When to Call a Professional to Upgrade Your Home's Electrical Rewiring?

Upgrading the electrical system in your home can provide significant benefits, like increasing safety, adding capacity for more devices and appliances, and improving energy efficiency. However, electrical rewiring projects require expertise to complete safely. Here’s a guide on when to call a professional electrician versus attempting DIY electrical upgrades.



Signs It's Time to Upgrade the Electrical

How do you know if your home's electrical system is outdated or unsafe and needs rewiring? Here are some red flags:

  • Frequent tripped circuit breakers or blown fuses, especially when you haven't added new appliances. This could indicate an overloaded panel.

  • Buzzing, flickering lights, or power fluctuations. This points to wiring problems.

  • Outlets that don't grip plugs securely can signal loose, damaged wiring.

  • No ground wires on 3-prong outlets. Older wiring lacked dedicated ground wires.

  • Not enough outlets in each room for modern needs. Building codes now require more outlets per room.

If you notice any of these issues, your home's electrical likely needs upgrading.

When to Call an Electrician vs DIY Electrical

Should you hire electrical contractors or try DIY electrical upgrades? Consider hiring a pro electrician for:

  • Full House Rewiring- Completely rewiring all of the electrical in a home down to the service panel is a major project best left to professionals. They have the expertise to correctly size and run new wiring throughout the house up to code.

  • Electrical Socket Installation- While adding outlets is often considered DIY-friendly, local codes regulate outlet placement, and there are complexities like tying into existing wiring. Electrical contractors can install outlets safely and legally.

  • Large Electrical Projects- Upgrading the main service panel, adding new high-power circuits for appliances like dryers, or installing a home generator are complex systems best handled by electricians.

  • When You're Unsure of the Issue or Repair Needed- Professionals can test wiring and pinpoint issues, recommend fixes, and handle repairs you may not feel equipped to do yourself. Don't guess - let them assess.

Smart Upgrades to Consider

When hiring an electrical contractor for upgrades, consider these worthwhile improvements:

  • Increase service panel amperage. This expands the capacity for more power use.

  • Add circuits. Extra circuits prevent overloads and allow more outlets.

  • Install arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs). These advanced breakers prevent fires.

  • Add safety features like tamper-resistant outlets. These protect children.

  • Upgrade exterior lights and wiring. Improve outdoor safety and ambience.

  • Add Electric Spotlights in closets or dark corners. Improve illumination.

Preparing for a Rewiring Project

To get ready for a rewiring project:

  • Get contractor estimates to compare costs.

  • Ask about permits needed for work in your area.

  • Remove furnishings or stored items from wiring access areas like attics.

  • Ask if walls will need to be opened and patched for installing wiring.

  • Find out the project timeline so you can prepare accordingly.

  • For full rewires, know if you'll need to temporarily vacate the home.

With adequate planning and experienced electrical contractors, your home's electrical rewiring project can go smoothly and give you an updated, safer, more efficient electrical system. Research electricians thoroughly, get references, and make sure they are properly licensed and insured before hiring one.

5 Key Questions to Ask an Electrician Before Hiring

Making sure you hire the right electrical contractors for your home's wiring project is essential. Here are 5 key questions to ask prospective electricians:

  • Ask if they are licensed and insured. Verify they have active licenses and liability and workers comp insurance.

  • Enquire about their experience in projects like yours. Choose an electrical contractor with extensive experience doing full rewiring or upgrades.

  • Confirm if they will provide a detailed quote and put everything in writing. Beware of vague pricing and get quotes from multiple professional electrical contractors.

  • Enquire about the availability. Find an electrical contractor who can start when you need them and will finish in a reasonable timeline.

  • Ask if they can provide references from recent projects. A reputable electrical contractor will gladly provide references to vet their quality.

Red Flags to Watch Out For

When vetting electricians, look out for these red flags:

  • No license or insurance

  • Vague pricing and details

  • Hesitant to provide references

  • Limited experience with your type of project

  • Bad reviews or complaints

  • Trying to talk you into unnecessary work

Doing thorough research helps avoid hiring the wrong electrical contractors and ensures your satisfaction.

Planning the Timeline and Logistics

Rewiring projects require extensive planning and coordination. Well in advance, have discussions with your electrical contractor about:

  • Permits - Confirm if they will get all required permits for the work.

  • Access - Ask about the walls or ceilings that need to be opened up for the rewiring job.

  • Moving furniture/belongings - Enquire about the amount of space needs cleared for them to work.

  • Containment - Ask if the dust or noise needs to be contained during work.

  • Temporary power outages - Enquire if the outages affect power to appliances or security systems.

  • Vacating home - Ask if you will need to plan to stay elsewhere in the case of full house rewiring. 

  • Restoration - Confirm if the electrical contractor will patch the walls, paint, etc. when finished.


Thorough planning and communication will help the rewiring job go as smoothly as possible.

Final Thoughts 

Upgrading your home's electrical wiring is an important project that can improve safety, add capacity, and enhance functions. While some minor electrical jobs may be DIY, it's best to have professional electrical contractors handle any significant rewiring or upgrades. Do your research to find electricians with the proper licensing, experience, and reviews. Ask the right questions and plan carefully. With the right electrical contractor and preparation, your electrical rewiring project can be a success and a worthwhile investment in your home for years to come.

If you are looking for electricians for rewiring in Sheffield, hire an insured and certified electrician for a safe service.

Location: Sheffield, UK

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