According to the National Fire Prevention Association, faulty electrical wiring is the leading cause of residential fires. While rewiring a house may not be the project of your dreams, it could be the most important safety issue you are facing.
You may be in need of whole-house electrical wiring if you fall into any of these categories:
If you’re looking for an experienced electrician to help with rewiring a house , contact Penna Electric today to get a free quote.
All kidding aside, not having enough electricity can be more than inconvenient – it can be dangerous. The cost to rewire a house may be high, but it’s nothing compared to the cost of losing your home. Our residential electricians can perform your whole-house electrical wiring whether you are building a new home or expanding your house with a new addition.
If you are unsure of the condition of the electrical wiring in your home, we can perform a safety inspection and give you the information you need to make an informed decision. Even though updating your whole-house wiring can be a daunting task, our skilled electricians can help you develop a plan that will minimize disruptions.
They will also be able to provide an estimate of the cost to rewire a house. The final cost varies, as rewiring a house includes opening up walls, running new wires, connecting switches, outlets, fixtures, and repair.
The labor cost, as well as the price of materials used are included in the total cost to rewire a house in Los Angeles, which is why it varies significantly. Both labor and materials will depend on the size of your home, as well as how old it is.
In a simplified way, rewiring a house entails removing old wires and installing new ones. It’s usually done with modern, non-metallic wires, which are encased in plastic. It’s true that, in the end, rewiring a house can be quite costly, but it is, in most cases, a once-in-a-lifetime expense.
Not only that, but it’s also an important investment in your home, which is why it’s crucial to do it right. There are several reasons why the cost to rewire a house can be high: some houses are old, panels may need upgrading too, the labor involved can get intricate, and much more.
Frequently Asked Questions about Rewiring a House
How can I check the wiring in my house
It’s usually a good idea to let the electrician check the wiring in your home, as they have a proper and exhaustive inspection procedure. However, there are a few steps you can take to check what kind of wiring you have in your house.
You can check if aluminum is the type of wiring in your house by looking on the outer jacket of the cables at your electrical panel for the letters AL or ALUM.
You can check if you have knob & tube wiring by checking when your house was built and if there have been any updates in its wiring. If the house has been built in the 50s or before, then this is most likely the type you have.
How do I know if I need to rewire a house?
There are several signs that show electricians when they need to rewire a house. Old wiring is the first one, but you also need rewiring if you hear sizzling sounds or feel burning smells, or if your breakers are tripped frequently. You can learn more about the signs here.
What are the hazardous wiring types?
Older wiring types are not only out-of-date with today’s codes, they are dangerous. The outlets are ungrounded posing both shock and surges hazards.
Aluminum Wiring – For a period of about seven years, homes were built using aluminum wiring. The instability of this wiring type due to its tendency to expand and contract in heat and cold wasn’t recognized until it was too late for many homeowners. Homes with aluminum wiring are 55% more likely to experience a home fire.
Knob & Tube Wiring – A hundred years ago, most homes used knob and tube wiring throughout the house. These porcelain connectors are ungrounded and as any historic homeowner can tell you, the outlets will not support today’s electronic devices.
What is structured wiring?
If you are ready to take on the task of rewiring a house, you may want to consider advances in technology with the use of structured cabling. Structured cables are heavy-duty electrical and data cables that are combined to carry power, phone, Internet, lighting and heating throughout the rooms in your home. Structured electrical wiring has also been proven to increase the value of your home.
How much does it cost to rewire a house?
The cost to rewire a house varies greatly between $3,000 and $25,000 depending on the size of the house but other factors as well. You can find out more about the price and what impacts it here.
Are there alternatives to rewiring a house?
We understand that whole-house wiring for existing residences is often cost-prohibitive. Aside from the expense of rewiring your entire house, the project usually takes several days and involves repairing holes in the drywall that are required to access the existing wiring.
When this downtime and expense is not an option for you, the Penna Electric residential electricians can still help bring your home up to code and improve the overall safety. Oftentimes we are able to make suggestions that can drastically reduce the cost of your project through adding a few grounded plugs to accommodate your needs.
Is rewiring a house messy?
A whole house rewire is a big project, and sometimes very complex depending on the house and the original wiring. However, it’s not as messy as it used to be or as it’s feared. At Penna Electric, all of our electricians are very tidy and we use notching, a process that involves very small holes, which we also cover up before the project is complete.
