Rewiring an Old Home: What to Expect During the Process
The electrical wiring of a house is one of the fundamentals of infrastructure - and it is designed and built with longevity in mind. Buried underground and hidden behind walls and conduits, electrical wiring is still vulnerable to the forces of Mother Nature and Father Time, though. Metals and materials degrade over time and with exposure to the elements, and you eventually have to replace the wiring.
If you suspect your wiring is past its prime - or even outright dangerous - then consult a certified electrician. They can inspect your wiring with advanced diagnostic tools. Combined with the electrician's expertise and equipment, the results will suggest a path forward. That could be targeted repair or a comprehensive rewiring.
It's natural to feel some nerves when you learn it's time for rewiring. Understanding the process can help. In this brief article brough to you by Mr. Electric, we'll guide you through the process. You'll learn that there's more reason to celebrate than to worry.
Mr. Electric is a reputable name with decades of industry experience, uniformed staff, certified electricians, upfront pricing, 1-year workmanship guarantee, and more. We are proud to offer emergency electrical repair, and our team is on standby to take your call or message at any time of the day.
The First Step: Inspection and Planning
Rewiring a home isn't something that happens when the gates swing open. It starts with an inspection from a qualified electrician in Jersey Village. They will investigate your home's current electrical wiring for outdated materials, overloaded circuits, and unsafe configurations. Whether you need a replacement or not, electrical inspections are something to be done regularly.
In older homes, it's common to find wiring that violates modern electrical codes or can't handle the power demands of today's devices. For example, homes 50 years ago didn't have to support dozens of electronics, smart devices, and high-energy appliances all running at once.
After the inspection, the team will map out a detailed plan. This includes determining where new outlets, switches, and circuits will go, and how the wiring will be routed behind walls and ceilings.
Preparing for the Project
Homeowners should prepare the space before the rewiring begins. That means moving furniture away from walls, clearing access to outlets and switches, and protecting valuable and sensitive items from dust. Rewiring can be a bit messy, especially in homes that haven't been updated in decades.
You'll have to coordinate with drywall and paint specialists, too, to make sure the walls are restored once the electrical work is complete. Depending on the size of your home and the scope of the project, rewiring can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. This means you may have to arrange a place to stay for longer projects.
The Rewiring Process
The actual rewiring is where the magic - and the hard work - happens. The team will start by safely shutting off power to the house, then removing old wires, outlets, and switches.
Then, they'll start installing the new circuits. For example, kitchens and bathrooms often get dedicated lines to handle heavy appliances and regular use. Ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets are typically installed in wet areas, and arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) go in bedrooms and living spaces for extra protection.
Safety and Inspections
Once the new wiring is installed, it undergoes rigorous testing to make sure everything is connected correctly and operating safely. Local building inspectors or certified professionals will perform final inspections to make sure the work meets all codes and standards.
The beauty of working with Mr. Electric is that workmanship comes with a 1-year workmanship guarantee. You know your electricians in Richmond, TX are a call away if the inspection returns issues.
