Rewiring an Old House in Chennai — When It's Needed and What It Costs

Many of the independent houses in Perambur, Villivakkam and Ayanavaram were wired in the 1980s and 1990s for a fan, a tube light and a TV per room. They now carry two ACs, a geyser, an induction stove and a washing machine. The wiring did not grow with the load.

Signs you should get an assessment

• MCBs trip when the AC and geyser run together.
• Switchboards feel warm, or you smell burning plastic occasionally.
• Aluminium wiring (grey, dull conductors) — common in older homes and no longer safe for heavy loads.
• No earthing, or a shock from the fridge or geyser body.
• Wires visibly brittle or cracked where they enter the switchboard.

What a rewiring involves

Load calculation first: we list every appliance and size the mains, sub-mains and each circuit. Then new copper wiring (typically 1.5 sq mm for lighting, 2.5 sq mm for power, 4–6 sq mm for AC and geyser), a new distribution board with correctly rated MCBs and an RCCB, and proper earthing.

Cost in 2026

For a typical 2BHK in Chennai, a full rewiring with branded cable and a new DB runs ₹45,000 – ₹85,000 depending on the number of points and whether the conduits can be reused. A 3BHK independent house with AC points runs ₹90,000 – ₹1.6 lakh. We quote by point with brands named.

Doing it without destroying the walls

Where existing conduits are intact we pull new wires through them, so only the switchboard areas are opened. Where they are not, we cut narrow chases, and our masons patch and paint the same week — because the civil team is ours too.

Call 76048 17790 for a rewiring assessment. We inspect before recommending anything.