What this covers
Rewiring replaces the branch circuits in a house whose wiring is obsolete, damaged or unsafe: knob-and-tube, cloth-covered cable with brittle insulation, aluminum branch wiring, or circuits cooked by a fire or soaked by a flood. The electrician maps the existing circuits, plans new ones with enough capacity for each room, drills and fishes new cable through walls and ceilings, sets new boxes at consistent heights, and lands everything in the panel. Old wiring is disconnected and removed where it can be reached. A careful company opens as little wall as it can, labels every run, and schedules the drywall patching so the house comes back together quickly.
When to call
- Knob-and-tube, cloth-covered or aluminum branch wiring found during an inspection.
- Two-prong outlets throughout the house with no ground.
- Lights that flicker, outlets that feel warm, or a smell of hot plastic near a device.
- Wiring that went through a fire or sat under floodwater.
- A remodel that already has the walls open.
What to expect
- Survey and planThe electrician traces the existing circuits and designs new ones room by room, with the permit pulled.
- Open and pullAccess holes are cut where needed and new cable is fished to new boxes, with the circuit de-energized before any old wiring is touched.
- Devices and panelNew outlets, switches and fixtures are installed and the circuits landed and labeled in the panel.
- Inspect and patchThe rough and final inspections are passed, then the drywall is patched and painted.
Get a certified company
Look up a certified company by ZIP code. Every company's license, insurance and trades are verified before it is listed, and placement is never paid.
Questions people ask
Does the whole house have to be rewired at once?
Not always. Some companies rewire floor by floor or circuit by circuit, which spreads the disruption. Where the old wiring is a hazard, doing it all at once is simpler and passes inspection in one pass.
Do the walls have to be opened?
Some. An experienced electrician fishes cable through finished walls and ceilings from the attic, basement and small access holes, so most rooms need patches rather than open walls.
Can the house be lived in during a rewire?
Usually, with circuits down a room or two at a time. The company tells you each day which rooms will be without power and when they come back.
Related: Electrical panel upgrades · Outlet and switch installation · Drywall repair · All electrical
This page describes what the service involves. The company you hire sets the scope, the schedule and the price, and your contract is with that company. We verify credentials and collect reviews from real jobs. We do not guarantee any company's workmanship. Safety steps are general guidance. When in doubt, leave the home and call 911.