Rewiring a home, particularly if it is an older structure, can be quite a challenge. If you’ve never dealt with electrical wiring before, you probably have a lot of questions about whether or not you can handle a rewiring project on your own or not. After all, wiring can be dangerous and you certainly want to make sure you and your family are safe; safety concerns might have even been the catalyst for your upcoming project in the first place! As you read this guide, you’ll find five key things you need to know regarding home rewiring.
Local Regulations
Many homeowners don’t realize that municipal building codes often extend to wiring. Your city or town probably has regulations regarding the number of outlets any given room should have based on its size, what sorts of wiring materials are acceptable, and even whether or not rooms are required to have a certain number of lighting fixtures. Professional electricians should know this information for the areas in which they operate, but it can be significantly more challenging for homeowners to make sure they are meeting all necessary codes on their own.
A Solid Plan
There’s a lot of mapping and preparation that goes into successfully rewiring any home. For starters, you will need to “chalk” the positions of any new outlets onto your walls. Then, you will have to determine how the current wiring system needs to be altered to account for these new plug-ins. This entire process typically requires expertise and can be difficult if you’ve never dealt with residential electrical planning in the past.
Being Aware of Existing Systems
Remember, your home’s walls already have electrical and plumbing infrastructure inside of them. If you don’t know where these various lines are located, there is a risk of damaging them when you start making changes to your wiring. Being careful is absolutely key for both do-it-yourselfers and professionals when it comes to rewiring a house of any age!
A Single Appliance on Each Breaker
It is wise to only have one appliance per breaker when you rewire your home. Otherwise, the risk of blown breakers is greatly increased. Furthermore, you will need to account for situations in which multiple outlets can control the same light fixtures or appliances; this can complicate rewiring.
Considering Your New Hardware
When a home is rewired, new outlets, outlet covers, and switch plate covers are typically also installed. Selecting this hardware can be tougher than homeowners are expecting due to all of the options on the market today! In addition to choosing styles that work with your home’s decor, you will have to, for instance, decide if you want your new outlets to be equipped with standard plugs only or USB ports as well.
When all is said and done, the best choice is to work with Brunelli Electrician & the team to rewire your house. You will be able to rest assured that your project is in good hands and that your family’s safety is not at risk of being compromised. We offer exceptional customer service and take great pride in our work. Contact Brunelli online to discuss your residential wiring job!