How To Rewire Your Home Without Dying - A Guide For Novices

Introduction

Rewiring a home can seem like a daunting task, but with proper planning and safety precautions, even a novice can successfully rewire their house without risking electrocution or burning the place down. As a first-time home wiring amateur myself, I learned a lot through trial and error. This guide will walk you through the basics of residential rewiring and provide tips to keep yourself and your home safe.

Reasons For Rewiring

There are several reasons you may need or want to rewire your home:

Upgrading the Electrical System

• If your home is very old, the wiring is likely outdated and insufficient for handling today's electrical loads from appliances and devices. Rewiring allows you to upgrade to a heavier gauge wire that can handle increased capacity. This helps prevent tripping breakers or electrical fires.

• Rewiring also lets you update overload protection devices like circuit breakers. Newer breakers and fuses that "trip" easier provide better protection compared to old fuses.

Safety Concerns

• Old wiring poses safety risks like short circuits and fires. If your wiring shows signs of damage like fraying or cracks, rewiring can prevent shocks or fires.

• Aluminum wiring used in some homes between 1965-73 is prone to overheating and arcing. Replacing it with copper wire reduces fire hazard.

Adding Electrical Circuits

• If you're remodeling or adding onto your home, you may need to install new wiring to power additional lights, outlets, and appliances.

• Rewiring also allows upgrading from outdated 2-wire to modern 3-wire circuits. The extra wire enables separate neutral and ground wires for safer operation of sensitive electronics.

Preparing To Rewire

Thorough planning and preparation helps ensure a smooth wiring project. Rushing into the job without thinking through all the steps will likely lead to mistakes or unsafe conditions. Be sure to:

Learn Electrical Basics

• Educate yourself on basic residential electrical systems. Topics to study include voltage, amperage, series and parallel circuits, wire sizing, overcurrent protection, and grounding.

• Understand basic wiring and connection methods like splicing, pigtailing, wire nuts, and installing outlets and switches. Mastering these fundamentals prepares you to do the job safely and correctly.

Create a Wiring Diagram

• A wiring diagram is essential for keeping track of all the new wire runs and connections. Map out each circuit including the main service panel, subpanels, switches, receptacles, appliances, fixtures, etc.

• Identify which breakers control each circuit. Accurately labeling the diagram helps avoid confusion later.

Gather Tools and Materials

• Accumulate all the necessary tools and supplies before starting, including wire strippers, voltmeter, fish tape, cable staples, wire nuts, junction boxes, and of course the wiring itself.

• Ensure you have enough wire on hand for all the planned circuits, including extra as a buffer.

• Organization helps - neatly lay out and label supplies to avoid waste.

Safety Gear

• Wear electrically insulated gloves and clothes without exposed skin to avoid shocks. Eye protection is also a must during installation.

• Have an ABC fire extinguisher on hand in case a spark ignites insulation or framing.

• Turn off power at the main breaker and verify it's dead using a voltmeter before doing any work.

Installing New Wiring

Once prepped, it's time to start the rewiring process:

Running Cable

• Carefully measure each wire run length from the diagram. Leave extra for slack rather than cutting too short.

• Select the appropriate wire gauge for each circuit based on voltage and current draw. For 15-20 amp home circuits, 14 or 12 AWG is common.

• Use staples approximately every 4-6 feet when attaching cables to studs and joists. Avoid over-stapling which can damage the wire.

• Fish tape helps pull cables through walls and ceilings between access points. Keep pulls straight without kinking.

• Use junction boxes to split wire runs like ceiling light fixtures wired in parallel. Make sure joints are fully enclosed.

Making Connections

• Turn off breakers for circuits you're working on. Verify with a voltmeter that power is off!

• Strip insulation properly using wire strippers without nicking the metal. Remove only 3/4" of insulation.

• For pigtail splices, stagger the lengths of each wire so connections aren't bunched up.

• Twist wires together securely before capping with a wire nut. Ensure no bare wire is exposed.

• Avoid electrical tape for securing splices - it offers no protection and can come loose over time.

Testing Circuits

• Before sealing up walls, turn power back on and test each circuit thoroughly for functionality.

• Check that polarity is correct on outlets - hot and neutral wires are not reversed.

• Verify ground continuity using a multimeter or outlet tester. This protects against electrical shorts.

• Fix any loose connections which may overheat. Tug gently on wires to confirm joints are tight.

Staying Safe Throughout

Your safety should remain top priority during the entire wiring process:

• Keep your work area tidy and free of tripping hazards.

• Use a fiberglass ladder when working in ceilings and attics to avoid conductive aluminum ladders.

• Take frequent breaks as electrical work can be mentally exhausting. Fatigue leads to mistakes.

• Once a circuit is wired, immediately cover bare wires with wire nut caps even during the unfinished job.

• When using power tools and ladders, maintain three-point contact to avoid falls. Don't rush the work!

• If a wire begins smoking or sparking, quickly turn off power and troubleshoot the cause before continuing. Never ignore warning signs!

• Always double-check that circuits are de-energized using a voltmeter before grabbing wires or touching connections. Assume wires are "hot" otherwise.

By following these guidelines and making safety the top priority, even novices can rewire most homes. Pay close attention to details, don't rush, and seek help if unsure about any aspect of the electrical work. The effort pays off with a safer, more efficient electrical system!