How to Rewire Your Home without Hiring an Electrician

Introduction

Rewiring a home can be a daunting task, but with proper planning and precautions, it is possible for a homeowner to rewire their house themselves and avoid the high costs of hiring an electrician. In this comprehensive guide, I will walk through the entire process of rewiring a home safely and legally without professional help.

Reasons to Rewire Your Home

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

Upgrading to a 200 amp service - If your home still has an old 60 amp or 100 amp electrical service, rewiring will allow you to upgrade to a 200 amp service to meet the demands of modern appliances and electronics. This will provide more capacity and reduce tripped circuit breakers.
Safety hazards - Outdated wiring that has damaged insulation can present safety issues like electrical fires and shocks. Rewiring will allow you to update wiring to modern, safer standards.
Remodeling needs - When remodeling a kitchen, bathroom or other space, rewiring may be necessary to meet building codes and provide power where you need it.
New circuits - Additional lighting, appliances and chargers may require new dedicated circuits, requiring new wiring installation.

Dangers of Home Electrical Work

While DIY electrical work can save money, there are risks involved. Electrical dangers include:

Electrocution - Touching live wires can result in serious injury or death by electrocution. Turning off power at the main breaker is crucial when working.
Fire - Faulty wiring is a leading cause of home electrical fires. Quality materials and proper technique are vital.
Damaged devices - Mistakes can damage appliances, electronics and lighting fixtures. Proper planning prevents costly replacements.
Legal issues - Most jurisdictions require permits and inspections for home electrical work. Not following codes may put insurance and liability at risk.

Safety should be the number one priority when planning a DIY rewiring project. Proper precautions will allow you to rewire safely.

Rewiring Project Overview

Rewiring a whole house is a complex project that can generally be broken down into several key steps:

Create a plan - Map out a detailed plan for running wiring to each room and location. Calculate electrical loads and circuit needs.
Get permits - Obtain the necessary permits and schedule inspections before starting.
Turn off power - Shut off electricity at the main breaker before touching any wires. Verify power is off.
Remove old wiring - Take down outdated wiring but leave switches, outlets and devices in place.
Install new wires - Run new wires through walls and ceilings to each location according to code.
Connect wires - Carefully connect the new wires to existing outlets, switches and fixtures.
Inspect and test - Have an inspector confirm work meets local codes and carefully test each circuit.
Finish up - Add faceplates, covers and trim to complete the job. Turn power back on and test each circuit thoroughly.

Proper tools, safety precautions and attention to detail during each step is crucial for a successful rewiring project.

Making a Rewiring Plan

Careful planning is the most important part of any major home wiring project. Rushing in without a plan leads to frustration, mistakes and wasted time and money.

Here are key elements to include in your home rewiring plan:

Circuit mapping - Note each existing circuit and the outlets, lights and devices connected to it. This provides a blueprint for new circuits.
Load calculation - Calculate the electrical load for lighting, receptacles and appliances to determine service needs and new circuit requirements.
Wiring paths - Map the exact route to run wires through walls, ceilings and floors to each device location.
Local codes - Research local building codes for wire gauge required, number of circuits allowed, outlet spacing, etc.
Safety gear - Determine what safety equipment like gloves, goggles, detectors, ladders, covers, etc you will need.
Permit requirements - Know what work will require an electrical permit and schedule appropriate inspections.

Take time making a detailed plan before purchasing materials or starting work. This will save hiccups down the road.

Purchasing Materials

Once a plan is made, you can determine what materials will be required. Typical materials and hardware needed for rewiring a house include:

Wire - Appropriate gauge (Usually 12 or 14 gauge) copper wire will be needed for 15 and 20 amp branch circuits. Have extra on hand.
Conduit - Metal or plastic conduit provides protection for wire running through walls and ceilings.
Boxes - Electrical boxes house and connect wires for switches, outlets and fixtures.
Outlets and switches - Upgrade to modern tamper resistant receptacles and switches.
Breakers - New circuits will require appropriately sized circuit breakers in the main panel.
Faceplates and covers - New ones will provide a finished look for new wiring.
Miscellaneous - Other items like wire nuts, staples, clamps and tools will also be required.

Take inventory before starting and purchase supplies and hardware in advance to avoid delay. Ensure everything is UL rated and up to local code.

Safety Gear Needed

Because electricity can injure or kill if mishandled, personal safety is paramount when DIYing electrical work. You should obtain and use the following safety gear:

Electrical gloves - Insulated rubber gloves appropriate for the voltage in your home will protect from shocks.
Safety goggles - Protect your eyes from debris when pulling wires.
Dust mask - Prevent inhaling dust or insulation particles when working in tight spaces.
Voltage detector - Use a non-contact voltage detector to confirm wires are de-energized before touching.
GFCI protection - Having GFCI outlets or a portable GFCI during work will help prevent shocks.
Ladder - Use a fiberglass ladder when accessing high wires in the circuit breaker or running wires overhead. Never use a metal ladder.
First aid kit - Have a kit on hand in case of cuts, shocks or falls.

Personal safety should be your top priority. Don't skimp on proper safety gear - it can save your life.

Obtaining Electrical Permits

Most jurisdictions require homeowners obtain an electrical permit before rewiring a home, even when doing the work themselves.

Electrical permits are important for several reasons:

Permits ensure work is inspected and meets local building codes. This makes the rewiring job safer.
If home insurance has claims in the future, they will want to confirm work was permitted.
Permits provide legal permission from the city/county to proceed with electrical work.
Inspections associated with the permit help catch mistakes early before drywall goes up.
Selling the home in the future is easier with permit documentation.

