03.02.2021By Alex Altuhov

How Much Does It Cost to Rewire a House?

Category
Electrical
Electrical

To build the home of your dreams, you need to have a reliable electric system in place with top quality home wiring. So, it is important to review your current electrical situation from time to time. This helps you make informed changes in line with the latest technology. 

Electrical wiring is the means by which electricity is conducted throughout a space through an interconnection of wires. This can be done for a new home to allow the use of appliances and fixtures or to add a new circuit to your already wired home. 

Making the right budget might be difficult because of how little the need arises. But you need to know how much it cost to rewire a house and the procedures involved. In case you find yourself in the unenviable state of having to rewire, this article would give you answers to some salient questions. You should contact your electrical work professionals with a good understanding of the building code of the state you are in. For top-notch and efficient services, contact us at Handy Kith today! We offer excellent light installations at really affordable rates. 

What Affects the Cost of Rewiring a House?

The average cost to rewire a house is affected by a number of factors such as the size of the house, its age, quality of the materials used, the scope of the work, and the electrical permits and inspections needed. The cost of the project depends on the scale, which is estimated per the size of the house. For instance, it would be more expensive to rewire your whole house than to add a new home addition. You should expect to pay about $4 per square foot to rewire your home.  Therefore, you can simply multiply the size of your house by the price the electrician charges to ascertain the cost. 

Each factor plays a role in how the eventual amount is formed. Quality materials might be a little expensive but it is best to prevent any malfunctions after installing new wires. Also, a home built over 30 years ago would definitely cost more to rewire than a more recent one. Furthermore, the cost varies with where you live and how the electricians in your environs charge. Let’s briefly shed light on each determinant. 

1.Size of Home

The size of your home is one of the major things to consider when starting an electrical wiring project because a lot of other factors depend on it. 

These include: 

  • ​How long it will take to finish the job
  • The materials required for the job
  • The number of fixtures that would be installed. 

If you wish, you can take a tape and measure the area of your house yourself or leave it to skilled personnel. Consider attached structures like garages in the overall size of the house, to properly estimate the cost. This is the first step in your electrical project.

2. Age of Home

The length of time your home has lasted is also crucial to deciding if to carry out a rewiring, and how much it would cost. You might either need to fix just a part of the wiring or that of the whole house, depending on the extent of the damage. Therefore, the cost depends on how much wiring is affected over the period of time as there is a tendency to have more faults with older age. According to studies, the average lifespan of a home’s electrical wiring is 30 to 50 years. Although the copper in the wiring might last about 100 years, the outer protective sheath will decompose eventually causing problems like ungrounding. 

3. Upgrading the Electrical Service Panel

You can either upgrade your electric service panel if it’s faulty or you want to change to a better one. Service panels are quite expensive to replace and based on their amperage, the average cost could range from $850 to $2,500. If damage occurs to your electric panel due to the issues with your wiring, it can increase the total cost you’ll spend on rewiring your home. So you should ascertain that this equipment is working perfectly while costing your repairs. 

4. Opening Walls

In some cases, the Electrician might be required to open walls, which automatically affects the cost. It causes the amount to rise significantly and you might even pay up to double the price of doing a simpler house rewiring. On average, it costs about $5 to $8 per square foot, if your project entails opening and repairing walls. You would need to open walls in order to run a wire or install new outlets and switches. The walls would be repaired after, so your home retains its beauty. 

5. Adding New Electrical Circuits, Outlets, and Switches

You would have to install new circuits, outlets, and switches when changing your electrical wiring. Therefore, the cost of achieving these should be factored into the budget for the wiring. Rewiring gives you the rare opportunity of looking up the latest technology on the circuits, switches, and outlets, so you can easily choose the best option for your home. Ensure you communicate your preferences explicitly to your technician. This would make your wiring project a definitive success. 

