A home electrical rewiring project requires an understanding of electrical codes, wiring and installation methods, and the agility to access attic and/or crawl spaces. It’s important to know where and how to drill through walls, floors, and ceilings in order to fish in new wires. Attempting to try rewiring by yourself may become overwhelming and could lead to delays, frustration, and additional unnecessary expenses.
Hiring a professional ensures the job is done to code and will minimize the disruption to your life. Mirsky Electric has a proven track record of delivering expert rewiring services to older homes in the Greater Seattle area. We strive to bring light into your life by prioritizing safety and working efficiently to ensure that your house is up to code and is safe for you and your family,
Can I Legally Rewire My Own House?
In general, homeowners can rewire their homes if they pull a permit and follow electrical codes and safety regulations.
If you get a permit, failing an electrical inspection can result in additional costs and more work. Failing to obtain a permit can lead to fines and delays.
Hiring a licensed electrician simplifies this process, ensuring your home meets all legal requirements and remains safe and compliant.
How Can I Be Sure My Home Needs a Full Rewire?
Before starting any electrical work, you must know whether your home needs a full or partial rewire. If you notice any of the following signs, we recommend hiring a professional electrician to evaluate your home’s electrical system fully.
- Flickering Lights or Frequent Circuit Breaker Trips: Flickering lights or tripping circuit breakers indicate that your electrical system may be overloaded, or that the wiring is inadequate.
- Old or Outdated Wiring: Homes with knob-and-tube, cloth wiring or aluminum wiring do not support modern electrical demands and can potentially lead to an unsafe electrical system.
- Burning Smells or Discolored Outlets: A burning odor or discoloration around outlets signals overheating wires or outlets.
- Buzzing Sounds or Warm Outlets: If your outlets, dimmers, or switches are warm or hot to touch, and if they make buzzing noises, it’s a sign that your wiring or the devices could be faulty or overloaded.
- Adding Appliances or Expanding Your Home: Significant upgrades or expansions often require additional wiring to accommodate increased loads.
- Visible Wear on Wiring: Exposed or frayed wires are a serious safety hazard and a clear indication that rewiring is needed.
- Electrical Shocks: Light shocks when showering or washing hands is an indication that your plumbing is not properly grounded.
- Dimming Lights When Using Appliances or Heater: If your lights dim when appliances are in use, it might mean your wiring cannot handle the load.
- Non-Grounded (Two-Prong) Outlets: Older homes with two-prong outlets lack a grounding wire, which is a clear sign of outdated wiring.
- Aging Electrical Panel: Electrical panels over 20 years old should be inspected for loose connections and any signs of rusting. An electrical service upgrade is typically required for rewiring due to all the added circuits.
- Use of Extension Cords: Relying on extension cords for additional plugs indicates that your home lacks sufficient receptacles.
- Lights That Buzz or Flicker When Plugging in Devices: This suggests loose or faulty wiring, pointing to more significant electrical issues.
What Does the Electrical Rewiring Process Involve?
Rewiring a house is a complex process requiring experience, precision, and strict adherence to safety codes. Each step requires expert knowledge, the right tools, and a deep understanding of electrical codes. Attempting DIY rewiring risks safety, time, and costs, making professional rewiring the safest and most reliable option. Here’s what’s involved and why letting a licensed electrician handle the job is best.
- Inspection: A professional starts by inspecting your home’s current wiring for outdated or hazardous materials. DIYers may lack the knowledge to identify risks like faulty grounding or improper materials and overlook critical safety issues.
- Mapping Your Electrical Layout: An experienced electrician knows how to plan outlet, switch, and circuit placement to avoid circuit overloading and ensure code compliance. DIY plans can result in improper power distribution, appliance damage, frequent breaker trips, or worse.
- Cutting Access Points: Rewiring and running wires requires cutting into walls, floors, or ceilings to access old wiring, often in tight, challenging areas. Electricians are trained to cut minimal access points and use specialized tools to reduce damage to your home, whereas DIY attempts can lead to expensive and avoidable property damage that adds to repair costs.
- Replacing Existing Wiring: Incorrectly installed wiring can lead to overheating and fire hazards, which DIYers often risk if they lack the correct tools or expertise. Professional electricians replace outdated wiring with modern, insulated copper wiring, ensuring proper grounding that eliminates nearly all risks.
- Upgrading Panels and Circuits: Electricians upgrade electrical panels and add circuits to handle modern demands safely, using their knowledge of power load calculations and circuit breakers. DIYers may install incompatible materials or create overloaded circuits, increasing the risk of an electrical fire and serious electrocution.
- Testing and Code Compliance: After rewiring, an electrician rigorously tests the system for safety and verifies it meets code, whereas most DIY installations lack thorough testing. This increases the risk of missed dangers and code violations that can result in fines or insurance issues.
- Repair and Cleanup: Mirsky Electric can put you in touch with a qualified repair team to patch holes in drywall, touch up, and paint.
What are the Risks of Rewiring a House on Your Own?
