How to Rewire Your Home Without Hiring an Electrician

Introduction

Rewiring a home can seem like a daunting task, but with proper planning and safety precautions, it is possible for a homeowner to do it themselves without hiring an electrician. As someone who has successfully rewired my home, I will share my experience and advice to help you understand the process from start to finish.

Reasons to Rewire

There are a few common reasons you may need to rewire your home:

• Upgrading the electrical system - If your home still has knob and tube wiring or another outdated electrical system, rewiring can allow you to upgrade to safer and more efficient modern wiring. This is especially important in older homes.

• Insufficient amperage - If your home's electrical needs have increased over the years due to new appliances and devices, the existing wires may not provide enough power anymore. Rewiring allows for higher amperage capacity.

• Safety hazards - Outdated wiring is more likely to cause issues like electrical fires, shocks, and electrocution. Rewiring eliminates these risks.

• Remodeling needs - Any major renovations like finishing a basement or adding on to your home will require rewiring to extend electrical service to the new areas.

Preparation

Here are some key things to do in preparation for a rewiring project:

• Research - Read DIY guides, watch tutorial videos, and understand the basic process and important safety precautions. Being informed is key.

• Permits - Depending on where you live, you may need to apply for permits before rewiring a home. Research permit requirements for your area.

• Box store supplies - Create a list of all needed supplies like wire, boxes, outlets, switches, etc. and purchase them ahead of time from home improvement stores. Buying in bulk saves money.

• Shutoff and disconnect - Switch off the main breaker and disconnect power to the home. Always double check with a voltage tester that power is off.

• Remove obstructions - Clear any obstructions in the walls and ceilings where you'll be running wire. Make access holes where needed.

Running New Wires

The central task in rewiring is running the new wires through the house. Here's how to do it correctly:

• Wear personal protective equipment like googles and dust masks to stay safe.

• Map out your wiring plan including the layout and positions of outlets, switches, and fixtures.

• Select the right gauge wire for each circuit based on expected power load. Using thicker than needed wire is ideal.

• Carefully feed new wires through walls and ceilings from the service panel using fish tape. Keep wire runs as short and direct as possible.

• Use cable staples/clips every 4-5 feet when running wire through framing. Keep wires neat and orderly.

• Label both ends of each wire so you know where it terminates. This helps hugely during connections.

• When finished, seal all access holes with filler compound and repaint.

Installing Boxes, Fixtures and Devices

After the wires are run, it's time to add boxes, outlets, switches and fixtures:

• Install new plastic electrical boxes where needed. The required box size depends on the number of wires entering it.

• Securely mount new outlets and switches in each box. Match wire colors and use screwdrivers for the connections.

• Properly ground all devices by attaching a ground wire from the box to the ground terminal.

• Attach cover plates once devices are wired up. Label circuits on the inside with a marker.

• Install new lighting fixtures, fans, etc. following included directions. Again properly connect all grounds.

• For kitchen and bathroom circuits, use GFCI outlets or breakers for protection from shocks.

Connecting the Service Panel

The final stage is connecting your new wires to the main service panel and breakers:

• Group and label all new circuit wires with tape to identify their corresponding breakers.

• Connect grounds first, then neutral, then hot wires. Double check connections are tight.

• Connect multiple hot wires from one circuit to a new appropriately sized circuit breaker and flip it on.

• Ensure each circuit is properly balanced across two phases, if applicable. This optimizes the electrical load.

• Insert blank filler plates to cover any open spaces left in the panel. A full panel prevents electrocution risk.

• Ensure all breakers are correctly sized for the wire gauges used in each corresponding circuit.

Testing and Completion

Before completion, thoroughly test your new wiring and fix any issues:

• With all breakers still off, use a multimeter to ensure there is no power running to outlets, switches and fixtures.

• Flip each breaker on one at a time and methodically test every outlet, switch, and fixture on that circuit.

• Check for secure connections, proper grounding, and polarity. Rewire any problem spots.

• Once everything checks out properly, turn the main breaker back on to restore power.

• Allow your local building inspector to examine the rewiring and perform their own tests before signing off.

With proper diligence and attention to safety, a DIY rewiring project can save thousands over hiring an electrician. Just take it slow and be extremely careful when working with electrical systems. But the end result will be a safer, more efficient wiring system!