How to Rewire Your Old Home and Not Get Electrocuted

Why Rewiring an Old Home is Necessary

Rewiring an old home is often necessary for several reasons:

Safety: Old wiring can present serious fire and electrocution hazards if not updated to meet modern electrical codes and safety standards. Outdated wiring lacks sufficient amperage to handle today's electrical loads from appliances and devices. This can cause overheating, sparks, and fires.
Reliability: Old wiring insulation tends to break down over time, leading to shorts, power fluctuations, and outages. Replacing old wires improves electrical reliability.
Capacity: Upgrading wiring enables your home's electrical system to meet increased energy demands from new appliances and electronics. New wiring provides more power to more outlets.
Efficiency: New wiring enhances the energy efficiency of your home. Less electricity is lost through old, degraded wire insulation. Smart new features like motion sensors and timers further optimize electricity use.
Aesthetics: Rewiring allows you to update the look of your home by removing outdated, hazardous materials like knob and tube wiring. New wires can be neatly installed behind walls.

I recently rewired my 1927 home myself. Here is how I did it safely and avoided getting electrocuted.

Before Rewiring: Assess and Prepare

Before touching any wires, take time to thoroughly assess your home's electrical system and prepare for the project:

Inspect the electrical panel and all visible wiring to gauge the extent of upgrades needed. Look for cloth-wrapped wires, frayed insulation, improper connections, and insufficient circuit breakers.
Research local building codes and permit requirements for home electrical work. Some jurisdictions require permits and inspections.
Have an electrician provide a professional assessment of any questionable wiring. They can identify hazards and recommend the best rewiring approach.
Turn off the main circuit breaker and all individual breakers before starting work. Verify power is off using a non-contact voltage tester.
Purchase all necessary materials and tools, including new wires, boxes, receptacles, connectors, wire strippers, volt meter, ladder, flashlight, and safety gear.
Clear any storage and furnishings from the work areas to allow easy access.

- Isolate pets and young children from the work areas to prevent accidental electrocution. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby in case of sparks.

Step-by-Step Rewiring Process

Follow these key steps to systematically rewire each room:

1. Remove old wires, outlets, switches

With all power off, carefully remove existing electrical components - outlets, switches, light fixtures.
Unhook wires from devices and disconnect them from the electrical panel.
Pull wires out of boxes and conduits. Remove empty boxes.

2. Install new electrical boxes

Mark locations for new boxes according to your desired layout.
Cut holes and mount boxes in walls and ceilings. Follow box size and placement codes.

3. Run new wires

Select the right gauge wire for expected electrical load. Most homes take 14 or 12 gauge.
Starting at the panel, run wires through framing cavities or conduits to each box location.
Allow extra length for connections. Use NM cable for most branch circuits.

4. Connect wires and devices

Strip insulation from wire ends and connect to outlets, switches and fixtures using screw terminals or push-in connectors.
Use wire nuts to join branch circuit wires to feeder wires from the panel. Follow color coding.
Use cable clamps to secure cables entering boxes and terminate any unused wires properly.

5. Update the electrical panel

Install sufficient new circuit breakers of proper amperage rating for each circuit.
Ensure the main service panel amperage rating exceeds total draw from all branch circuits.
Connect all grounding, neutral and ground wires properly at the panel.

6. Test and finish installation

Restore power and test each outlet's wiring with a voltmeter for faults.
Mount all light fixtures, outlets, cover plates and switches.
Have an electrician inspect and certify the rewiring job if required by code.

Staying Safe Throughout the Rewiring Process

To avoid getting electrocuted while rewiring your home, please keep these critical safety precautions in mind:

Wear rubber-soled shoes and keep floors dry to avoid shock risk.
Turn off power at the main breaker before starting and verify it's off.
When wiring the panel, have a helper monitor the main breaker.
Disconnect both hot and neutral wires when removing old wiring.
Ground yourself by touching a grounded metal object before handling wires.
Use a non-contact voltage tester to detect live wires hidden in walls.
Keep all wiring ends capped when unattended to avoid contact.
Be extremely careful not to nick or damage wires when pulling them.
Never leave wires exposed or unattended when energized.
Wear safety goggles and non-conductive gloves when handling wires.
Keep your body insulated from contact with grounded surfaces when handling wires.
Connect one wire at a time when wiring devices to avoid shock.

By thoroughly planning the project, following code requirements, and taking essential safety precautions, you can successfully rewire your old home without risk of electrocution. Paying a professional for at least an initial assessment is highly recommended. But if you decide to DIY, just be cautious, vigilant, and patient throughout the process.