How to Rewire Your Home's Outlets for Higher Efficiency Without an Electrician

Introduction

Rewiring the outlets in your home can provide higher electrical efficiency and allow you to upgrade to modern standards without hiring an electrician. With proper planning and safety precautions, a handy homeowner can safely rewire outlets to provide grounded three-prong connections, increase capacity with 240-volt lines, or add more outlets to reduce the use of extension cords and power strips. I’ll walk through the key steps to follow for a successful DIY outlet rewiring project.

Reasons to Rewire Outlets

There are a few main reasons why you may want to rewire the outlets in your home:

Upgrade to Grounded Outlets

Many older homes only have two-prong outlets, which lack a ground wire. Rewiring with modern grounded outlets provides safety and allows the use of three-prong appliances.

Increase Electrical Capacity

Rewiring with thicker 12 or 10 gauge wire and new outlets allows higher electrical loads for today's power-hungry appliances and electronics.

Add More Outlets

Adding more outlets can eliminate extension cords and power strips. New outlet locations near beds, desks, and entertainment centers can be helpful.

Lighten Cord Load

Too many items plugged into one outlet can cause fires or tripping breakers. Rewiring provides more outlets to spread out electrical loads.

Planning Your Outlet Rewiring Project

Careful planning is crucial for a successful DIY rewiring project. Here are key steps to plan out:

• Circuit mapping - Map which circuit each outlet is on so you can work one circuit at a time.

• Safety protocols - Have fire extinguishers on hand and learn lockout/tagout procedures to safely shut off breakers.

• Electrical requirements - Assess your home's electrical needs to know where grounded outlets, more capacity, or additional outlets are needed.

• Materials list - Compile a list of necessary materials like wire, boxes, outlets, and tools. Buy extra materials in case of mistakes.

• Outlet height - ConsiderUpdating outlet height to modern 18-24 inch standards for comfort and accessibility.

• Permits - Check your municipal codes to determine if a permit is required and any applicable electrical codes.

How to Rewire an Outlet

Here is an overview of the main steps involved to rewire an outlet:

1. Turn off the circuit breaker for the outlet at the main electrical panel. Test wires with a non-contact voltage tester to ensure power is off.

2. Remove the cover plate screws then carefully remove the outlet from the electrical box using a screwdriver.

3. Disconnect and label the existing wires. Often there will be 2 wires plus a ground. Take photos for reference.

4. Remove old electrical box if it will be replaced. If reusing box, inspect for damage and clean inside box.

5. Thread new wire through electrical box depending on rewiring approach:

6. Pigtailing - Connect short 6 inch ground wire and matching hot/neutral pigtails to the new outlet which existing circuit wires connect to.

7. Splicing - Splice existing hot, neutral and new ground wires directly to new outlet. Cap with wire nuts.

8. Connect wires securely to new outlet and install outlet into electrical box per manufacturer instructions.

9. Secure outlet to box with mounting screws, attach cover plate, then carefully restore power and test operation.

Safety Precautions

Electrical work can be hazardous. Follow these safety tips:

• Turn off power at breaker and verify it's dead before starting work.

• Wear insulated gloves and safety glasses.

• Never work on live wires! Double check wires with a tester.

• Connect ground wire to box and outlet for fault protection.

• Avoid overstuffing electrical boxes with excess wire.

• Use caution when working inside walls to avoid plumbing, gas lines, or fireblocks.

Tips for Successful Rewiring

Here are some helpful tips as you rewire your home's electrical outlets:

• Label all wires - Use masking tape to label each wire as you disconnect it for easy reassembly.

• Take photos - Take photos before disconnecting any outlet for reference later.

• Check ground wires - Many older outlet boxes do not have ground wires. Make sure new grounded outlets are properly connected to new ground wires.

• Mind wall depth - Outlet boxes come in different depths. Match depth to wall thickness so outlets sit flush.

• Get help - For 240 volt circuits or complicated jobs, hire an electrician to ensure it's done safely.

• Work one circuit at a time - Rewire only the outlets on the same circuit at once so other rooms remain powered on.

• Address age or heat damage - Replace any outlets or wiring that show signs of excessive age or heat damage.

Conclusion

Rewiring outlets is very rewarding work that can provide safer, more convenient electrical systems. Pay close attention to safety. For large projects, hire an electrician to handle the trickiest aspects. Take it slow, follow electrical codes, and get inspections as needed. Done right, your upgraded outlets will serve your home for many years to come.