Follow these steps when obtaining a rewiring electrical permit:

Contact your local building department to ask about permit needs for whole house rewiring projects.
Fill out the required permit application form and submit plans if necessary.
Pay the permit fee, which varies based on the scope of work proposed.
Schedule the required inspections for rough-in, final wiring, etc.

Getting a permit takes time so build this into your project schedule. It ensures your new wiring job meets local codes.

Turning Off Power

The most dangerous part of any electrical work is live wires. Accidental contact with live wires can injure or kill.

Follow these steps to fully disconnect power before starting a rewiring project:

Locate the main circuit breaker or fuse box. This is usually outside or in the basement.
Open the main breaker door and turn the large main breaker completely to OFF.
Turn all individual circuit breakers OFF as well.
Use a non-contact voltage detector to double check wires are de-energized. Test multiple spots.
Once power is confirmed off, you may open panels and remove cover plates to access wiring.
Attach temporary warning signs and barricades so others do not switch power on accidentally.

Working on live wires should never be attempted. Verify power is completely off before touching any wiring to avoid fatal shocks.

Removing Old Wiring

With power disconnected, you can start removing outdated wiring. Follow these safe practices when taking out old wiring:

Wear electrical gloves, goggles and dust mask to protect yourself.
Carefully remove cover plates from switches and outlets. Label wires as you disconnect them.
Detach wires from outlets, switches and light fixtures. Wrap ends with electrical tape for safety.
Remove any wire staples, clips or ties from studs and joists.
Carefully pull wires out of boxes and through holes drilled in studs and joists. Coil wires neatly.
Label or tag which circuit old wires belonged to for reference.
Do NOT remove switches, receptacles, lights or other devices yet. Leave them in place for now.

Work methodically and labeled wires as you remove them. Take photos of complicated junctions before disconnecting anything. The old wiring will provide a map for running new circuits.

Running New Wiring

Once old wiring is removed, the real work begins - running new wires for rewiring the entire house. Follow these tips when running new wires:

Carefully measure and cut wires to correct lengths to avoid waste. Label each end.
Drill holes through center of studs and joists at least 1 1/4" back from face.
Fish wires through walls using long flexible drill bits and fish tape. Avoid tight bends.
Use metal conduit where wires are exposed. Conduit protects against damage.
Refer frequently to your circuit mapping plan when running each new circuit.
Staple wires every 4-1⁄2 feet and within 12 inches of boxes according to code.
Leave 8" wire tails at outlets and 6" tails at switches for easy connecting.
Meeting circuit length limits depends on wire gauge and breaker size.

Take it slowly and be careful pulling wires. Leaving plenty of extra length is better than wires coming up short.

Connecting New Wires

Once new wires are run from the panel to all locations, it is time to start connecting switches, outlets and fixtures.

Use the following process when connecting wires:

Turn all breakers OFF again and reconfirm power is dead using a voltage tester.
Refer to the old wiring labels and photos to duplicate circuits correctly.
Carefully strip insulation from wire ends using sharp wire strippers. Avoid nicking copper.
Neatly twist stripped wire ends together tightly.
Securely fasten twisted wires with appropriately sized wire nuts.
Wrap each connection with electrical tape for additional protection.
Test each wire connection by lightly pulling on wires to ensure a solid connection.
Install wires into switches, outlets and fixtures terminals correctly per manufacturer instructions.

Double check all connections are tight and correct. Bad connections can lead to shorts, fires and shocks down the road.

Inspections and Testing

With all new wiring installed and connected, your rewiring project is nearly complete. Next comes the final but very important steps of inspections and testing.

Inspections

Schedule required inspections through your local building department based on the permit requirements. Typical inspections include:

Rough-in inspection - Ensures wires are properly sized and secured within walls before insulation and drywall.
Final inspection - Confirms all connections were made properly and devices are wired correctly.

Only upon passing required inspections can your new wiring be approved for use. The inspectors are there to catch any mistakes and ensure your safety.

Testing Circuits

Thoroughly test each circuit prior to closing up walls and ceilings.

Follow this process when testing circuits:

With all circuits still OFF at the breaker, use a continuity tester to confirm all wiring is correctly connected from the panel to each device.
Carefully switch ON the main breaker and each individual circuit one at a time.
At each outlet, switch and fixture, test operation and check for proper voltage using a multimeter.
For lighting circuits, connect only one bulb at a time and test each fixture.
Fix any loose connections or faulty wires and retest problem areas.

Take the time to methodically test each circuit. Catching flaws now prevents issues down the road after drywall is up.

Completing the Project

Once all inspections are passed and circuit testing is complete without issues, you're ready to wrap up the project.

Install new outlet and switch cover plates. For a finished look, choose matching colors and designs.
Replace any removed insulation, fire blocking, vapor barriers and other materials to original condition.
Close up any holes or openings made for wire routing using approved methods.
Affix junction box cover plates and lids properly. Only close up completed spaces.
Properly dispose of all old wiring according to your local jurisdiction's regulations.
Store extra wiring materials and tools neatly in case any issues arise in the future.
Keep permit paperwork and receipts for documentation should electrical issues occur down the road.

With all these steps complete, you can turn everything back on and enjoy your newly rewired home! Take pride in the money you saved doing this major electrical project safely yourself.

Conclusion

While rewiring an entire home is challenging, this guide has provided you the key planning steps, safety advice and installation best practices to complete a successful DIY rewiring project without hiring an electrician.

Pay close attention to safety, research local codes thoroughly, take the job slow, double check all your connections, and call for inspections at the right times. With diligence and care, you can safely rewire your home and gain invaluable skills in the process.