How to Rewire Your Home Without an Electrician to Save Money and Avoid beginner Mistakes

Introduction

Rewiring a home can seem like a daunting task, but with proper planning and safety precautions, it can be done without hiring an electrician. I've successfully rewired parts of my home to upgrade the electrical system, add new lighting fixtures, and fix worn wiring. Doing it yourself can save thousands of dollars in labor costs. However, electrical work does require attention to detail, patience, and adherence to electrical codes and safety practices. In this guide, I'll walk through the complete process to rewire a home safely as a DIY project.

Reasons to Rewire Without an Electrician

Here are the main benefits of taking on an electrical rewiring project yourself:

Save on Labor Costs

Electricians can charge $40-$100 per hour for home electrical work. Even simple jobs like installing a new light fixture or outlet can run over $200 after the service call fee. For whole home rewiring projects, labor alone can cost $5,000 to $10,000+.

By doing the electrical work yourself, you only pay for parts and materials which typically cost a fraction of professional labor.

Upgrade and Customize Your Electrical System

Hiring an electrician limits you to their recommendations and schedule. Rewiring yourself allows you to upgrade exactly how you want. For example, you can:

• Add more lighting fixtures and power outlets
• Increase capacity to handle larger appliances and electronics
• Rerun wiring to optimal locations based on furniture layouts
• Choose safer and higher quality materials (e.g. copper instead of aluminum wiring)

Learn Useful Electrical Skills

By rewiring your home, you'll learn how to size wires, install outlets, run conduit, connect switches, and follow electrical code. These are valuable skills for any homeowner for future electrical projects and repairs.

Dangers of Rewiring Without Experience

While DIY rewiring can save thousands in labor costs, attempting electrical work without proper knowledge and precautions can be extremely dangerous. Here are key risks to avoid:

• Electrocution - Incorrectly handled live wires can cause serious injury or death by electrocution. Make sure to shut off power at the main breaker before starting work.

• Fire - Faulty wiring can overheat and ignite fires within walls and ceilings. Use high quality UL certified electrical parts and follow local building codes.

• Equipment Damage - Connecting wires incorrectly can send the wrong voltage to appliances and electronics, causing them to short circuit. Double check connections before restoring power.

• Insurance Issues - Most insurers require licensed electricians for major electrical work. Doing it yourself may cause problems getting bonded contractors or insurance claim payments if issues arise later.

I mitigate these risks by educating myself thoroughly on home electrical systems, religiously following safety procedures, and having an experienced electrician review my work. I only take on what I'm fully confident I can do safely based on my skill level.

Electrical Permits and Inspections

In most areas, any major home electrical work requires a permit and inspections by the local building department. Permits ensure licensed electricians review plans to catch any code violations.

As a homeowner, I can pull electrical permits myself but this means:

• I must prove I own and live in the home to do my own electrical work.

• My rewiring plans may undergo greater scrutiny since I'm not a licensed electrician. I've found inspectors to be very helpful by pointing out any deficiencies in my initial plans.

• The finished work is held to the same standards as professional electricians. I do a final walkthrough with the inspector to confirm everything meets National Electrical Code before the permit can be closed out.

Some areas may prohibit homeowners from doing major electrical work so check your local permitting rules first. I recommend getting the needed permits and inspections to make sure your DIY electrical project is safe and compliant. The permit fees pale in comparison to the thousands saved in labor.

Rewiring Project Planning

Thorough planning is crucial when taking on a large scale home rewiring project yourself. Rushing into electrical work without understanding exactly what needs to be done can lead to mistakes or incomplete wiring. Follow these planning best practices:

Document the Existing Electrical System

Purchase an electrical circuit tracer to energize each circuit and identify:

• Location of the main service panel and amperage capacity
• All circuit breakers/fuses and which outlets/lights they control
• Locations where wiring runs through walls, ceilings and floors

Use this documentation to create detailed rewiring plans later.

Assess Areas Needing Improvement

Analyze your existing electrical system to determine upgrades needed:

• Add more circuits to prevent overloading as more appliances are added
• Increase service panel amperage if near capacity already
• Rerun wiring to new outlet and lighting locations based on room use
• Replace old aluminum wiring which can be fire prone at connections

Focus on making the new wiring as flexible and future-proof as possible.

Develop Rewiring Plan Drawings

Create rough floor plans showing all proposed new wiring runs, outlets, switches, lighting fixtures, service panels, junction boxes, and smoking detectors hardwired to the electrical system.

These plans are crucial for getting rewiring permits and for having an organized wiring roadmap during the work. I iterate on the drawings as needed when I encounter unknown issues or wiring challenges during the project.

Order All Electrical Materials and Tools In Advance

Major rewiring requires having a full stock of:

• Wire - different gauge sizes based on required amperage capacity
• Outlet and switch boxes
• Circuit breakers
• Conduit and fittings
• Junction boxes
• Wire connectors and terminal blocks
• Cable staples, strapping, and fasteners
• Cable ripper, stripper, cutter tools
• Voltage tester, multimeter
• Ladders and work lights

Ordering ahead avoids delaying progress once the work is underway. Shop at electrical supply houses to get wholesale pricing.

Safely Handling Electrical Wiring

Safety should be your top priority. Follow these procedures whenever handling wiring:

Shut Off Power at the Breaker

Flip the main breaker switch to disengage all power to the home's electrical system before starting any work. Test wires with a non-contact voltage tester to confirm power is off. Recheck wires periodically in case breakers accidentally get turned back on.

Work on One Circuit at a Time

When replacing wiring, focus on fully completing one circuit end-to-end before starting the next. This avoids any confusion over which wires supply which outlets/fixtures.

