If your home – like many in Sarasota – is older than fifty years old, it’s a good idea to consider rewiring your electrical system. Old or damaged wires pose a serious risk, especially if they are in the walls where you cannot notice the signs of an electrical hazard. Rewiring with an updated system will optimize your energy use, lower your utility bill, and give you peace of mind that your home is safe. However, it’s a big project that can be disruptive to your everyday routine. Therefore you need to work closely with your electrician to plan the most efficient strategy to move forward.
Each rewiring project is different, depending on your home’s needs. Homes built before 1965 did not account for today’s high electrical needs, so the electrical panels they were built with often cannot handle your energy usage. If your house is older than 1985 however, you may just need to replace a few wires, sockets, or outlets to bring your house up to maximum efficiency. You should also take this opportunity to replace any fixtures or add any modern amenities like dimmers or smart thermostats.
Before contacting an electrician, make a list of all the items you would like changed or upgraded. This includes not only your electrical fixtures, but also appliances like your HVAC system, your water heater, kitchen appliances, laundry system, and any fun appliances like a hot tub or treadmill. Once you have an idea of what you want fixed or upgraded for the visible parts of your electrical system, you should have a professional electrician examine your plan, offer suggestions, and review your full system to identify elements that need to be repaired or replaced.
Depending on the size of your home and scope of your rewiring project, the cost will vary. Homeowners can expect to pay between $1,500 and $10,000, but most home rewiring projects will cost around $3,000. If you are on a tight budget, you can plan to rewire your house room by room as you save the money. You can also cut some costs by partially prepping the rooms yourself–removing furniture, clearing attic space, and pulling up carpeting may allow the electrician to lower their quote.
As with hiring any professional, interview each potential contractor before choosing the right one for your project. You want your electrician to be fully licensed and insured to protect you from any liability. For a large project, you may wish to hire a master electrician for the job.
The process of rewiring can be significantly disruptive to your home and lifestyle, since the wiring is hidden behind walls and under floorboards. Even if you’re only having one or two rooms rewired, consider staying somewhere else for the duration of the project to stay out of the way. Remeber that you won’t have power while the project is ongoing. The electrical system will need to be shut off while the electrician works, so you’ll be without AC, range cooking, and lights. Just rewiring a couple rooms may take 2-3 days, while a larger home rewiring project can take upwards of a week.
Rewiring a house is a big undertaking, but it’s a relatively quick process that will leave your home ready to handle your electricity use for the next few decades. It’s well worth the time and investment for older homes. If you have further questions or would simply like to discuss options with a team of local master electricians, call Promise Electric today.
