Industry Standards
Industry Standards | Whole Home Rewires | Electrical | Athens
From Five Points bungalows to Eastside ranchers, Athens homes charm us with their history—yet many still rely on wiring installed decades ago. HEP’s certified electricians bring these classics into the 21st-century, delivering code-compliant whole home rewires that quietly boost safety, capacity, and resale value without stealing the spotlight from your hardwood floors or original trim.
We map every circuit, pull high-quality copper, and upgrade panels, outlets, and smart-home infrastructure in one coordinated sweep, so you won’t juggle multiple contractors or endure endless dust cycles. Whether you’re charging an EV, installing solar, or just tired of tripped breakers, HEP makes the transformation seamless, warrantied, and surprisingly swift—leaving you with the power to live, cook, and stream exactly the way you want in the Classic City.
FAQs
Why would a homeowner in Athens need a whole-home rewire?
If your house still relies on knob-and-tube or aluminum branch-circuit wiring, lacks grounding conductors, or has an undersized service panel, a complete rewire brings the electrical system up to current National Electrical Code (NEC 2020) requirements. Rewiring eliminates chronic tripped breakers, flickering lights, and overheating receptacles, greatly reducing fire risk. It also provides the capacity for modern loads—HVAC, EV chargers, smart-home devices, and high-speed internet cabling—while future-proofing the property and raising its resale value.
How long does a whole-home rewire normally take in Athens, and what should I expect during the process?
A rewire on a 1,800–2,500 sq ft Athens residence typically takes 5–10 working days, depending on house size, access to crawl spaces/attics, and whether the walls are open. Our crews begin by protecting floors and furnishings with dropsheets, then demo outdated wiring, pull new NM-B or MC cable, install AFCI/GFCI breakers, and set a new 150- or 200-amp panel. Rough-in work is inspected by Athens-Clarke County Building Inspections before drywall repair. We finish with device trim-out, labeling, and a final inspection. Power is usually restored each evening so essential circuits remain usable.
Do I need permits and inspections for a rewire in Athens?
Yes. Athens-Clarke County requires an electrical permit for any rewire that extends or replaces branch circuits or upgrades service equipment. A licensed electrical contractor will submit load calculations, service-panel specs, and a detailed circuit map. The county schedules two inspections: a rough-in (before walls are closed) and a final (after devices, fixtures, and panel are complete). Operating without a permit can delay real-estate transactions and may void your homeowners insurance, so we manage all permitting and coordinate inspection dates for you.
What codes, standards, and materials are used in an Athens whole-home rewire?
We follow the 2020 NEC as adopted by Georgia, plus local amendments. Key upgrades include: • 200-amp copper service entrance conductors and meter base rated for 4-jaw, bar-type metering. • AFCI protection on all habitable-room circuits and GFCI protection in kitchens, baths, garages, unfinished basements, and exterior receptacles. • Combination smoke/CO detectors on each level and in every sleeping room, interconnected and hardwired with battery backup. • Cat 6 data and RG-6 coax cable runs for future networking. • All wiring is copper NM-B 12-2 or 14-2, stapled and protected to Article 334 specifications, or MC cable where required. Receptacles are tamper-resistant, and all devices carry UL listings.
What does a whole-home rewire cost in the Athens area?
Costs average $9,000–$18,000 for a three-bedroom, two-bath house but vary with square footage, accessibility, number of circuits, and whether service upgrades or drywall patching are included. Specialty items such as recessed LED lighting, surge protection, EV-charger circuits, or generator transfer switches add to the total. We provide a written estimate after a free on-site assessment that includes a circuit count, load calculation, and options worksheet, so you can choose essential versus discretionary upgrades.
Can I stay in my home during the rewire and how should I prepare?
Most clients remain in the home, but expect daytime power interruptions and some wall/ceiling openings for cable pulls. We schedule work in zones so that at least one bathroom and refrigerator circuit stay energized when possible. You can prepare by clearing closets, attics, and furniture away from outlets, covering valuables from dust, and arranging alternative workspace if you run a home office. Pets should be confined for their safety. If you prefer to stay elsewhere, we can accelerate the schedule and coordinate cleaning and painting before you return.