Do any of you re-use outlets, switches, wall boxes, etc. when doing a rewiring job?
I've always been of the opinion that it's better to put in everything new and avoid trouble later on. Even if the switch or socket is in good condition and all I'm swapping out is the cable in the wall.
For example, all the outlets in my apartment are new (year old). I changed the old (painted over many times) two-hole outlets for new three-hole grounded sockets as soon as I moved in over a year ago.
However the wiring in part of the bedroom and the bathroom is rotten, there is an open ground on one socket and the rusting BX needs to be pulled out. Something I plan on doing in the near future.
When I do this, I plan on putting in all new outlets also (same heavy duty "spec-grade" kind that I used before) in the sections that are being repaired just because I want to start with everything new and trouble-free.
Of course I'm putting in new wall boxes because even though some of the originals are OK looking, they're starting to show rust.
What do you guys think? Waste of money or good thinking?
