How to Rewire Your Home Without Expensive Electricians or Risky DIY Mistakes

Introduction

Rewiring a home can seem like a daunting task, but with the right preparation and knowledge, it is possible for a homeowner to rewire their house safely and legally without hiring expensive professional electricians or making risky DIY mistakes.

In this comprehensive guide, I will walk through all the steps needed to fully rewire a home, from obtaining permits to selecting the right wire and outlets to safely connecting each circuit. I have organized this guide into sections covering preparation, materials, key steps, and laws to follow, with tips sprinkled throughout to help you avoid common pitfalls.

By the end, you will feel equipped with the knowledge needed to take on a full home rewiring project with confidence. The sense of accomplishment and money saved will be well worth the effort invested!

Preparation

Before beginning any electrical work, the proper preparations must be made to ensure success and safety. Rushing into a rewiring project without planning can lead to frustrating delays, hazards, or noncompliance with local building codes.

Permits

• The first step is contacting your local building department to obtain electrical and building permits for the project. Permits are required for any major electrical work to ensure it meets local codes and standards.
• I recommend having the specific circuits and rooms you intend to rewire outlined so the permit can be tailored to the scope of your project.
• The permit application may need to include your planned wiring diagrams and electrical load calculations for approval.
• Permits protect homeowners by having electrical inspectors verify the work was done to code. Failing to get permits can risk fines, insurance issues if a problem occurs, and lower home value at resale.

Planning the Project Scope

• Carefully evaluate which circuits and parts of the home you intend to rewire. Focus on sections with outdated or insufficient wiring that needs upgrading.
• Create a home electrical plan marking all circuits, junction boxes, outlets, switches and fixtures to be replaced. Reference the existing wiring as a starting point.
• Gather all necessary tools and materials outlined in the next section before work begins to avoid delays once started.
• Check your health insurance covers you for electrical mishaps and accidents. Rewiring has inherent risks that make coverage important.

Hiring an Electrician

• For DIYers lacking electrical experience, consider hiring an electrician to teach you the process for key steps like connecting to the main panel.
• While still expensive, their guidance for a few complex tasks can provide the skills to DIY the rest and save substantially over full professional rewiring.
• Get quotes from several licensed electricians and be upfront about your desire for them to train you on key steps rather than complete all the work.

Materials Needed

To rewire a house, a variety of electrical materials must be purchased ahead of time. Focus on purchasing quality materials that meet or exceed the National Electrical Code (NEC) standards for safety and performance.

Wire

• 12/2 NM cable is commonly used as it provides two insulated hot wires with a ground wire. Choose copper over aluminum for optimal conductivity and safety.
• For 20 amp appliance circuits like large refrigerators or ovens, upgrade to 10/2 NM cable.
• Only purchase wire with THHN/THWN printed on the insulation to indicate it is NEC approved.

Outlets and Switches

• Choose tamper-resistant outlets which prevent children from sticking objects into the slots.
• For bathrooms, purchase GFCI outlets which contain ground fault protection to prevent electrocution near sinks.
• Lighted switches can provide nice nighttime visibility.

Circuit Breakers

• New AFCI circuit breakers help protect from arc faults or small shorts that standard breakers miss. Upgrade your main panel if needed to fit them.
• Choose home run wiring where every outlet has its own breaker instead of connections in series. It prevents overloading.

Conduit and Boxes

• Use metal conduit to protect any exposed sections of wiring. EMT thin wall conduit is lightweight and easy to install.
• Upgrade any outdated junction boxes since older styles can overheat and cause fires.

Key Steps for Rewiring

The process of fully rewiring a house is labor intensive but straight forward when broken down into steps:

1. Turn Off Power

• Shut off power at the main circuit breaker panel. Use a contact voltage tester to verify it is off.
• Failure to cut power risks electrocution or damage to connected devices. Notify family members of the outage.

2. Remove Old Wiring

• Disconnect and remove outdated wiring by cutting cables inside each junction box and at the main panel.
• Also remove old outlets, switches and fixtures that will be replaced. Take pictures before removal to help with re-installation.

3. Install New Wiring and Devices

• Run new NM cables from the main panel to each room's junction box, leaving extra length for adjustments.
• Drill holes through wall studs to route wiring between boxes. Use conduit to protect any exposed wire sections.
• Connect the neutral and ground wires inside the main panel and junction boxes using provided screws.
• Attach the hot wire to the circuit breaker in the panel and the terminal screw on each switch and outlet.
• Screw in each outlet and switch where the old ones were removed. Attach wall plates and light fixtures with bulbs installed.

4. Connect the Main Service Panel

• Hire an electrician to connect the main service wires to the utility feed unless you are highly experienced with this complex procedure.
• Attach the ground wire to the ground bus bar. Connect the neutral wires to the neutral bus bar.
• Carefully join each circuit's hot wire to the corresponding new circuit breaker. Follow the wiring diagram.

5. Inspection and Power Restore

• Call the building department to schedule a final inspection of the rewiring work. They will verify compliance with permits issued.
• Make any corrections noted if the inspector finds issues. Some may require new permit amendments.
• Once approved, carefully switch the main breaker on to restore power to the updated electrical system.

Laws and Safety Tips

While the process may seem straightforward, rewiring a home has serious risks if electrical laws and safety guidelines are ignored. Make sure to:

• Follow all requirements to obtain proper permits before starting.
• Only perform work you are fully trained and qualified to complete safely.
• Turn power off at the main breaker panel and verify it is dead before starting.
• Only use approved materials that meet NEC standards. Do not improvise wiring.
• Avoid working alone. Have someone available to call emergency services if a mishap occurs.
• Never wire a circuit to a higher amperage breaker than its rating or overload outlets with too many devices.
• Double check all connections are tight and properly secured. Loose connections can cause arcing.
• Wear rubber-soled shoes and non-conductive work gloves when handling wires.
• Keep flammable materials away from project area and have a fire extinguisher on hand.
• Hire a licensed electrician if any aspects are too complex or beyond your skill level.

Conclusion

While rewiring an entire home is an ambitious project, it can be successfully tackled by a diligent DIYer without the need to hire expensive electrician or risk making hazardous mistakes. Following this guide will provide the necessary knowledge and preparation to upgrade home wiring with proper materials to the latest codes. Always make safety the number one priority and obtain professional assistance if any part of the electrical work is confusing. The improved electrical capacity and safety will be a valuable upgrade to the home for years to come. Let me know if you have any other questions!