Are you looking to enhance the energy efficiency of your San Francisco Bay Area home? Upgrading your home’s electrical wiring can greatly improve energy efficiency and safety. Read on to learn how partnering with a Bay Area electrician for a rewiring project can benefit your home. Installing new, updated electrical wiring optimizes energy use and prepares homes for modern appliances and electronics. With rewiring, older homes built before 200 amp service became standard can upgrade to meet today’s energy demands. Rewiring ensures sufficient power for multiple devices, EV chargers, and air conditioners without overload. This article explores reasons for rewiring older homes, wiring project costs, finding reputable electrical contractor, safety considerations, and rewiring procedures. Let’s electrify your home’s energy efficiency through smart rewiring upgrades. Have a new construction project you need rewired? We can help with that too! Why Rewire an Older Home? Many San Francisco Bay Area homes, especially those built before the 1960s, likely contain outdated 60 amp electrical systems. While adequate decades ago, 60 amp service strains to support increased energy usage in modern times. Here are key reasons you may benefit from rewiring your older Bay Area home: Insufficient amperage – Today’s homes need 100, 150 or 200 amp service. Upgrading provides capacity for more high-wattage appliances and electronics without blowing fuses. Faulty, damaged wiring – Outdated wiring becomes cracked and hazardous over time. Rewiring prevents short circuits and fires. Lack of grounding – Modern 3-prong grounded outlets prevent shocks. Rewiring brings grounding up to code. Circuit overload – More built-in appliances and electronics require adequate circuits. Additional circuits prevent overloads. Lighting needs – Rewiring allows more switches, outlets, and lighting options. New wiring supports elegant lighting designs. Smart home integration – Modern automated, app-controlled smart home systems often require rewiring for full functionality. Accommodate home additions – If you’ve added a room, garage, pool house or other living space, rewiring may be needed to provide power. Charge EVs – Today’s electric vehicles require dedicated high-capacity circuits and 240-volt outlets that may necessitate rewiring. Key Takeaway: Rewiring optimizes electrical systems for ample power, capacity, safety, and integration with modern devices and home automation. Estimated Costs of Home Rewiring Projects Full home rewiring costs vary widely based on factors like: Home’s square footage Number of circuits required Type and scope of work needed Bay Area electrician rates Budget Electrical only expects full home rewiring to cost $8,000 to $15,000 on average. However, smaller homes or those needing simpler updates may only cost $3,000 to $7,000. Larger homes requiring extensive work could exceed $15,000. Here are examples of rewiring project costs: 1,200 sq ft home needing new 100 amp service with 8 circuits – $3,500 2,800 sq ft home needing new 200 amp service with 15 circuits – $9,800 4,000 sq ft home with new 400 amp service, 20 circuits, hot tub hookup – $13,500 5,000 sq ft home requiring complete rewire of damaged old wiring – $18,000+ Get quotes from multiple licensed Bay Area electrician before moving forward with a big rewiring project. Ask about their rates, the specific tasks included, types of wiring used, and estimated completion time. Consider upgrading wiring in phases if costs seem prohibitive. For example, start by rewiring the kitchen or rooms that need it most urgently. Get A Quote How Do You Find a Good Electrician for Rewiring? Finding an experienced, licensed Bay Area electrician you can trust is key for any major home wiring project. Here’s how to find the best Bay Area electrician for the job: Check reviews – Search “electricians near me” and read reviews on Google, Yelp or Angie’s List. Look for electricians with consistently positive feedback. Ask for referrals – Talk to friends, neighbors or realtors who’ve had electrical work done. Personal referrals often lead to better contractors. Verify licensing – Confirm electricians have active licenses and insurance. Ask for license numbers. Request quotes – Get quotes from 3+ electricians. Compare costs, experience, included work and timelines. Check qualifications – Choose electricians with training credentials, like NEC certification, and expertise in home rewiring specifically. Meet in person – Interview electricians in your home. Assess professionalism, communication skills and knowledge. Ask about warranties – Many electricians offer warranties on workmanship for 1-5 years. Opt for those with longer warranties. Inquire about permits – Reputable electricians always obtain required permits and arrange inspections. Taking time to find the right electrician for your rewiring project ensures you’ll get safe, quality work at a fair price. Get A Quote Questions to Ask Electricians Before Hiring When interviewing electricians for your home rewiring project, ask these key questions: How many years of rewiring experience do you have? Look for 5+ years specifically with rewiring. Are you licensed, insured and bonded? Can you provide certificate numbers? What specific training and certifications do you have? NEC certification is ideal. Will you handle securing the proper permits and inspections? What types of wiring will you use? Copper is standard; aluminum may cut costs. Do you offer any warranties or guarantees on your workmanship? Can you provide referrals from past rewiring clients? Asking the right questions upfront ensures you hire a qualified, experienced electrician you can trust. Get A Quote Electrical Safety Tips During Rewiring Rewiring done wrong can create fire and shock hazards. Follow these tips to stay safe. (Resource: Constellation Energy) Turn off power at the main circuit breaker before starting work. Test wires are de-energized with a non-contact voltage tester. Keep children and pets away from the work area for safety. Never leave exposed live wires unattended. Cap wires until connections are made. Allow only a licensed Bay Area electrician to handle the electrical panel and make new connections. If caught in a storm, stop work until it passes to avoid lightning risks. Keep the work area dry. Never work in standing water to avoid electrocution. Ensure wiring complies with national and local electrical codes. Have the completed work inspected before turning power back on. Keep a fire extinguisher and first