How to Rewire Your Home Without an Electrician to Save Thousands

Why Rewire Your Home Yourself

I want to rewire my home to save money on hiring an electrician. Electricians typically charge $50-$100 per hour for home electrical work, so even a small rewiring project can cost thousands if I hire a professional. By learning how to rewire my home myself, I can save significantly on labor costs.

There are a few key reasons I may need or want to rewire my home:

• Upgrading to a 200 amp service - If I have an older 100 amp electrical service, rewiring to upgrade the service to 200 amps will allow me to run more high wattage appliances and electronics simultaneously. This prevents tripping breakers.

• Aluminum wiring replacement - Aluminum wiring can present fire hazards if not properly installed or maintained. Replacing it with new copper wiring improves safety.

• Running new circuits - If I'm remodeling or adding onto my home, I will likely need to run new circuits for additional lighting, appliances, and outlets.

• Old or faulty wiring - Outdated wiring that's degraded over time or wiring that was done improperly can be a fire hazard. Replacing old wiring improves safety.

The bottom line is that rewiring my home myself allows me to upgrade and improve my electrical system at a fraction of the cost of hiring an electrician.

Dangers of Rewiring Your Home

While I can save a lot of money by rewiring my home myself, it's crucial that I educate myself and take proper safety precautions. Mistakes made when rewiring a home can lead to electric shock, fires, and other hazards.

Some key risks and dangers associated with DIY home rewiring projects include:

• Electric shock - Coming into contact with live wires can result in serious injury or death. Turning off power at the main breaker is essential.

• Electrocution - Failure to properly shut off power or test wires with a multimeter can lead to electrocution when handling live wires.

• Fire - Faulty wiring can overheat and spark electrical fires. Using the wrong gauge wire or inadequate circuit breakers increases this risk.

• Damaged electronics - Mistakes like short circuits can fry computers, appliances, security systems, and other electronics.

• Lack of inspection - Hired electricians will obtain required permits and pass inspections. DIY work likely won't be inspected, risking safety hazards.

It's vital that I educate myself thoroughly on electrical safety and exercise extreme caution when rewiring my home. The risks involved make it essential to learn what I'm doing before attempting a rewiring project myself.

Learning Electrical Basics

Before I attempt to rewire my home, it's important that I learn some key electrical basics and safety protocols. This provides me with the knowledge I need to work safely. Some of the most important things I should research and understand are:

• Electrical current, voltage, resistance, and power (watts/amperes/volts/ohms)

• AC vs DC current

• The difference between hot, neutral, and ground wires

• Wire gauges and why they matter

• Breaker and fuse sizes for circuits

• GFCI and AFCI outlets

• Junction boxes, conduit, connectors, splicing, splicing, wire nuts, and terminals

• Proper wire installation techniques

• Identifying wires (black, white, green, red)

• Conduit bending techniques

• Electrical codes and standards

• Obtaining permits and inspections

Taking the time to learn basic electrical theory and wiring techniques is crucial. I should practice on mock-ups before touching real wiring in my home.

Necessary Materials and Tools

Here are some of the key materials and tools I'll need to rewire a room or my entire house:

• Wire strippers - Used to strip insulation off wires

• Voltage tester - Multimeter to test if wires are live

• Clamp meter - Measures current flow to determine circuit load

• Fish tape - Flexible steel tape to route wires through walls

• Drill/impact driver - For drilling holes to run wires

• Hammer drill - For concrete drilling if garage wiring

• Jab saw - For cutting drywall openings and access holes

• Electrical tape - Used to insulate wire connections

• Wire nuts - Twist-on connectors for joining wires

• 14/2 and 12/2 NM cable - For 15 amp and 20 amp branch circuits

• 10/2 cable - For high draw appliances like dryers

• 6/2 cable - For electric range/oven wiring

• Conduit - Metal or PVC conduit for protecting wire runs

• Breakers - Appropriate amperage for circuits

• Junction boxes - Safely contain connections and wire splices

Having the right tools and materials is vital for safety. I should buy commercial grade products, not cheap versions for homeowners.

Step-by-Step Process for Rewiring

Once I have the essential knowledge, tools, and materials, I can tackle a rewiring project systematically:

1. Turn Off Power and Verify

Turn off all power at the main breaker panel. Verify power is off using a non-contact voltage tester on wires.

2. Remove Old Wiring

Take down the drywall or remove flooring/roofing to access the existing wiring. Carefully remove all old wires from the framing.

3. Plan Circuit Layout

Map out planned new circuits and required boxes/junctions. Group rooms/areas logically on shared circuits.

4. Run New Wires

Drill access holes and staple/tie new NM cables to framing members. Follow code for securing wires. Leave extra length.

5. Install Outlets and Switches

Match wires to locations based on circuit plan. Follow wiring diagrams properly. Use junction boxes.

6. Connect Wires at Panel

Strip sheathing and connect wires to new circuit breakers with proper gauge. Organize wires neatly.

7. Inspect and Test Circuits

Inspect all connections and junction boxes for issues. Turn on power and methodically test each outlet.

8. Add Finishing Touches

Insulate wires, install wall coverings, secure junction boxes, and add face plates to outlets.

Following proper process and using caution are crucial at every step. Rushing through the job can lead to dangerous mistakes.

Helpful Tips and Warnings

Here are some helpful tips and warnings to keep in mind for safely rewiring a home DIY-style:

• Never work on live wires. Verify power is OFF!
• Double-check existing wires are dead using a multimeter before handling.
• Only handle bare wire ends when power is off. Never strip live wires.
• Use extreme care when drilling into walls to avoid hitting existing wires.
• Only splice wires of the same gauge and type. No aluminum/copper mixes!
• Junction boxes must be accessible, not buried behind drywall.
• Use the proper size breakers - never upsizing to avoid tripping.
• Carefully follow local electrical codes for installation methods.
• Consider having new circuits inspected before using them.
• Label every wire at both ends for easy identification.
• Consult tutorials or an electrician if you encounter unfamiliar situations.

Working with home electrical wiring is extremely dangerous. If I'm uncomfortable tackling any part of a rewiring project myself, I should call a licensed electrician rather than risk injury or damage. While DIY rewiring can save thousands of dollars in labor costs, safety is not worth compromising.

Conclusion

Rewiring a home without an electrician is a complex project, but also a great way to save substantially on electrical upgrades and improvements. To successfully rewire my home myself, I need to:

• Fully educate myself on home electrical systems and wiring techniques.

• Have all the necessary tools and materials on hand. Commercial grade only.

• Follow proper safety procedures like de-energizing circuits.

• Work methodically and meticulously to avoid hazardous mistakes.

• Seek help if I encounter unfamiliar or uncertain electrical work.

While rewiring a house myself takes time and diligence, it allows me to upgrade and enhance my electrical system at a fraction of the cost of hiring an electrician. And nothing beats the satisfaction and savings of a successful DIY rewiring project. Just be sure safety is the top priority.