Rewiring a house is not something that can be completed in a day, since there are so many things that need to be considered before you start doing it. This article briefs you about the procedure and how and when exactly should you do it.
Rewiring a house is part of house remodeling and is necessary for houses that are older than 25-30 years. You may need to take it up on an urgent basis if you suspect that the existing wiring has become fragile, vulnerable, and hazardous. Or, there can be several other reasons as to why one may think of doing it. Some may opt for a complete change in the wiring system for safety purposes. While some may want to change the layout since the previous one was quite old-fashioned with less functionalities to serve. Let us take a look at why it may be necessary.
When to Rewire a House?
Many signs can indicate that your house needs rewiring and given below is a list of such scenarios that should be considered.
- There is no earthing present at the power points.
- The electrical light sources flicker on use of certain heavy home appliances.
- Old-fashioned wires that are usually covered with black rubber.
- Signs of overheating at socket-outlets.
- Old-fashioned fuse boards and single socket outlets.
- Socket outlets of the round pin type.
- A fuse box with wooden back, cast iron switches, or a haphazard mixture of fuses.
- A fuse box with no circuit label.
- Power loss in short intervals on using many appliances at the same time.
- Unprotected wiring that hangs on the floor board.
- The safety switch trips frequently.
It is recommended that before you make your final decision of rewiring your house, you consult an electrician. The electrician will do an appropriate survey of your house wiring layout and suggest if a redo is required or not.
House Rewiring
It is always wise to hire an electrician for such jobs due to safety issues. Rewiring by yourself is not so easy and you may end up hurt or in a mess, if proper precautions are not taken. Remember electricity is not something that you toy or experiment with.
The time and cost of the entire job depends upon the size of the house, the layout of the circuits, and the number of electric outlets. A complete change in the wiring system may consume a lot of time and money.
There are two methods of wiring a house, one is the use of concealed wires over the walls and ceilings and the other is installing wires that pass through these surfaces. The second method requires breaking and re-plastering the surface while rewiring.
Installation of a completely new wiring layout will require a lot of planning. You need to chalk out the positions of the new outlets and decide the modifications that you require in your old wiring system. This will allow the electrician to devise his estimations of the project. You must check the local code to find out the laws and restrictions related to rewiring.
Safety, easy accessibility and efficient use of energy are some of the important considerations. It is a messy job and hence it is recommended that you ask the electrician to complete the job when you are on a vacation. The entire procedure can take up to 3 to 10 days, depending upon the requirements and state of the old wiring system.
Since you won’t be able to use any electric appliances for few days, you will have to move the furniture around, and will have to clean all the mess in the end, the whole process may irritate you bit. But all this is a part of your and your family’s safety and is worth it. Moreover, if you are thinking of sell your home in future, you will lose out on customers if your house has not been efficiently wired.