If you have ever wondered ‘How much does it cost to get a house rewired?‘ and have asked a couple of electricians, you have probably received many different answers. It’s often impossible to state an accurate fee without viewing your home in person. The cost to rewire a house depends on so many factors.
That’s why our reputable, family-run business, JK Services, always provides a no-obligation free quote. Assessing your home is the only accurate way to get a full house rewire price. To help you plan a house rewire and its eventual cost, we’ve included all the information you need in this useful guide.
How much Does it Cost to Get a House Rewired?
There are many benefits of rewiring a house, but all too often, homeowners wait until a fault occurs. One reason for the delay is being unsure of the cost. However, each home is unique in its electrical requirements. As experienced electrical contractors, JK Services assess many factors in determining the cost of rewiring your home. If your house was built many decades ago, it probably won’t have an adequate number of sockets to safely accommodate today’s range of appliances. The cost to rewire a house increases according to size and if it needs additional points to bring it up to standard.
Extra labour will be needed if we must drill extensively into the walls or if floorboards need to be removed. How much does it cost to get a house rewired? Fully rewiring a three-bedroom house in Ireland, with floor space of around 140 square metres, should cost between €4,500 – €6,500. Yet there are more factors that could affect the cost.
How Long to Rewire a House?
The longer rewiring takes, the more the cost may increase. It usually takes between five and seven days to completely rewire a home of moderate size. The task may even take a fortnight if the house is occupied. If your home is particularly large, rewiring could be faster if more electricians are engaged, but this frequently increases the labour charges. The daily rate for a qualified electrician in Ireland is approximately €250.
Each new socket that’s installed costs €150 to €250 and takes up to three hours to fit. Installing new wiring for a ceiling light takes a couple of hours and usually costs up to €150. It can often take a whole day to fit a new fuse board at a cost of approximately €350. Installing the wiring for a brand-new shower also takes a day’s work and it can cost up to €950.
However, at JK Services, our fully qualified electricians have years of experience. They work efficiently on their own or as part of a team, ensuring the full house rewire price is kept to a minimum.
How Often Do You Need to Rewire a House?
Rewiring generally has a longevity of at least twenty years. Its lifespan often depends on the quality of the materials and how a system is used. In some instances, rewiring can even last beyond four decades. However, all electric cables eventually deteriorate, but the effects often go unseen. The wires of electric cables are protected by a plastic covering. As the electricity runs along the wires it produces heat. Gradually, this warmth causes the plastic to become stiff and brittle. It eventually cracks and small pieces crumble away. The deterioration can often accelerate if the wiring is near a radiator or in a sunny position. Using old wiring that’s not been checked for many years, can put you and your family at risk from electrocution. It can even set your home on fire. But faults can be detected through a periodic inspection.
It’s a simple routine check that lasts only an hour or two. But it ensures your circuitry is operating safely. Homeowners should have their wiring checked by a qualified electrician once every ten years. Private and social housing landlords are required by law to organise periodic inspection every five years for the wiring in all their properties.
Signs Your House Needs Rewiring
If your home hasn’t been rewired for at least twenty-five years, it’s time to think about replacing the circuitry. An ageing system has usually suffered extreme wear and tear after two or three decades. You are now probably asking yourself how much does it cost to get a house rewired but it will depend on a couple of factors. One of these factors is the condition of current wiring. There will be many signs your house needs rewiring.
- Lighting might flicker occasionally or suddenly appear to lose its brightness.
- Light bulbs are now made for extended use over many months or even years. If bulbs burn out in a short time, it’s a possible sign of a fault in the light fitting’s wiring.
- Plug sockets will often look stained or scorched and emit a smoky, burnt aroma. There may even be sparks or a humming noise in the socket. If the deterioration is advanced, a plug socket might even stop working.
- A noticeable sign is experiencing a mild tingling when you touch the plug. However, electricity can be unpredictable and suddenly cause a fire or severe electric shock.
- Faulty or old wiring can also damage an appliance such as a laptop or television.
These are just some of the signs. But through regular electrical maintenance procedures such as periodic inspection and PAT Testing, we can help you determine if your wiring needs replacing.
What is PAT Testing?
Portable Appliance Testing, or PAT Testing, is a simple, fast procedure that checks the electrical condition of all types of household equipment such as microwave ovens and washing machines. Appliances such as refrigerators and freezers are plugged into the electricity supply twenty-four hours a day for their entire lifetime.
They often suffer an enormous amount of wear and tear leading to a poor performance. Some fridges overheat and set on fire. Faulty appliances might even lead to complications when trying to claim from your home insurance.
PAT Testing is not a legal necessity for homeowners, but it helps safeguard appliance reliability. And if you ever decide to rent out your home, you’ll need to have its household appliances regularly tested for safety.
Benefits of Rewiring a House
There are many benefits to be gained from rewiring a house. Assuming the work is completed correctly by a certified electrician, there are many benefits to have your home rewired such as:
- Your home will have up to date power requirements.
- Increases the safety of your house.
- Less chance of fire occurring.
- Improves appliance longevity.
- Save money on electric bills.
- Increases value of your house.
Grant for Rewiring a House Ireland
Under certain circumstances, there is a grant for rewiring a house in Ireland. It is called the Housing Aid for Older People Grant. It is designed to help older people (aged 66+) who are living in poor conditions with necessary repairs and improvements to their homes. The scheme is carried out by local authorities.
The maximum amount you are entitled to is €8000, which may cover 95% of the cost of the works involved. The scheme is means-tested. For more information on the scheme visit the ‘Housing Aid for Older People Grant’ section on the Gov.ie website.
Final Thoughts
The cost of rewiring a house in Ireland can often be up to €6,500. However, the actual cost varies from one home to another. Larger homes inevitably cost more to rewire. But there are many benefits of rewiring a house including bringing your circuit up to modern standards. The use of high-quality materials and integrated safety features make the inconvenience of rewiring worthwhile.
Our fully qualified electricians can also install additional power points to prevent you overloading a socket with multiple double plugs. New technology is usually energy-efficient leading to a general reduction in fuel bills. The key to knowing when to rewire a house relies on understanding the current condition of your home’s wiring.
Our highly experienced electricians can easily assess the safety and efficiency of your wiring. We’ll also help you price a full house rewire. Contact JK Services without delay and we’ll provide a no-obligation free quote.