•
Discover the average cost of home theater wiring, including labor, materials, and key factors that impact your total price. Learn how to budget and save on your project.
Can I Do My Own Home Electrical Wiring?
Don’t be shocked by the results of your electrical project
Get quotes from electricians near you
No obligation · 100% free
Get quotes from electricians near you
No obligation · 100% free
Need Help With a Project? Connect With a Pro
Major home electrical work requires permits and inspections, and you need to prove homeownership before starting projects like rewiring or upgrading your electrical service panel.
Professional electricians charge $50 to $100 per hour for standard work and $100 to $200 per hour for emergency electrical services during off-hours or holidays.
You can tackle simple electrical projects yourself if you understand local codes, but complex wiring changes require specialized knowledge to prevent fire and shock hazards.
Hiring a local electrical professional provides expert help with panel upgrades, rewiring projects, and outdoor cable installation while keeping your home safe and up to code.
Get quotes from up to 3 pros!
Enter a zip below and get matched to top-rated pros near you.
Do you have your eye on a new fixture, a bit of wiring work, or an electrical upgrade? If so, you may consider whether you can do your own home electrical wiring.
However, most significant wiring changes involve serious safety hazards, not to mention must adhere to National Electrical Code (NEC) requirements. That’s why it’s best to hire a professional electrician for home wiring changes or additions. Let’s go over the requirements and differences between home wiring tasks.
Safety Warning
Modifying or expanding your home’s electrical system can be extremely hazardous, posing risks of electrical shock or fire. To ensure safety and compliance with regulations, it is crucial to hire a licensed professional for any electrical work.
Is It Legal to Do My Own Home Electrical Wiring?
Laws vary by state, but it’s often not legal for inexperienced homeowners to complete significant electrical work without first meeting several requirements. Here are some of the legal requirements of home electrical work:
You’ll need to be the legal owner of the house to complete electrical work, and may have to prove it with a deed search.
You will need to get an electrical permit for the work. While permits may not be required for very small electrical projects, they’re necessary for projects involving changes to your electrical wiring.
The state may require you to get a temporary electrical license. This license involves taking an exam to ensure you understand residential building codes and electrical wiring.
For significant electrical wiring work, you’ll also need to arrange for an electrical inspection.
Hire an Electrician for These Home Wiring Projects
You should hire a local electrician to tackle complex electrical wiring projects. When planning for electrical projects, contact an electrician and schedule an estimate to discuss the details of the home wiring work.
Upgrading the Electrical Service Panel
Upgrading the electrical service in your home requires replacing its electrical panel with a more modern version with higher amperage. This is not a DIY task—you must hire a local electrician to complete the installation due to the complex and hazardous nature of this task.
Rewiring a Room or Whole House
Rewiring refers to pulling out the existing wiring and replacing it with new wiring to fix a problem or properly match the electrical requirements of your receptacles, breakers, or appliances. Electricians must complete this task to meet the strict electrical codes for residential wiring. Plus, they have the tools and experience to do it with minimal impact to your house.
Wiring an Addition or Finished Level
If you’re adding a room or wired building or finishing an attic or basement, call in an electrician to manage the wiring work. Similar to rewiring, electricians can ensure the new wiring meets the necessary codes and won’t overload your system. Electrical pros can also install a subpanel, add a new circuit to your existing electrical panel, or other steps that are beyond the reach of a DIYer.
Adding a Transfer Switch
A transfer switch can switch circuits or the entire home system over to an alternate source of power, like a backup generator. Like most wiring projects involving your electrical service panel, you should leave this job to the experts with the right training.
Running an Outdoor Electrical Cable
Even if you know the type of cable you need to connect to a hot tub, water feature, or shed lighting, it’s best to hire an electrician for this task. They are well-versed in how to protect the cable safely for outdoor use while meeting local electrical codes.
Angi Tip
An Angi survey found that pros don’t recommend homeowners attempt their own electrical work, HVAC installation, roofing repairs, plumbing work, or other tasks that require specialized knowledge. In these situations, hiring a pro can prevent costly or dangerous mistakes.
Adding Multiple Outlets or Sockets
Adding an outlet or new light socket can be a DIY project if you have some previous wiring experience. However, if you want to add multiple outlets or sockets throughout the house, it’s much easier to hire an electrician to handle the whole project for you.
Replacing a Burnt Electrical Fixture
Any signs of burning or melting could indicate damaged wiring and past electrical shorts. That’s dangerous territory, requiring both careful inspection and adherence to safety measures. Contact an electrician to figure out exactly what went wrong and how to fix it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Electrical services reviews from real Angi homeowners in Columbus, OH
4.7★ avg. • 107 total reviews
- Jeff B.
Great company! Price was competitive, technician showed up on time and completed the job (exterior electric Radon fan replacement) quickly. Would hire them again.
MaGen Property Inspections and Radon Mitigation - Regina H.
I conferred with 2 other contractors before Armstrong Electric. Nick and his crew showed me that the project was not as convoluted as the other contractors made it appear to be. They completed the entire project on time. They were professional, friendly and cleaned up after at completion. I...
Armstrong Electric LLC - Jeffrey J.
The techs on my project, Shawn and Cliff, were great. They were prompt, courteous, and efficient. I am very happy with the results and would definitely contact Mr. Electric for any future electrical projects.
Mr. Electric of Columbus - William R.
Victor was wonderful. He was on time, professional, and explained everything he was doing. He was thorough and figured out that the problem was electrical instead of with my HVAC system. Very knowledgeable. I will be using this company in the future for any HVAC needs. Thanks!
Hubbs Heating & Air LLC - Jerald W.
They were excellent. They did a great job. I was totally satisfied. They put tremendous effort in making sure the work was completed. They were great. They provided immediate response to any inquires I made. I would hire them again. I would recommend them to anyone who needs electrical work....
Property-Tech Industries, LLC - Paul H.
Initially, the repairman could not find the problem. Apparently, there was some electrical shortage, but he could not find the definite problem. He left, but called back later to say he had a new idea. He returned and replaced the light switches on the doors. The refrigerator seemed to return...
Appliance Pro LLC - Sarah C.
The initial quoted price from a walk-through seemed high, but we discussed that the quote represented worst case scenario (re-wiring to two floors) and we were excited about the opportunity to have the work done in a timely manner with closing for fire safety reasons, etc. When the job was...
- Erin W.
I have to tell you I am all about customer service - I will go out of my way and even pay more for it if you give me great customer service. <br> <br>In a world where this is hard to find, these guys were awesome! I can not sing their praises enough. They were prompt, personable, funny, got...
Waibel Electric - Bradley H.
When I challenged the markup on the generator, Bruder Electric withdrew its bid. They only want naïve customers.
- Gregory B.
We had no power to any of the electrical outlets in the MBR. We'd had an intermittent problem for a few years and they finally went out all together. We live on the 3rd floor of a 100 year old building and I know from past experience the wiring has been added to in hodgepodge ways over the...
The homeowners guide to electrical services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Rewiring a house can be a complex project but don’t let it catch you off guard. Read this to plan ahead and discover the cost to rewire a house.
A beginning DIYer can usually handle these four electrical repair jobs with the proper safety precautions and a bit of planning.
Nearly every electrical wire in your home has a different purpose. This article will cover the types of electrical wires, what they’re for, and how you can tell them apart.
Electrical wiring is an essential part of new home construction. Learn how to devise a solid plan for all of your new home’s electrical needs.
All home electrical wires follow standard color codes that identify how each one functions in a circuit. Learn about the colorful world of electrical wiring.