Label Wires and Terminations

Use colored tape to label both ends of each wire coming out of old boxes so the purpose of each is clearly identifiable when reconnecting them in the new system.

Make Clean and Secure Connections

Use wire nuts or terminal blocks to join copper wiring. Avoid twisting wires together and electrical taping which can loosen over time. Tug test each connection to ensure it is snug and secure.

Follow Local Electrical Codes

All work must adhere to the electrical code standards adopted by your local jurisdiction. Some key requirements relate to:

• Amperage and voltage capacities
• Wire sizes based on amperage and run length
• Outlet spacing requirements
• GFCI and AFCI outlet installation
• Required grounding and bonding

Referencing your local codes during planning is essential to passing final inspections.

Replacing Wall Switch and Outlet Boxes

Replacing old worn outlet and switch boxes is usually the starting point of any rewiring project:

Turn Off Power and Remove Old Boxes

Shut off the home's main breaker switch. Verify wires in the boxes are not live using a non-contact voltage tester before touching them. Unscrew or cut out the old boxes from the studs or drywall.

If feasible, keep wires attached to the boxes to maintain the labeling until ready to disconnect.

Install New Boxes at Correct Heights

Fasten new electrical boxes in the same spots following standard outlet and switch mounting heights - typically 12" to 16" above the floor for receptacles and 48" to 52" for switches. The box fronts should be flush with the wall surface.

Feed and Protect Wires into Boxes

Run replacement wiring from the service panel through the walls and out through small holes into the electrical boxes. Keep wires centered in the middle of wood studs so they aren't at risk of hitting nails or screws during drywall repairs.

Pull several inches of extra slack into the box to allow for connections.

Make Secure Connections

Referencing the wire labels, use wire nuts to connect the new wires to existing home wiring. Follow proper clockwise twisting technique and tug test connections.

Mount Devices and Close Boxes

Install any outlet receptacles, switches, and cover plates. Verify ground connections are solid. Close up the boxes and secure them firmly to the studs with appropriate fasteners.

With the boxes replaced, you're ready to run new circuits as needed.

Running New Wiring Circuits

Running new wiring circuits involves drilling holes through framing, stapling cables along joists, and pulling wires to outlets:

Plan Circuit Runs

Have your rewiring plan handy to follow pre-planned circuit routes. Confirm there is available capacity in the main service panel for the added circuit breakers.

Drill Holes

Drill clean holes through top wall plates where wiring will pass from one room to the next. Avoid hitting any existing wires. Vacuum up all dust and debris immediately to keep it out of wires.

Staple and Secure Cables

Run cables through holes and along joists and studs at least 1-1/4" away from any edges. Staple the cables every 4-1/2 feet and within 12" of any junction box. Avoid overtightening staples which can damage wire insulation.

Pull to Outlets and Fixtures

Carefully pull the wiring to each outlet and switch box, leaving plenty of slack. Use fish tape to pull wires through finished walls. Have a helper guide wire at the far end to avoid tangling.

Connect Switches and Outlets

Referencing wiring diagrams, connect the hot, neutral, and ground wires to the correct screw terminals on outlets, switches and fixtures. Confirm grounding at every box.

Label Circuits

Number each circuit and mark all associated wire, boxes, and breakers with matching tape. This avoids confusion when troubleshooting down the road.

Take it slowly and double check all work. Once wired, the new circuits are ready to connect to breakers in the main service panel.

Upgrading the Main Service Panel

Upgrading an old fusebox or undersized service panel is more advanced but gives your home the capacity for modern electricity demands:

Choose New Panel Amp Rating

Calculate your home's total electrical load including major appliances. Select a service panel amperage rating at least 20% above the maximum load. 100, 125, and 200 amps are common ratings.

Purchase Compatible Breakers

Ensure the new panel uses breakers compatible with your home's wiring. Modern systems should use dual function AFCI/GFCI breakers for added safety.

Safely Remove Old Panel

Turn off the main power feed to the house at the external shutoff or meter. Verify wires into the panel are de-energized before disconnecting them. Carefully detach all wires, labeling each. Remove the old panel being cautious not to damage wires running into walls.

Mount and Wire New Panel

Mount the new panel per manufacturer instructions, reusing the same wall location if possible. Connect the main power feed wires to the new main breaker. Referencing labels, terminate existing and new circuit wires to the appropriately sized breakers.

Energize and Test

Restore main power and flip breakers on one by one, testing each circuit. If available, use a whole house surge protector for added safety. Verify proper voltage across all circuits.

With the upgraded service panel correctly wired, your home's electrical system is revitalized with greater capacity and safety.

Final Steps and Inspections

You're in the home stretch once all new wiring is complete. Finish up with these important final steps:

Drywall Patching

Patch up all holes and gaps in walls and ceilings with joint compound for a flush paintable surface. Avoid damaging wires hidden right behind drywall.

Add Safety Labels

Place arc fault / ground fault warning labels on service panel doors and cover plates of upgraded outlets. Alerts homeowners and future electricians to the enhanced safety features.

Full System Testing

Thoroughly test all lighting switches and outlets to confirm proper operation. Plug in appliances and electronics to verify stable voltage on all circuits under load. Check for hot spots at junction boxes indicating loose connections.

Schedule Inspections

Call the building department to schedule rough-in and final inspections. The inspectors will review workmanship and check for compliance with national and local electrical codes. They can require fixes before signing off.

Permit Closeout

Once approved, submit final "as-built" plans and pay any remaining permit fees. The building department will finalize the electrical permit, completing the project.

With diligent planning, safe electrical handling, and securing proper permits, I successfully rewired my home without hiring an electrician. All new wiring provides enhanced capacity, safety, and flexibility for decades to come. The thousands saved in labor costs made the intensive DIY project well worthwhile.