There are several telltale signs that your home is due for an electrical upgrade. You may need to rewire your house if your lights are constantly flickering or your circuit breaker keeps tripping. If you feel mild electric shocks when you touch light switches, hear buzzing sounds, or notice burning smells, you may need to rewire your house, too. Discolored or burnt-looking switches and faceplates are another crucial warning sign.
Properly installed copper wiring in a residential property can last as long as 50 to 100 years in some cases, but many homes over 30 years old are due for an upgrade. That’s the timeline that many experts recommend, even if it is only a partial update to accommodate technological advancements, increased power demands, and changing safety requirements.
At $3 to $5 per square foot, the cost to wire a 2,000-square-foot house ranges from $6,000 to $10,000, on average. This can depend on many factors, like the age and complexity of the house and how easy it is for contractors to access the areas they need to get the job done. Opening and repairing walls can further add to your total cost.