Ever wanted to add a few extra power points to a room? What about installing a light in your shed or a charging station for an electric car? Rewiring your home is a job best left for the professionals. In fact in many states it is illegal to do your own wiring unless you are a qualified electrician. In this article we will discuss the basics of rewiring your house, the general steps involved and explain why you should defer the task to a professional electrician rather than having a go at DIY.
HIRE A PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN
In many states it is illegal to do your own electrical wiring. It can also void your insurance and warranty for many appliances and needless to say greatly increases the possibility of harm coming to you or your property. Shoddy electrical work might save you some money in the short run, but it can cause significant issues down the line. Always hire an electrician any time new wiring needs to be run between the walls.
PREPARE YOUR HOUSE FOR ELECTRICAL REWIRING
If you are going to have your house rewired you should prepare it accordingly. Read more about safety around electricity.
- You may want to be elsewhere for the duration of the service, or have a book to read while you are out of power.
- Clear furniture and storage from areas obstructing access to your switch box, sometimes referred to as a breaker panel. You may have more than one if you have a large house.
- Clear furniture and curtains from areas where new cabling and electrical outlets are going to be installed.
- Provide clear access to attic and crawl spaces.
- If you are having your main circuit breaker replaced make sure the electrician has contacted the appropriate services to cut off your mains electrical wiring installations.
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO REWIRING
The following is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be considered advice for DIY activity.
- Disconnect power from the area of the house that is being rewired. If it is just one room, flip the breaker for that room to turn off all the power. If it is the whole house, disconnect the main breaker. If you are replacing the breaker you’ll need to have the service cut off from the house.
- Cut holes for the new plugs and switches. Run cables between the new hole and nearest junction or the breaker depending upon the needs of the plug and the circuits being installed. Appliances like washing machines and serious air conditioners require different cables to most lights and power sockets.
- Install boxes for the new switches and plugs by wiring them up and then installing covers to secure them firmly in place.
- Turn the electricity back on and test that the new installations are working correctly.
CONTACT DR SPARKY ELECTRICAL FOR REWIRING IN PERTH
Given all the potential risks and complications of rewiring, not to mention the legal restrictions, it is imperative to employ an expert like Dr Sparky Electrical to rewire your home. Call us today if you are in the Perth area via calling 1800 377 727 or contacting us online.
