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What
is Knob and Tube wiring?
Knob & tube wiring gets its name from the knobs
(or insulators) used to keep the wires isolated from objects & the ceramic
tubes used to line holes, for example, through wooden floor joists.
The actual wire used may largely be no different from that used
today, it consists of only a hot (black) and neutral (white) wire.
There is no ground wire. Both wires must run separately to fixtures
as opposed to those used now which are contained within one plastic
sheathing. In addition, junction boxes for housing electrical connections
were seldom, if ever, used. There are some concerns with this system.
The rubber and cloth insulation around the knob & tube wiring
breaks down over time creating a potential
for shorts. In many
homes these knob and tube wiring systems have been incorrectly
tampered with as the electrical needs of the homeowners increase
over time. These modifications, in some cases, have been done in
an unsafe manner by a unqualified person creating more risk for
the homeowner.
We were told by the previous owner that our house has been completely
rewired. But we have no documents to back it up what do we do?
This is very common. No documentation just a verbal remark passed
on from seller to buyer. The home inspector is only required to
test outlets randomly therefore his report is inconclusive. What
do you do? Get a knob and tube electrical audit and receive a written
document verifying the quantity and location of your knob and tube
wiring, if any.
Put this issue to bed once and for all. You can also use this document
as a sales tool when you decide to resale giving the new buyer
proof not just promises.
Could I use this report for resale purposes?
Yes This report can greatly help home sellers which have little
or no knob and tube wiring in their home to prove to potential
buyers that there home will not require the extra expense and
disruption of rewiring. It is a great sales tool especially these
days that knob and tube wiring is of greater concern from an
insurance perspective and a cost perspective as well, which in
turn affects the salability of the property in question
My home has knob and
tube wiring and I don’t
want to rewire at this time. Can I proceed with my decorating plans
or wait until I decide to rewire?
Knob and tube wiring replacement in your home unfortunately requires
the electricians to make holes in your wall and ceilings in order
to pass the new wiring through to its desired locations. It is
highly recommended that decorating I.e. paint, wallpaper, special
finishes etc. be applied after the rewire otherwise you will be
redoing portions of your new finishes at extra expense.
My insurance company is asking for an electrical
safety clearance letter from an electrician. Do you provide such
a report?
The electrical safety of my client’s
home is my number one priority. During my
audits I do my best to look for any safety issues that I can see
and I report back to the client in writing. But until some one
develops x-ray vision to see through walls and ceiling certifying
a homes knob and tube wiring as “electrically
safe” is physically impossible. Most of the wiring, if not
all of it, is behind walls and ceilings and therefore impossible
to inspect. If you have received a positive electrical safety inspection
on your knob and tube wiring read the wording on the report carefully.
You will find that the wording is none definitive to protect their
liability and therefore the report is useless. My position on knob
and tube wiring, based on 25 years experience in the field, is
that it is unsafe and should be replaced. Any other position, in
my opinion, is irresponsible and misleading.
How do I get competitive and comparable quotes for my Knob and
Tube replacements project?
Electrical contractors don‘t have the time or the resources
to send people to your home and inspect your electrical system in
order to provide you with a firm quote. They have various different
strategies and approaches to getting your business but  make no mistake
if you don‘t know in advance exactly what the scope of your project is they
will pick up on that and you will be at a disadvantage.
The electrical audit gives you the advantage by showing to the contractors
that you have done your research and you are an informed customer. The electrical audit also gives the contractor the information that
they need to quote accurately. No “guesstimating“ or “ball parking“
All the contractors that you approach will have the same information
so your quotes will be comparable allowing you to make an informative
choice. Armed with you electrical audit your quotes will be comparable
and competitive.
Will my home
inspection report have the details required?
Unfortunately it is not
in their scope of work to give you the level of detail required.
They are only required to randomly check the outlets and if they
do see signs of old wiring they will recommend that further investigation
be done by a qualified electrician.
Conclusion:
In my opinion, having replaced and serviced many knob and tube
systems in my 25 year electrical carrier, these systems are expired,
deteriorated, tampered with, ungrounded overloaded and therefore
are high risk for shock and fire. I recommend that you:
- Have an Electrical Audit done
- Get three or more quotes from reputable electrical contractors
using the audit as a reference tool.
- Check for references, qualifications
and licence's, insurance, WSIB coverage.
- Get a contract prepared, read it carefully. Make sure all that
you discussed is clearly indicated.
- Electrical permits are required.
How
long does the audit take, how much does it cost and what’s
included in the report?
My system is specially designed to be fast, very affordable and with little to
no inconvenience to you and your families daily routine.
I spend approximately about 3 to 4 hours, depending on the size
of your home. I inspect and test every outlet, including lights and switches. I
Then input all my finding into a multipage customized report for your
property complete with floor layouts. This is all reviewed with the
home owner and all questions are answered. The charge to most homes is $299.00 plus
GST (price is subject to change)
Ask me about how to get a FREE audit when working with a contractor.
Contact Dario at any time for a free
consultation and quote
Office 416 779 - 8817 or email me
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