Whole House Rewiring in the Bay Area: When Your Home Needs New Electrical Wiring

Many Bay Area homes — especially those built before the 1980s — still operate on aging electrical wiring that was never designed for today’s power demands. As homeowners add EV chargers, heat pumps, induction cooking, and home offices, outdated wiring can become a serious safety and performance concern.

At Drummond Electric, we perform whole house rewiring and major electrical upgrades throughout San Jose, Los Altos, Palo Alto, Mountain View, Cupertino, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Campbell, Saratoga, Los Gatos, Morgan Hill, and Gilroy.

Here’s what Silicon Valley homeowners should know about rewiring.

What Is Whole House Rewiring?

Whole house rewiring involves replacing old branch circuit wiring with new, code-compliant conductors and updating related electrical components as needed.

A typical rewire may include:

• Replacement of outdated branch circuits

• New grounded wiring

• New circuits for modern loads

• Panel cleanup or upgrade

• New switches and receptacles

• AFCI/GFCI protection updates

• Proper grounding and bonding

The goal is to bring the home safely into the modern electrical era.

Signs Your Bay Area Home May Need Rewiring

Your Home Was Built Before ~1980

Many older Silicon Valley homes may contain:

• Ungrounded wiring

• Aging insulation

• Undersized circuits

• Obsolete wiring methods

Not every older home needs a full rewire — but many benefit from evaluation.

Two-Prong Outlets

Two-slot receptacles often indicate ungrounded wiring.

While adapters exist, they do not provide true equipment grounding. A proper rewire or circuit upgrade is the long-term solution.

Frequent Breaker Trips or Flickering Lights

Warning signs we commonly see:

• Lights dim when appliances start

• Breakers trip under normal use

• Warm outlets or switches

• Inconsistent power in parts of the home

These may indicate overloaded or deteriorated wiring.

Planning a Major Remodel or ADU

Rewiring is often most cost-effective when:

• Walls are already open

• Major renovations are underway

• Kitchen or addition work is planned

• Service upgrades are being performed

Many Bay Area homeowners choose to modernize wiring during remodels to avoid future disruptions.

Partial Rewire vs Full Rewire

Not every home requires complete rewiring.

Partial Rewire — best when:

• Only certain circuits are outdated

• Specific problem areas exist

• Budget is limited

• Remodel scope is targeted

Full House Rewire — best when:

• Wiring is broadly obsolete

• Home lacks grounding

• Major remodel is underway

• Multiple circuits are overloaded

• Long-term ownership is planned

At Drummond Electric, we evaluate each home individually and recommend the most practical approach.

What Makes Bay Area Rewires Unique

Homes in Silicon Valley often present specific challenges:

• Tight attic spaces

• Multi-level floor plans

• Finished walls and ceilings

• Older construction methods

• High-end finish protection requirements

Our approach focuses on minimizing drywall damage while maximizing code compliance.

Rewiring Cost in the Bay Area

Costs vary significantly based on home size, access, and scope.

Typical ranges (2025 Bay Area):

• Targeted partial rewires: $3,000–$10,000+

• Smaller full rewires: $12,000–$25,000+

• Larger or complex homes: $25,000–$60,000+

Key cost drivers:

• Square footage

• Accessibility (attic/crawlspace)

• Number of circuits

• Panel condition

• Finish protection requirements

• Permit scope

• Occupied vs vacant home

A site visit is essential for accurate pricing.

How Long Does a House Rewire Take?

Typical timelines:

• Partial rewires: 1–3 days

• Full rewires (occupied home): 1–3 weeks

• Full rewires (during major remodel): often faster

Proper planning helps minimize disruption to daily life.

Permit Requirements in the Bay Area

Most cities — including San Jose, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, and Cupertino — require permits for significant rewiring work.

Drummond Electric handles:

• Electrical permits

• Load calculations

• Code compliance

• Inspection coordination

This ensures your home meets current safety standards.

Rewiring Service Areas

We provide whole house rewiring throughout:

• San Jose

• Los Altos

• Palo Alto

• Mountain View

• Cupertino

• Sunnyvale

• Santa Clara

• Campbell

• Saratoga

• Los Gatos

• Morgan Hill

• Gilroy

• Surrounding Bay Area communities

Why Choose Drummond Electric

Homeowners across Silicon Valley trust us for clean, carefully planned rewiring projects that protect both safety and finished surfaces.

Our expertise includes:

• Whole house rewiring

• Knob-and-tube replacement

• Grounding upgrades

• Panel modernization

• Remodel electrical upgrades

• High-end residential work

We focus on long-term reliability, not quick patchwork fixes.

Schedule a Rewire Evaluation

If your home in San Jose, Los Altos, or anywhere in Silicon Valley may have outdated wiring, Drummond Electric can perform a professional evaluation and recommend the right upgrade path.

We’ll assess your existing wiring, future electrical needs, and budget to design a safe, modern solution.

Contact Drummond Electric today to schedule your whole house rewire consultation.