching to be 100% sure power is off. Recheck often.

• Wear insulated gloves and be cautious not to contact live wires.

• Use fiberglass ladder when climbing into attic spaces. Beware of exposed wires.

• Keep work area clean and wires organized to avoid tripping or falling.

Step-by-Step Rewiring Process

Here is an overview of the basic process:

1. Turn Off Power

Turn off the main breaker or remove the fuse to disconnect power. Use a voltage tester to double check it is off.

2. Remove Old Wiring

Carefully extract the old wiring from the wall. Try to pull out wires in one piece without leaving fragments.

3. Install New Boxes

Mount new plastic outlet and junction boxes where needed. Feed wires into the boxes.

4. Run New Wires

Use fish tape to run new wires through walls and ceilings between boxes and to the panel.

5. Connect Wires

Join the wires using wire nuts. Connect grounds, neutrals and hots properly.

6. Install Devices

Install outlets, switches, lights and other devices using screw terminals to connect.

7. Install Breakers

Connect wires to new circuit breakers in the panel based on your amp capacity needs.

8. Test Circuits

Turn the power back on. Carefully test each outlet and light switch with a voltage tester.

Completing the Project

Once the new wires are installed and tested, finish by:

• Attaching cover plates and installing fixtures like lights.

• Patching drywall if damaged during rewiring.

• Verifying proper grounding and amp loads.

• Labeling breakers and junction boxes clearly for the future.

• Hiring an electrician to inspect if desired or if required by code.

Conclusion

While rewiring your home is a major project, it can be accomplished safely without an electrician if you take precautions. Evaluate your electrical system, create a plan, buy essential supplies, and rewire methodically one circuit at a time. With patience and attention to safety, you can rewire your home for less than $100 in materials.