6. Permits and Inspections

All electric works require permits before they can be executed. Before embarking on the task, you can obtain electrical permits by completing and submitting an electrical permit application. The permits for electrical work cost between $10 to $500, while inspections are around $150 to $200. These amounts should also be added to the estimate for the electrical wiring, as payments would surely be necessary at some point. The permits and inspections have used a means of quality control, thereby ensuring your electrical wiring is industry standard. The entire wiring must be properly inspected and electrical equipment approved by the appropriate authorities.

Type of Rooms Being Rewired

The rooms within a home serve different functions, therefore the wiring should be suited to the specifications. The damage can occur in any of the rooms, leading to a need for repairs. The installations in a room must also be able to work with any appliances that are frequently used in that space. Without a doubt, what room is being rewired in a house would affect the cost of improving on your electrical work. Each room has its own peculiar fitting, which contributes to the price. 

Building Wiring Installation Cost

Your building wiring installation cost depends on whether or not, you live in a new or old house. This task must be undertaken by a certified electrician. Electrical works are quite dangerous, therefore doing them yourself could lead to poor installation and this annul your home insurance. If you have an older home than most, you might be needing rewiring as soon as possible. This is because the older 60 amp systems cannot adequately support the needs of a modern home anymore. Most homes now use an amperage of  200 amps because of an increase in the use of electronics such as TVs, computers, and HVAC units e.t c. The cost of rewiring a home depends on how much the electrician charges then, the price of panels, wires, and other materials.

Average Cost For New Home Wiring

New home wiring gives you the opportunity to install the best electrical system from the get-go and is way less stressful than rewiring an older house. The technician needs to know the code requirements for your state and ensure the work is done to the current standards. This is an integral part of home construction because really, what’s a house without lights? 

Wiring installations are charged at $2 to $4 per square foot. Although, some electricians charge by the hour in more populated places. The estimated cost of this job already includes the materials, labor, and necessary permits. And like we already know, the size of the home plays a huge role in determining the cost of wiring. A rough national average estimates the costs to be $1,500 and $3,000 for a small house, $3,000 to $8,000 for a mid-sized one, and $12,000 for those above 3,000 square feet. 

Average Cost Rewiring An Old House

The age of a home determines the state of the wiring, so it would be necessary to switch to a more sophisticated one because an old house would most likely have an outdated electrical system. After estimating the scope of the work to be done, you can decide on a price with your electrician. Here’s a list of costs based on the size of the home:

1,000 square feet – $1,500 – $4,000

1,500 square feet – $4,000 – $6,000

2,000 square feet – $5,000 – $8,000

2,500 square feet – $5,000 – $10,000

3,000 square feet – $8,000 – $12,000.

Unlike new houses, old ones require you to change the outlets and switches to the latest technology. Also, modern houses use more power than older ones due to the increased use of electronics. Therefore, a 200 amps electrical system would be best for your home.

Average Cost To Rewire Knob And Tube House

Knob and tube wiring was widely used from the 1880s to the 1950s. It may be quite dangerous to live in a house with this wiring system. So if it is identified during a home inspection, the next likely step is to upgrade it to a modern wiring system. It is quite expensive to rewire a knob and tube house, with the average cost for a 2-story home being around $7,000. This should be done by a well-trained electrician. You can try out our skilled experts, they deliver quality services at affordable rates. At Handy Kith, we aim to please. 

Average Cost of Rewiring a Flat

The cost of rewiring a flat is relatively cheaper because it is smaller, requires fewer materials, and the work can be completed in ample time. Flats come in various sizes and the cost of wiring is calculated depending on the size. Prices start from as low as $1,500 and go up to $2,000, which are lower rates than those for larger houses. Whether it is full rewires or partial repairs, it could have an effect on the cost. For small flats with one bedroom, the materials typically cost around $400. While if it has two rooms and more power outlets, the costs for materials is still $600. The rooms in the flat would also cost differently to rewire. An electrician should measure every room including kitchens and bathrooms when making an estimate. 

