If you’ve purchased an older home, you may have noticed some odd components like porcelain knobs, tubes, and fuse holders residing in your wall and ceiling cavities. These are parts of knob and tube wiring, an outdated electrical system that puts your home at risk of electrical fires. Not only does knob and tube wiring lack grounding, but its conductors are copper sheathed in cloth filled asphalt or rubber insulation. This design may have worked for homes 80 years ago but increases the chance of fires in today’s highly electrical world. Continue reading to learn how exactly knob and tube wiring puts your home in danger and what you can do to mitigate the risks.
Lack of Grounding
There are many reasons why knob and tube wiring is unsafe, and it starts with the design of the system. Knob and tube wiring does not use a grounding wire, meaning there is no safe place for excess electricity to go. Instead of this electricity being directed into the ground, it is more likely to cause a spark or even start an electrical fire in your home. Not to mention many modern appliances require grounding to operate efficiently, making this wiring method even more outdated and ineffective.
Undersized Circuits
Knob and tube wiring doesn’t just hamper your ability to use modern electronics; it makes using them dangerous. This wiring system hasn’t been installed in buildings since the 1940s, a time when our electrical needs weren’t nearly as high. In fact, the circuits used in knob and tube wiring were designed to only hold a maximum of 60 amps compared to today’s electrical panels which hold a minimum of 100 amps. These undersized circuits won’t just make it difficult to use your devices, it will increase the likelihood of overloading, overheating, and electrical fires. No home is low-tech enough, it’s best to call a residential electrician to evaluate and upgrade your system.
Deteriorating Insulation
Houses that use knob and tube wiring are at minimum 80 years old, meaning these outdated systems have had extreme exposure to the elements. The natural asphalt and rubber insulation used around this wiring already traps heat, creating a fire hazard. But since so much time has passed, this asphalt or rubber-filled fabric insulation has likely dried out, cracked, and deteriorated over time. This leaves the wires exposed, increasing the risk of fraying cables which can result in electrical fires if a residential electrician isn’t called immediately.
Unsafe Modifications
Knob and tube wiring is a complicated system and should only be handled by licensed electricians like the ones at Landis Electric. However, this hasn’t stopped others from trying to modify this wiring to meet their modern needs during a home renovation. If your home has knob and tube wiring, check if any new wires have been spliced into the older circuits. These additional modern wires may seem like a way to increase power capacity in your home, but they actually just put more stress on the outdated wiring system leading to higher chances of electrical fires. If your knob and tube wiring has these risky modifications, call a residential electrician immediately so they can replace the system with a safer one.
Replacement Options for Knob and Tube Wiring
If you discover knob and tube wiring during a home renovation, do not try to replace or repair the system on your own. A residential electrician with the necessary experience should always be called to assess the wiring and determine the best course of action. This can look different depending on each system and your budget. The safest option is a full system replacement where all the knob and tube wiring is removed and replaced with modern wiring like non-metallic sheathed cables to prevent electrical shocks. During this full replacement, all electrical panels will need to be replaced as well.
The wiring itself is not the only component that needs to be replaced in this outdated system. Any two-prong outlets need to be replaced as they lack grounding which helps prevent electrical shocks and fires. Whether you are replacing your entire knob and tube wiring system or need a temporary fix until full replacement is possible, ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) or three-pronged outlets should be installed.
Protect Your Home with Updated Wiring
Knob and tube wiring is an electrical fire waiting to happen. Not only can these fires flare up without warning, but they can spread quickly and consume your home. Don’t risk your safety! Call to schedule a consultation with one of our residential electricians today and get started replacing your knob and tube wiring to ensure your home is up to date and free of electrical fire risks.