Is it safe to live in my house while the wiring is being replaced?

Yes, most GTA homeowners stay in their homes during a rewire, and a good electrician will stage the work so you always have power to essential areas like the kitchen, bathroom, and at least one bedroom. That said, there's real disruption involved, and understanding what to expect helps you decide whether to stay or temporarily relocate.

During a rewire, your electrician works through the home section by section, turning off power to one area at a time while running new NMD90 cable and installing new outlets and switches. In a well-planned rewire, the electrician completes and energizes each section before moving to the next, so you're never without power to the entire home for more than a few hours — typically during the panel changeover when old circuits are disconnected and new ones are connected. Most electricians schedule the panel switchover early in the day so it's completed before evening.

The biggest source of disruption isn't the power interruptions — it's the dust, noise, and access holes. Running new wire through finished walls requires cutting small openings in drywall at strategic points to fish cable between floors and through wall cavities. A skilled electrician minimizes these cuts by routing wire through the attic and basement wherever possible, but some wall cuts are unavoidable, especially in two-storey homes where cable needs to pass through the floor between levels. Expect drywall dust, the sound of drilling through studs and plates, and the occasional thump of cable being pulled through wall cavities.

For families with young children, the safety consideration is real. Open electrical boxes, exposed wiring during rough-in, and tools scattered across work areas create hazards that require constant vigilance. Many GTA families with small children choose to stay with relatives or in a short-term rental during the most intensive days of the rewire — typically three to five days for a bungalow, five to eight days for a two-storey home. If you stay, keep children well away from the work areas and make sure the electrician secures all exposed wiring at the end of each work day.

For the pre-war homes in the Annex, Cabbagetown, and Riverdale where knob-and-tube removal is common, the disruption tends to be greater because the wall cavities are often harder to access. Plaster-and-lath walls are more difficult to cut cleanly than modern drywall, and patching them requires more skill and cost. Some electricians in these neighbourhoods recommend a plaster restoration specialist for the patching work rather than doing it themselves.

Practical tips for living through a rewire: set up a temporary kitchen station with your microwave and kettle in a room that won't be worked on that day, keep your phone and laptop charged overnight since power may be off to your usual charging spots during the day, and cover furniture and belongings with drop cloths in rooms being worked on. If you're planning a rewire and want to discuss the logistics with experienced electricians, Toronto Electrical Repair can match you with licensed professionals who handle residential rewires across the GTA every week.