Is it Time to Upgrade Your Electrical Wiring?
Do you have KNOB & TUBE wiring in your house? If so it could be an accident waiting to happen. Old wiring is not only inefficient but poses a serious fire hazard. Back in the 30's, 40's, and 50's, when this type of wiring was installed, the demand for current was low. Today's electricity demands are a hundred times what they were 50 years ago.
Not sure if you have knob and tube in your house? Go down to your basement and take a look at the ceiling. If you see white knobs affixed to your joists with electrical wire snaking through them, you have knob and tube wiring. The knobs (or insulators) keep the wires isolated from objects, and the ceramic tubes are used to line the holes through the wooden floor joists.
The old knob and tube wiring was a great system for the time as it was originally designed to carry modest currents. Today, however, the electrical demands for the average family are considerably greater. Fifty years ago there were no microwaves , air conditioners, toasters, or computers in the home. This puts an enormous strain on the old style of wiring.
Even if you have upgraded your service, the additional demand can overload this old wiring. Knob-and-tube wiring can be a fire hazard if the original fuses have been replaced with oversized fuses to handle larger electrical loads (an all-too-common practice). A good rule of thumb is that if you upgrade your panel (the electrical service into your house) you should upgrade your wiring. There should be no debate.
And did you know that many insurance companies are refusing to renew policies on old homes unless the OUTDATED KNOB AND TUBE wiring is replaced. There's nothing worse than finding out that you can't get basic protection for your home because your wiring is considered sub standard.
So don't wait for your old wiring to cause a problem. Have a professional check it and give you proper advice on its replacement.