Applied Electric Inc.

House Rewires

About House Rewires

A house rewire may be necessary when your home’s wiring is outdated. During a house rewire, the old wiring will be removed and replaced with new, up to date wiring. If some of the wiring is safe and usable, a partial rewire may suffice. If the electrical system is safe, it may only need to be grounded.

If you think your house’s wiring needs to be checked or replaced, find an electrician to help with the work. The electricians at Applied Electric Inc. in Turlock, Modesto, Ceres, Patterson, Salida, Oakdale & Riverbank can help!

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House Rewire

Why is a House Rewire Needed?

Homes that were built before 1950 may need to be rewired to meet today’s codes and higher safety standards. Construction pre-1950 involved the use of cloth covered wiring. Over time, the cloth deteriorates and falls off the wires, leaving the wires exposed and prone to spark fires. In most cases, the older the wiring, the more likely it is that it needs to be replaced.

Older homes may also required a main panel upgrade as older panels may not provide enough electricity for today’s needs. Another concern with older electric panels is the fact they may not cut the electricity when there is a power overload or power leak. This can result in melted wires, spark fires or create a shock hazard.

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Do I Need to Rewire my Home?

Like any major change, there are many things to consider when thinking about a house rewire. It’s best to talk all these issues out with an experienced, licensed electrician but here are some things to consider. We’ve already discussed older homes but even newer homes may be in need of a rewire. If you are planning a major renovation, a partial rewire may be considered as you may want to add large appliances that require a dedicated circuit or add lighting where there was none.

This is potentially the best time to rewire your home as the walls will likely be open and will help cut down the costs.

  • If it was wired before 1950 and has not been upgraded it likely needs rewiring to replace cloth-insulated wiring.
  • If the home has cloth-insulated wiring.
  • If the home has knob and tube wiring. This is typical in homes built before 1935.
  • If the home has aluminum wiring. This type of wiring was used in place of copper wiring during the 1960 and 70s. Aluminum wiring is a fire hazard. However, the wiring can be upgraded to make it safe at a lower cost than a complete rewire.
  • If a home’s electric system is not grounded or outlets are not grounded. Grounding directs excessive electricity out of the house to prevent fires and electric shock.
  • If your home does not have enough power for your needs or is lacking outlets, an upgrade will help get your home to match your needs.
  • If you notice you are using several extension cords on a regular basis, you need additional outlets that may require an electric system upgrade.
  • If an electric panel is not safe, it needs to be replaced. This may or may not be part of a home rewire process.

How Can I Tell If I Need a House Rewire Without Opening the Walls?

There are a few signs your house needs rewired that you can look for without the help of a professional electrician or damaging your walls.

Outlets, switches, or panels are hot or warm to touch.

Weird sounds, smells of burning, or marks around your fixtures, outlets, or electrical panel.

The use of many extension cords or surge protectors

Breakers are being tripped and need reset frequently.

Is Deteriorating Wiring Really a Problem?

Yes. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, 67,800 fires are caused by electrical problems. Those fires resulted in 485 deaths and $868 million in property damage. Home electrical wiring accounts for twice as many fires as electrical appliances.

How Do You Know What Kind of Wiring You Have?

You can compare exposed wiring or wiring at the electric panel to pictures of knob and tube and cloth wiring to help you determine what kind of wiring you have. Determining whether or not you have aluminum wiring is not as easy and will require a professional eye. Your wiring should be inspected every 10 years. If you are unsure about the kind of wiring you have, call an electrician for a safety inspection.

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What Is The Cost for A House Rewire in Turlock, Modesto, Ceres, Patterson, Salida, Oakdale & Riverbank?

The cost will depend on the square footage and the existing wiring. The number of outlets needed and the condition of the existing wiring will also play a role in the total estimate. Wiring that is not encased in conduit will lower the price. An electrician can give you an estimate over the phone or visit the house to give you an exact price bid. The best way of finding out a cost for a house rewire is to fill out our online form. After you answer a couple of quick questions, you will be emailed a quote.

Will the Rewire Increase the Value of My Home?

It is very likely the rewire will increase the value of your home. If you were to try to sell your home, the wiring could prevent a lender from lending and home insurance companies may not insure the home with outdated wiring. You are increasing the likelihood of the home selling by increasing the pool of buyers eligible and willing to buy the home.

Will the Rewire Reduce my Homeowner’s Insurance?

Possibly. Many insurance companies will not insure a home with outdated wiring and you could be forced to choose one that does not offer prime rates.

What Should You Expect During a House Rewire?

  • Applied Electric Inc. makes house rewires easy.

    We first start with a free online estimate or over the phone so you know what to expect. Just answer a few simple questions about your home and we can give you an idea on how much this will cost. We will then send one of our experienced electricians out to fully assess your situation to make sure there are no surprises. If a house rewire was in question, they will evaluate your electrical system and assess what your power demands are.


    If our electrician determines you do not need an rewire afterall, no problem! We won’t try to sell you on something you don’t need. If you do need an rewire, we will let you know and help you determine what is appropriate for your home and needs.


    If you decide to move forward with our company, our electrician will professionally rewire your home and ensure that everything is safely running before we leave.

  • How Long Will the Rewire Take?

    This will depend on the size and scope of the project. You will get a better estimate once the exact bid is given. You can typically count on it taking anywhere from a few days to a week.

  • Will the Rewire Require Walls to Be Broken?

    This will depend on the construction of the home. In many cases, the majority of the wiring can be done without breaking a lot of walls. If it is necessary, we are quite adept at breaking a small portion and cleaning up and repairing the walls when we are finished so a painter can make it look new again.

  • Will the Power be Shut Off to the House During the Rewire?

    Portions of the house will not have power during the rewire. We focus our attention in one part of the house before moving on to the next which minimizes the space that is without power.

  • Will the Rewire Require a Permit?

    Yes. By law, you must show the work was done with a permit. If you did not get a permit, you must disclose that. Permits require the work the electrician has done has been inspected and deemed up to code and safely installed.

  • How Often Should a Home be Rewired?

    There is no exact time or expiration date on electrical wiring. However, it is a good idea to have the home’s electrical system inspected every 10 years or so to ensure all the electrical connections are still tight. If you are unsure or would simply feel better having your system checked, give us a call and schedule a Home Safety Inspection.

  • Can I do My Own Rewire?

    This will depend on your own electrical knowledge. You would need to know about the National Electric Code and the requirements it takes to pass a building inspection. A home rewire is a big job that requires two to three experienced electricians about a week to complete. Doing it on your own will take much longer and does pose a safety risk if you are not adept at electrical wiring.

Still have Questions?

If you cannot find answer to your question in what to expect during a house rewire, you can always contact us. We will answer to you shortly!

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