A guide to change the old wiring in your house 28^th March 2022

Upgrading electrical wiring makes an old home more secure, modernised, and habitable. This kind of renovation is easier in a recently acquired property than in an older one. Unless you have prior expertise with electrical construction, do not try to change wires on your own.

Most people instantly think of the costs and clutter involving the job. Your strategy is determined by your budget, capacity to reach the walls, ceiling, crawlspace, and the amount of rework permitted.

To clear the confusion, below are the typical steps involved in changing the wiring of a house.

1. Planning:
The better you prepare for the rewiring, the easier the procedure will be. A precise design will assist you in locating and projecting the circuits in a manner that will retain the drywall in place. A thorough layout of the existing circuitry and a precise sketch of the internal components may minimise chaos and disturbance.

2. Working prep:
This step prepares the space for the new wiring. It marks a clear route for supplying the new wire to the outlets. If you opt to undertake the prep work, clearing debris around your house's electrical outlets is crucial to ensure quick access.

3. Calculating the number of circuits:
Many times, outdated wiring may not have enough circuits to meet the energy needs of contemporary appliances, lights, and electronics. Before you begin, you must first plan your trajectories. Conduct a study on housing circuits to aid in layout planning, or contact an electrician as a consultant.

4. Remove the drywall and rewire:
The removal step consists of ripping out and taking off the old wire. Because old wiring is often stapled to the structure, it is impossible to simply take the cables out of the wall. After ensuring that the electricity has been turned off, you may cut the wire and remove the visible portion, leaving the buried cable within the division.
Some wires are placed in more accessible areas and can be taken out quickly. You can tape the new wire to the old ones, pull the old wiring out, and let the new line fall into its spot and take effect.

5. Replace:
Replacement of main and sub-panels is one of the essential steps to changing the old wiring in your house. Also, ensure that you check the condition of the panel. If it's old or does not have circuit breakers in place of fuses, it is better to replace them to prevent further damage. Replacing the panels would also require changing the wiring of your entire house. Try to find a professional electrician to accomplish this task.

Some other steps to change the old wiring in your house include:

• Taking permits from the local authorities (even if you are a homeowner).

• Hiring a good electrician.

• Identifying the access points.

• Having the right tools to complete the work and taking stringent measures to ensure everyone's safety.

It is essential that the rewiring be done correctly and by skilled specialists. If not done properly, the wires might get nicked and lead to short circuits. Furthermore, if the panel and junction boxes are not connected, it might create radiation, negatively affecting your health and even hampering the condition of your house.

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Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.