How Do I Know If My House Needs Rewiring?

Everyone asks the question ‘how do I know if my house needs rewiring?’. This should put you in perspective. Despite the safety codes used in the U.S, electrical malfunctions are still a common fire hazard. There are about 50,000 residential fires every year due to an electrical fault. It’s really incredible to think we can prevent 1 out of every 4 house fires by taking the easy route of fixing wiring issues promptly.

There are warning signs to watch out for to have an idea of your electrical situation. You should pay attention to things like: 

  • Lightbulbs burning in their sockets 
  • Dimming lights and 
  • Circuit breaker trips
  • Fuses blowing frequently
  • Sensing a burning smell
  • Electrical shock. 

Once you start noticing any of these, you should arrange an electrical inspection to spot the likely areas for repairs. This can be a potentially life-saving decision. 

Lights Flickering

It is common thing see flickering lights in a house in desperate need of rewiring. The lights fluctuate with the voltage. You might think it’s a faulty bulb, but this pattern is seen with loose wiring and should be treated as a priority.  

Blown Fuses and Tripped Breakers

Older houses are not designed to carry modern electric appliances due to their older fuse styles. A regularly blowing fuse is a sign that you need to upgrade to modern circuit breakers. Circuit breakers are built to cut the flow of electricity when there is excess current in a circuit. Frequent trips show a clear problem with your wiring.

You Can Smell Burning

Short-circuiting can cause a little fire that leaves me a faint burning smell. You should try to identify the source of any burning smells. If it is impossible, then, you might have wires shorting behind the walls and under the floor. The services of a qualified electrician should be employed immediately. 

You Hear a Buzzing Sound

It is normal to hear a buzzing sound in old homes with obsolete electrical systems. This could be a result of bare wires touching. Once you notice this for some time, start planning to rewire your house. 

Increase the Value of Your Home

Upgrading your electrical system is a sure way to increase the value of your home. Everyone loves a home with state-of-the-art electrical fittings. 

FAQ

How Easy Is It To Add Extra Plug Sockets?

It is quite easy to add an extra plug socket, if you have even a little experience with electrical repairs. You
simply have to unscrew the faceplate and feed the wires into the mount. This is a task that you can do
yourself. If you can’t, hire a professional.

What Are Warrants of HandyKith Electricians?

The number of sockets that are needed per room depends on the room and its function in the home. For
instance, a living room needs 8 outlets, while the bedroom needs 6 outlets for the main and 4 outlets for the
others.

How can you tell if an outlet is bad?

There are signs to look out for when trying to asses the state of your home’s outlets. You should call an
electrician if the breaker tripped after one appliance was plugged. Also, outlets could feel warm to touch and it
could be a sign of damage if it gets too really hot. This might even cause an electrical fire.

Why is powerpoint in the bathroom different?

The powerpoint in a bathroom is quite different from the ones in other parts of the home. This is due to the
increased exposure of the sockets to water. So, you should use outlets like GFCIs to prevent shocks.

Can a bad outlet make other outlets not work?

This depends on if the outlets are in one circuit together or separate. It is more likely that a bad outlet
would affect others, if this is the case. If separate, the chances are lesser.

house

Don’t DIY. Hire an Electrician

It is in your best interest to hire expert help on your rewiring work because it could have grave consequences, if not correctly done. Don’t try to do it yourself. The project has to be executed by a seasoned professional with years of experience in electrical wiring to avoid costly errors. The National Electric Code (NEC) maintains safe electrical practices therefore, on the completion of your permitted project, an inspector comes around to check if the NEC guidelines were followed. You can trust a licensed and experienced electrician, who is conversant with the code requirements. They have the skills, knowledge, and special tools necessary to ensure your work is done safely and with precision. If you are looking for the best electrical services in New York, Handy Kith has definitely got you covered. You can call an electrician from our company to handle your home’s wiring. You definitely won’t regret it!

Category
Electrical

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