Knob and Tube Wiring
I’m buying an old house that has some knob and tube wiring. Some people have said it is bad news all around. Others have said that I must replace it ASAP. I’ve been told by my home inspector that it should be replaced but an electrician I spoke with said it should be OK right…
I’m buying an old house that has some knob and tube wiring. Some people have said it is bad news all around. Others have said that I must replace it ASAP. I’ve been told by my home inspector that it should be replaced but an electrician I spoke with said it should be OK right now, as long as the house hasn’t had insulation blown into the exterior walls. Any thoughts on experiences with replacing it now or waiting a while? Thanks for any advice.
My insurance company (USAA) told me they would not insure a home with knob and tube. Luckily my house didn’t have any left which was active, just some old ceramic knobs in the attic which were evidence it was once there. This might be something to consider in your decision.
I don’t know any of the electricians involved, but I will tell you this, if you base any work solely on price, be prepared to spend those cost savings and more to fix what they fixed cheap. A $2 hair cut might sound great but I’m not sure I’d want a $2 electrician. BTW, if they charge for estimates, thats probably because they have plenty of work now and don’t have time for people who get quotes then just take the cheapest route anyways. And if they are more expensive, yet have plenty of work, that tells me they must be good.
Also, it sounds like the electrician you talked to never looked at the wiring. If he had, he would know if there was insulation in the walls. So far I bet the only person to see the wiring was the Home Inspector and he said it should be replaced.
The electrical system is not something to play games with or to risk the safety of your family. Get the situation looked at properly. BTW, no I’m not an electrician or even a contractor, just someone with a little common sense.
I was not impressed by Christopher John. They are expensive. They charge for estimates. There are plenty of electricians out there that don’t charge for estimates, and are 50% cheaper for the exact same work.
Thanks Christopher !
I think you shoud double check with another electrican / i used Christopher john electrical with an issue i had and and they were very helpful and they also deal with con-ed and building inspectors they were great
like above poster says, if you got time and money. fix it now. later on it be more trouble.
If you are buying it and have time before you move in, it’s probably a good decision to replace the wiring now, before you spend time moving in furniture and painting. While it’s doable later, it’s definitely more convenient to do it now.
The biggest knock on knob and tube wiring, which I have replaced, is that it is not grounded. Also, the wire insulation was typically cloth, which may be in poor shape due to the age. This represents another risk, particularly when touching or renovating around them.
It is considered obsolete and should be replaced, particularly for grounding purposes, but I would not panic. Do not consider adding any more “points” or outlets to a knob and tube circuit and plan to replace at the next convenient time.