Whole Home Rewiring in San Diego
San Diego has thousands of homes built before modern electrical standards existed. Craftsman bungalows in North Park, Spanish-style homes in Mission Hills, mid-century houses throughout the county—these properties have character that newer construction can't replicate. They also often have electrical systems that haven't kept pace with how we live now.
CET Electric provides whole-home rewiring services for San Diego homeowners who need to bring their electrical systems up to current standards. We replace outdated wiring, upgrade panels, and install modern outlets and circuits so your older home can safely handle today's electrical demands.
Signs Your Home Needs Rewiring
Homes built before the 1970s commonly have wiring that was adequate for the electrical loads of that era but struggles with modern use. Some warning signs are obvious, while others only show up during an inspection or renovation.
If your home still has a fuse box instead of a circuit breaker panel, the wiring is likely original and due for replacement. Fuse boxes were standard through the 1960s, but they lack the safety features of modern panels and are increasingly difficult to insure.
If you find cloth-covered wiring when you look behind outlets or in your attic, you have knob-and-tube or early rubber-insulated wiring. This insulation deteriorates over decades, becoming brittle and exposing conductors. It's a fire hazard that most electricians recommend replacing entirely.
If your home was built between 1965 and 1972, there's a good chance it has aluminum wiring. Aluminum was used as a cheaper alternative to copper during a period of high copper prices. The problem is that aluminum expands and contracts more than copper when heated, which loosens connections over time and creates fire risks at outlets and switches.
If you constantly rely on extension cords and power strips because you don't have enough outlets, that's a sign your home's electrical system wasn't designed for modern use. While not an emergency, this situation increases the risk of overloaded circuits and makes everyday life more complicated than it needs to be.
If your insurance company has asked about your electrical system or declined to cover your home, they may have identified your wiring as a risk. Some insurers won't write policies for homes with knob-and-tube wiring, Federal Pacific panels, or aluminum wiring without documentation of replacement.
What Rewiring Involves
Rewiring a house is a significant project, but it doesn't necessarily mean tearing out all your walls. Our approach depends on your home's construction and layout.
In many cases, we can run new wiring through attics, crawl spaces, and small access points cut into walls. This method takes longer than working with open walls but leaves your home largely intact. We patch access holes when we're done, though you'll need to handle paint touch-ups.
For homes undergoing major renovation, rewiring is much simpler. If walls are already opened for other work, we can run new wiring easily and cost-effectively. If you're planning a remodel anyway, it's worth considering rewiring as part of that project.
A typical whole-home rewire includes replacing all branch circuit wiring throughout the house, upgrading the electrical panel to handle modern loads, installing grounded outlets where ungrounded two-prong outlets currently exist, adding circuits for kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry areas that meet current code, and ensuring all work passes inspection.
The timeline depends on the size of your home and how accessible the wiring paths are. Most whole-home rewiring projects take between five and ten days for an average-sized house. You can usually stay in your home during the work, though you'll need to tolerate some power interruptions and the presence of electricians throughout the house.
Rewiring Costs in San Diego
Rewiring costs vary based on your home's size, the existing wiring conditions, and how much wall penetration is required. In San Diego, full home rewiring typically runs between $8,000 and $20,000 for an average-sized home. Larger homes or properties with difficult access can cost more.
Partial rewiring is an option if your budget doesn't allow for a complete overhaul. Kitchens and bathrooms have the highest electrical demands and benefit most from updated wiring. A partial rewire focusing on these areas typically costs between $2,500 and $6,000.
We provide detailed estimates after assessing your home. The estimate includes all labor, materials, permits, and inspections. We don't add charges after the fact for issues we should have anticipated.
Working with Older San Diego Homes
Our team has experience working in the neighborhoods where older homes are concentrated. Mission Hills, North Park, South Park, Normal Heights, Golden Hill, University Heights, Kensington—these areas have housing that ranges from the 1910s through the 1950s, with electrical systems that vary just as widely.
We understand the quirks of older construction, from plaster walls that require different techniques than drywall to the creative wiring approaches previous homeowners sometimes implemented. We also know what inspectors look for and what current code requires, so the work we do passes inspection and serves your home for decades.
Schedule a Rewiring Assessment
If you own an older San Diego home and you're concerned about your electrical system, let's take a look. We'll assess your current wiring, identify any safety issues, and explain your options for bringing your home up to modern standards.
Call CET Electric at (619) 934-8626 to schedule a rewiring assessment. We serve homeowners throughout San Diego County.