If you live in an old home and you want to make it safe or a bit modern, rewiring it is a smart way to do it. Hiring a qualified electrician is a significant investment that you may want to avoid. However, when doing it yourself, it is imperative to remember that electricity is potentially risky. Before jumping to the project, you need to understand how electricity functions to protect yourself and your family.
Here are tips to rewire your old house safely.
Take Precautions
Prior to starting the task, it is essential to take the necessary precautions to guarantee your safety, and that’s of your property. Use tools with rubber insulated handles. Tools with rubber handles absorb electric shock rather than passing it to you. Also, invest a considerable amount of money on a high-quality current tester.
Additionally, put on the light clothing gear and eye protection. Be attentive while climbing up and down a ladder to prevent falls. Before you start the rewiring task, turn off the electric circuit. You can choose to disconnect power on the loop you are working on or at the main switch. Confirm that the electricity line is dead using a current tester. It would help if you only began work after confirming that the line is dead using a current tester.
Have A Solid Plan
Before rewiring your old house, it is prudent to evaluate the power consumption quantity. You can do this by accessing the current outlets and lighting. By accessing your wiring, you will make informed decisions while planning for updates. It is during the evaluation that you should note down the items that need replacement. Besides, rewiring your house offers an excellent opportunity to add new cables to your circuit. While adding new wires, you should research the correct permits so that you do not exceed the country codes.
Pulling Out the Old Wires
It is essential to start rewiring your house only after a qualified electrician has inspected it. The fact that the wiring has existed for years doesn’t necessarily mean you should replace it every inch. The qualified electrician should evaluate and pinpoint complicated areas. You might end up saving a lot of your time and money.
Placing New Wires
Unless you want an overall home renovation, it is not reasonable to replace the existing wiring completely. The best way is to rout wires through the attic. Be cautious when drilling holes on walls to prevent damaging plumbing lines or other electricals. If you are placing a new line that branches off to new outlets or additional fixtures, ensure you install a junction box to improve electrical safety.
Label breakers and make sure to insert the circuits into the right breaker box. Besides, test the system only after completing your rewiring task.
Play it Safe
If you lack the experience and know-how to take on a wiring project, it may be safer and more cost-effective to hire a licensed electrician.