Do You Need to Upgrade Your Knob and Tube Wiring?
Knob and Tube Wiring
Knob and tube wiring was most commonly used from 1880 to 1935. This system used ceramic tubes, around which wires were wrapped and drawn through. If your home was constructed between these years, please call us for a free consultation about whether or not you may need to upgrade your wiring.
You can also take a look yourself, in crawl spaces and attics, for ceramic knobs and tubes.
It is almost certain that if you still have knob and tube wiring in your home, it needs to be replaced. If you have a knob and tube system, a whole house rewire is recommended. In addition to potentially lowering your insurance rates, rewiring your home to replace knob and tube wiring can increase your home and family safety. Furthermore, it can enhance your electrical systems ability to handle the typical load of our everyday appliances.
Is Knob and Tube Wiring Safe?
Having knob and tube wiring in your home is a serious fire hazard. Additionally, homes with knob and tube wiring are not grounded, which can lead to electrical shock when appliances or the electrical system malfunction. Having an ungrounded system can also slowly, but consistently damage your valuable electronics.
Due to the risk of danger inherent to knob and tube wiring, many insurance companies will not provide fire insurance to homes that have it. When buying or selling a home, it can be difficult to find a mortgage company that will provide a loan.
To help determine whether or not your home has knob and tube wiring, please call us today.
Knob and Tube Wiring Systems Provide Insufficient Power
Knob and tube wiring systems were designed to handle the amount of electricity was commonplace in homes during that time period. Because of the increased use of electrical devices, these systems are just not designed to handle the amount of electricity that we use on a day-to-day basis. This can lead to more blown fuses and flipped circuit breakers.
One way that homeowners deal with this problem is by over sizing their fuses and circuit breakers. This can be very dangerous, due to the increased electrical flow that is allowed to go down the circuits. If the system takes on more electricity than it can handle, it can overheat and cause a fire.
Insulation Hazards
Having insulation blown or laid over knob and tube wiring can cause fires. Because of this, any knob and tube home that has had insulation placed in their attics are in a very unsafe condition.
An Ungrounded Electrical System
Do not forget the fact that knob and tube wiring systems are not grounded. Ungrounded systems not only leave you more susceptible to shock, but having an ungrounded system also exposes your system to electrical currents that have built up and can damage your electronic devices. As a result, the lifespan of your gadgets and appliances will be much shorter.
The greatest danger of an ungrounded system is the possibility of electric shocks. If there is an electrical malfunction, the electricity will need to find an outlet, which could be you or your family.
Can I Sell A Knob and Tube Home?
Although it is possible to sell your home with knob and tube wiring, it can be very difficult to insure or secure a mortgage for it. Most insurance companies will not provide insurance unless the electrical system has undergone a rigorous test by a licensed electrician. Many will refuse to insure these homes altogether. Mortgage lenders can also be reluctant to provide loans for knob and tube loans. These factors can make the sale of your home very difficult.
What Should I Do When My Home Has Knob and Tube?
If you know or think that your home has knob and tube wiring you should have it inspected by a qualified electrician. Call us for your free home safety inspection today.
