Why older homes get rewired
A lot of homes around Wagga and the Riverina towns were built well before modern wiring rules: solid brick houses in the older Wagga suburbs, weatherboard cottages in the villages, and old farmhouses that have been added to over the decades. The wiring in them was fine for a few lights and a radio. It wasn't built for ducted aircon, a dishwasher, a home office and two fridges.
The NSW Government recommends having an electrician check any property built before 2000, and flags wiring in homes from before the 1980s as a particular risk. It also says electrical faults and appliances cause 40% of NSW house fires each year.
Not every old house needs a full rewire. Sometimes the wiring is sound and only the switchboard needs replacing. Sometimes one part of the house, like an old extension or a kitchen, needs new wiring and the rest is fine. The point of an inspection is to find out which.
Signs it's time to get your wiring checked
- you're buying, or have just bought, an older home and don't know its history
- the switchboard still has ceramic fuses, or a black tar-like backing board
- power points are cracked, loose, or few and far between
- lights flicker, or breakers trip, when appliances start up
- switches or power points feel warm, or there's a burning smell
- there's been rodent activity in the roof
- you're planning a renovation and opening up walls anyway
Our guide to old house wiring explains what to look for in more detail.
Full or partial rewire
A full rewire replaces the cabling throughout the house, usually along with the switchboard, power points, switches and light fittings. It suits homes where the original wiring is worn out everywhere, or a major renovation where the walls and ceilings are open.
A partial rewire replaces the circuits that need it now: a kitchen, a bathroom, an extension, or the lighting circuits. It spreads the cost and the disruption. You can do the rest later.
Nelson will tell you plainly which one your house needs and why, and give you a written price before anything starts.
How a rewire works
- Inspection. Check the switchboard, the cabling in the roof and under the floor where we can get to it, and the condition of the fittings.
- Plan. Agree what's being replaced, where you want extra power points and lights, and whether the switchboard is being upgraded at the same time.
- Asbestos check. Older switchboards may have asbestos backing boards. If so, that part is handled with a licensed asbestos assessor and removalist and quoted separately. See asbestos switchboards in NSW.
- Rewire. New cables are run and connected, circuit by circuit. In homes with timber floors or a decent roof space, a lot of this is done without opening up walls. Brick homes can be trickier, and we'll talk you through where any patching might be needed.
- Test and certify. Every circuit is tested, and a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW) is lodged through the Building Commission NSW eCert portal within 7 days of the test. You get a copy by email.
The rules for rewiring in NSW
- Licensed electrician only. Rewiring is electrical wiring work. In NSW it must be done by a licensed electrician, whatever the size of the job. Doing it without a licence breaches the Home Building Act 1989, with fines of $22,000 for an individual. See our guide to DIY electrical work in NSW.
- AS/NZS 3000:2018. New wiring is installed to the current Wiring Rules, AS/NZS 3000:2018 and its amendments.
- Safety switches on altered circuits. Under the national ERAC advisory note, any circuit that's altered or added must get RCD protection at the switchboard. If the switchboard itself is replaced, every applicable circuit on it needs RCD protection. In practice, a rewire usually goes hand in hand with a switchboard upgrade built from RCBOs.
- Meter and service work. If the job involves the meter, the service fuse or the mains from the street, that part needs a Level 2 Accredited Service Provider under the Service and Installation Rules of NSW. We coordinate it where needed.
Homes that have been empty
If a house has had its power off (de-energised) for six months or more, NSW requires a safety inspection by a qualified electrician before it's switched back on. That can apply to deceased estates and farmhouses that have sat empty. We do the inspection, fix anything that has to be fixed, and complete the Electrical Installation Safety Inspection Certificate you give to your retailer.
Cost
Every rewire is different: the size of the house, how easy the roof and subfloor are to get through, the number of circuits, and whether the switchboard is being done as well. Call or send the job through for a written quote. If the switchboard is part of it, the instant switchboard estimate gives you that part of the price straight away.
Common questions
How do I know if my house needs rewiring?
You can't tell for sure from looking at the power points. Warning signs include ceramic fuses, flickering lights, warm switches and old fittings. The NSW Government recommends an electrician check homes built before 2000.
Can I live in the house during a rewire?
For a partial rewire, often yes, with power off to parts of the house at times. A full rewire is more disruptive. Nelson will tell you what to expect for your house when he quotes.
Does a rewire mean replacing the switchboard?
Often, but not always. If the switchboard is old or full it makes sense to do both together, and a new switchboard means RCD protection on every applicable circuit.
Will the walls need to be opened up?
Not always. In many homes, cables can be run through the roof space and under the floor. Some brick walls need chasing, which is patched afterwards. We'll tell you before work starts.