How to add electrical outlets?

Question

We're remodeling a home that's about 50 yrs. old. I would like to add more electrical outlets. How much would it cost?

Answer 1

Get a licensed electrician.
He will look at the existing connection from the power source, make the applications to update from city hall ( needs licensed electrician), change the power box, buy at least 2 types of wiring, thread them, install the breakers, then the city will come to do inspections etc.
If you are remodelling, ask your contractor to include updates to the electrical system instead of hiring another person yourself. Rewiring while the walls are being done makes more sense.

Answer 2

You should do a survey of your electrical outlets. Go to your breaker box and turn off one breaker at a time and record what's on each one of them. Put this information in the bottom of your breaker box. This list will come handy the next time someone is doing electrical work on your house. Now that you know what outlets (and overhead lights) are on witch breaker you can judge if you can add another outlet to the circuit you want. Next, TURN OFF THE CIRCUIT YOU WANT TO WORK ON. You already know witch breaker it is from your survey. If you are extending your new outlet from one that is on the end of the line it is easy. There are screws on the outlet to add/extend the circuit. Put the white wire on the screw next to the white wire that's already there and the black to the black. The copper wire will double up on the ground screw. If the outlet you want to go from is already in the middle of the circuit you will have to double up your wires on the screws that are there, or use a wire nut with 3 wires in it. One is form the breaker, 2 is to your new outlet, and 3 would be a short piece to the outlet that is in that box. You would have to do this to all the wires (hot, neutral, and ground). Be careful and dress all the wires into the outlet box with the outlet so you don't short anything.

Answer 3

Depends on your current wiring. Do your outlets have three prongs or just two? If they have three then to add an outlet or two to a room may not be a big deal. Get a licensed Electrician to check you breakers and wire size and give you bids on the work. Never hurts to get more than one bid if the job is going to be big.