If your home is older than 30 years and it hasn’t been rewired since it was built, it’s highly likely that its wiring will need upgrading in order to bring it up to New Zealand’s current safety standards.
It is also important for your family’s safety that the wiring and fittings in your home are up to date to protect against fires and other electrical hazards, such as electric shocks. Read on below to see the reasons why your home may need a full or at least partial rewire.
When Should A House Be Rewired?
Your home's age is the first sign that it may need rewiring. If your house was built before 1980 you should consider having an electrical safety inspection done.
Other signs your house may need a rewire include:
- Electrical shocks from sockets and switches
- Outlets heating up during use
- Fuses blow often
- Frequent power outages
Wiring in much older homes is unlikely to meet current NZ Electrical standards, so it is important to be proactive and request a safety inspection if you suspect there is something wrong.
Dangers Of A Home With Old/Faulty Wiring
Homes built prior to the 1980s were not designed to cope with the electrical load of our modern appliances and lighting. They contain outdated and highly perishable wiring systems; usually Vulcan Indianised Rubber or Tough Rubber Sheath wiring.
The nature of these wiring systems means that they are vulnerable to perish and decay over time - leading to many hazards around the home, including fires and electrical shocks.
What Does A House Rewire Involve?
A full rewire usually involves some of the following:
- Stripping all TRS and VIR cables
- Removing steel conduit
- Adding in new Tough Plastic Sheath cables
- Replacing old fittings, switches and lights
- Installation of new mains cables
- Replacing the old switchboard
- Relocation of the power meter
How Much Does It Cost To Get A House Rewired?
The cost to rewire a house varies greatly, and relies on large amount of factors, including:
- The size of the house
- Number of electrical cables and fittings
- The accessibility through the sub-floor and ceiling areas
- the extent of rewiring that is required
Taking into account the factors above, the following is a guideline for Christchurch Houses:
- Basic house rewire cost: $3,000 to $4,000
- Regular house rewire cost: $4,000 to $10,000
- Advanced house rewire cost: $10,000+
How Long Does It Take To Rewire A House?
Rewiring a house will usually take 1 to 2 days, the length of time will depend on a number of factors including the size of the home, and also the amount of cabling and fittings that are required to be replaced.
It is not necessary for homeowners to completely move out while a rewire is taking place, however the power will need to be switched off at certain stages, for this reason, it may be better to not be at home while the rewire takes place.
Benefits Of Rewiring Your Home
Apart from the obvious safety benefits of rewiring your home, there are many other practical reasons to update your fittings and electrical systems.
- Modernise your home with new fittings
- Comply with insurance companies policies
- Add value to an older home
By updating your wiring you’re not only adding value to your home, but also making sure that your insurance policy will cover you in the event of an electrical accident which results in damage to your home. Many insurance companies are now refusing to insure very old homes due to their unsafe wiring.
Don’t Leave It To Chance
Based on the information above, is it possible your home may need a rewire? If so, get in touch with Pedro and the team at JMW Electrical Services for a free safety inspection and quote for a complete or partial rewire of your home.