While DIY rewiring may appear to save money, it introduces many serious risks that can far outweigh the project’s cost savings. Here are the key dangers to consider:
- Fire Hazards: Improperly installed wiring is one of the leading causes of house fires. Mistakes in wire connections or overloading circuits can lead to overheating, sparking, and ultimately, dangerous fires.
- Electrical Shock: If you attempt to rewire your home without safety training, you are highly likely to be severely electrocuted. Even a minor oversight, like touching a live wire, can lead to serious injuries or worse.
- Overloaded Circuits: DIY projects often miscalculate circuit loads, which can cause circuits to trip frequently, damage appliances, and overburden your home’s electrical system, leading to expensive additional repairs.
- Code Violations: Electrical work must meet strict local building codes. DIY rewiring falls short of these standards more often than not, leading to failed inspections, additional fees, and the need to have the work redone by a licensed professional.
- Insurance Issues: Many insurance policies won’t cover DIY electrical work that doesn’t meet code, which means that you won’t get any insurance reimbursement in the event of an electrical fire or other damages.
- Resale and Property Value Problems: Improper or unpermitted DIY wiring can reduce the value of your home and may require costly repairs to pass inspection when it’s time to sell.
- Inadequate Future-Proofing: Professional electricians design systems with future demands in mind. DIY wiring often lacks the capacity for future electrical upgrades, resulting in overloaded circuits and frequent system updates.
- Improper Grounding: Without proper grounding, your system remains vulnerable to electrical shocks and power surges, risking damage to electronics and appliances and your family’s safety.
- Incompatible Materials: Using the incorrect wire size, outlets, or circuit breakers can overheat and fail, especially when used with high-demand modern appliances.
- Extended Time and Cost Overruns: DIY projects often take significantly longer than anticipated, with costs accumulating due to errors and unexpected material needs. In some cases, hiring a professional to correct mistakes can exceed the initial cost of professional installation.
- Lack of Specialized Tools: Safe, precise wiring requires expensive, specialized tools and expertise that are generally inaccessible to homeowners. Without these, mistakes are much more likely and can lead to costly repairs or even structural damage.
- Attic and Crawlspace: Often wiring needs to be run through your attic and/or crawlspace which can be challenging to access. Without the knowledge on how to maneuver through these spaces, one can cause additional damage to the home and/or personal injury.
While DIY rewiring may appear to save money upfront, the risks and time commitment often outweigh the potential savings. Tackling the project yourself can lead to mistakes, voided insurance, and significant disruption to daily life. Professionals, on the other hand, provide high-quality, code-compliant work with warranties, post-project support, and minimal risk. Ultimately, while DIY rewiring might seem cheaper, the long-term value, safety, and peace of mind of hiring a professional make it a smarter investment for most homeowners.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Professional Electrician?
Choosing to have your home rewired by a licensed professional offers benefits beyond completing the project. Professional electricians bring expertise, safety assurance, and a level of quality that DIY projects often lack. Here are some key benefits of opting for professional rewiring:
- Safety and Compliance: Licensed electricians follow strict safety codes and regulations, ensuring your wiring is installed correctly and reducing the risk of fires, electrical shocks, and other hazards.
- Correctly Assessing Wiring and Fixture Needs: A professional can assess current and future electrical demands so your system is ready for future wiring and fixture upgrades.
- Quality Materials and Workmanship: Professionals use high-quality materials that meet or exceed safety standards, ensuring long-lasting, reliable electrical systems.
- Efficiency and Time Savings: What might take weeks as a DIY project can be completed efficiently and quickly by a professional while minimizing disruption to your daily routine.
- Warranty and Insurance Compliance: A good electrician offers warranties, and their work ensures you remain compliant with home insurance requirements.
- Increased Home Value: Homes with professional rewiring are safer and more appealing to buyers, especially during inspections.
- Energy Efficiency: Proper rewiring can optimize your home’s energy usage, potentially lowering energy bills and reducing power wastage.
- Access to the Latest Technology: Electricians stay updated on wiring advancements, making your home compatible with the latest technology, such as smart home systems or energy-efficient circuits.
- Custom Solutions: A professional can provide custom electrical solutions, including adding additional outlets or installing dedicated circuits for high-demand appliances, such as a home EV charger.
- Post-Installation Support: Many electricians offer follow-up maintenance services to ensure your electrical wiring remains in optimal condition for decades.
- Peace of Mind: Knowing your wiring system meets all safety standards and is future-proofed brings long-term peace of mind, knowing you will avoid costly issues in the future.
Our Professional Electricians Will Get the Job Done Right the First Time
While the idea of rewiring your home yourself may seem doable for some homeowners, the hidden risks, safety hazards, and long-term consequences make it a job best left to licensed professionals. From navigating complex codes to avoiding costly mistakes, professional electricians bring expertise that ensures your home’s wiring is safe, code-compliant, and ready for future demands.
Choosing a certified electrician provides peace of mind and protects your home, family, and investment. If you’re considering rewiring your home with a modern efficient electrical system, contact Mirsky Electric to ensure the job is done right the first time.
