The Basics of Electrical Rewiring
October 26, 2022
The idea of rewiring your entire home can be daunting; the expenses, the work and the hassle! Here we dive into the basic things you need to know before your home or business enters into an electrical wiring takeover.
Possible implications of improper electrical wiring include blown fuses and circuit breakers that keep tripping, yellowing/browning around light switches and wall outlets, flickering or sparks from lights or outlets, static or minor shocking feeling from anything coming into contact with an outlet, and warmth near light switches and outlets.
DIY Rewiring
Because of costs, you may be considering rewiring your home or business yourself. While that may seem like a cost effective way to embark on a new project, you may be sacrificing hidden costs and extra labor on your part. Older buildings, which are most oftentimes structures that are in the most need of a rewiring, are delicate and require an expert to maneuver through.
If you’re attempting to rewire your home yourself, just remember that there are extra preparations one must take, including plenty of research beforehand, as well as possible permits you need to obtain and codes you need to follow before beginning any work to ensure your rewiring is up to safety standards.
Should you be limited on the amount of time you have to complete a project, you need to consider the amount of time rewiring a home yourself can take. First floor homes can be much simpler to manage than multiple floor buildings, as wiring can run through floors and ceilings, creating a larger mess to handle.
Cost Effective Rewiring
The first and foremost way to take care of cost effective wiring is to gather information on the impending project. We suggest finding a licensed electrician to assess the problem, because everything that may be wrong could be bigger than what you are seeing. An electrician can seem overwhelming in upfront costs, but as with any home repair issues, there can be extra problems beyond the surface, possibly spiraling costs out of control, so it is better to get an expert in as early as possible. This will also help you determine the amount of power your home actually needs
Next, strategize when and where to start your rewiring project. Key areas like major appliances and lights and sockets that get used frequently are a good place to start, and then focusing on lesser used areas around your home or office.
Renovation and demolition are probably going to happen naturally, and a huge part of your rewiring costs will be in fact to fix everything that you had to tear down in the process.
The Bottom Line
We know that you’re most concerned with money, and how much this and that will cost. What you need to remember is how much it is currently costing you due to malfunctioning electrical wiring. Quality electrical improvements to your home will increase resale value. Also, with the wrong wiring, you could be taking years off of expensive appliances, both large and small.
And don’t forget, with improper electrical wiring, your home is at risk for electrical fire and the greatest cost of all; lives.