Knob and Tube Wiring - How Does It Impact Your Home
What Is Knob And Tube Wiring?
Knob and tube wiring is not a new concept, but it is most commonly found in old homes. You may not know if your home has knob and tube wiring, and to identify that, you need to notice if the wires are concealed with porcelain tubes or cylinders. Knob and Tube was an available wiring method in the 1900s. Over 200,000 homes in BC had this wiring, and the hot spots were Abbotsford, Langley, and the Lower Mainland.
The mechanics of these electrical wiring include the use of two long copper wires. These wires are usually 12 gauge, and a rubber cloth is used to insulate them. Chafing was very common with knob and tube wiring, which is why they were wounded with white ceramic knobs at the different connection points. If you spot these ceramic knobs, you can confirm that your home has knob and tube wiring. If you are still confused, contact Kato Electrical and let expert electricians help.
Knob and tube wiring are very different from the latest electrical wiring we have today. One of the most important differences between the two is that knob and tube wiring do not have a ground wire, and this means that this electrical wiring cannot cater to electrical appliances that have three-pronged plugs. You may not think of knob and tube wiring as a problem, but there are several ways this wiring can impact your home. Let's take a look at some of the ways that knob and tube wiring can impact your home.
How Does Knob And Tube Wiring Impact Your Home?
Even though it is not against the law to have a knob and tube wiring, there are several ways it can be dangerous for your home.
No Insurance
One of the biggest problems that homeowners face with knob and tube wiring is that they are unable to qualify for insurance. They have good reason to refuse homes with knob and tube wiring as they are a liability. These wirings are not as efficient as the new wiring and can result in several hazards. Even if you qualify for insurance, you will have to pay a lot more and have higher premiums.
Not just that, but it is not easy to qualify for insurance if your home has knob and tube wiring. The insurance company will require a green flag from a trusted electrician to make sure that your wiring is in sound condition.
If you want insurance, you can search for an 'electrician near me, and they will be able to help you with the complete inspection. Kato Electrical has some of the best experts on board and can help ensure electrical safety and insurance.
Incompatible With New Electronics
Over the years, things have changed a lot, and this means that outdated wiring systems are no longer compatible with the demands of new electrical appliances. Nowadays, our lives revolve around electrical gadgets, and we need to make sure that our electrical wiring is efficient enough to take the load and meet the electrical requirements of different electrical appliances. In today's time, all electrical appliances come with three prongs, and the third prong is to ensure that the electronic devices are as safe as possible. The third prong is also called the grounding prong, and if it is not there, the chances of fires and other hazards increase significantly.
If your home has knob and tube wiring, then you cannot use any electrical appliances that come with three prongs, and that limits your options. It can devoid you of the opportunity to use modern appliances that are convenient to use.
Possible Fire Hazard
One of the most alarming dangers of knob and tube wiring is fire. Many aspects of this wiring system make it susceptible to fire. Since these systems are ancient, over time, the electrical wiring deteriorates, and several components go bad. For instance, the wires may become brittle. This can result in live wires being exposed and then catching fire. Other than that, the nobs and tubes may break or crack due to several reasons, and that too can result in exposed wires causing a fire.
Moisture Concerns
Your electrical wiring should be moisture safe as there are several instances that can result in dangerous situations. You can get electrical shocks, and those shocks can lead to fires. This is why it is very important for your electrical wiring to be completely moisture-free. If your home has knob and tube wiring, then it is obvious for other rooms, such as the kitchen and bathrooms, also to have the same wiring. These can pose to be a great threat to the safety of your home.
Knob and tube wiring is not moisture safe and can impact your home negatively. Look for an electrician near me and allow them to help secure your electrical wiring and electrical renovation.
Brittle Insulations
With time all things get weaker, and the same is the case with porcelain tubes. These tubes cover copper wiring and protect them from wood and other surfaces. These porcelain tubes wither away, and exposing the wires underneath. These brittle insulations can put your home in harm's way. If these wires come in contact with flammable surfaces, they can catch fire.
Lack of Ground Wiring
The knob and tube wiring does not have any ground wiring. This makes it very dangerous as such wires are very prone to becoming fire hazards. If not, the lack of ground wiring can also hinder the performance of your electrical appliances. Electrical appliances are expensive, and one cannot keep buying them over and over again. This is why it is best to look for an electrician near me so they can help you with the replacements or other renovations.
Over Usage
Over the years, technology has advanced significantly, and this means that we use more electrical appliances now than before. Therefore, there is a lot of load of electrical appliances on our wirings systems and it is very important for them to be efficient and strong enough to take the load off the individual. If you have lots of appliances at home, then the electrical wiring will not be able to take the load. This can cause many electrical problems and disturb the electrical wiring and damage your appliances.
How Long Does Knob And Tube Wiring Last?
Copper wires are very strong; they can be very long-lasting and even last you for a 100 years. These wires are the main component of the knob and tube wiring. However, it is not about the wiring but the insulation itself that becomes brittle and prone to more damage.
If you are thinking about renovating your home, then you must replace the insulations and the knobs and tubes to ensure that your wires are not exposed.
How to Maintain Your Knob and Tube Wiring?
If you do not want to go through the hassle of replacing the entire electrical system then you must maintain the knob and tube wiring.
Here are some ways you can maintain the wiring:
The first thing you need to do is contact Kato Electrical and let them take a look at your wiring. Their expert services can help you come up with a plan that can restore your electrical wiring and make it as efficient as possible.
If you want to avoid fires, you must avoid using a lot of electricity. Keep your usage to a minimum so you do not overpower the wiring.
Replacing all your outlets with GFCI outlets, which will also let you use modern electrical appliances as they have a three-prong feature.
Change the wiring in rooms such as the kitchen, bathrooms, and other laundry rooms to ensure that your electrical wiring meet moisture.
Let an electrician help you with replacing all the insulations to ensure that your home is safe and your electrical wiring does not have any exposed wires.
Let Kato Electrical Help You!
We understand all the problems that come with knob and tube wiring and have the best experts who can help you with all the replacements and maintenance. To get our help, all you need to do is reach out to us, and our residential electricians can rush to you for consultation and then assure you that you get the best possible services.
It is important for you to only let expert electricians help you as knob and tube wiring can be very sensitive. Our licensed electricians are trained to work with all sorts of electrical wiring and provide your home with the utmost safety.
When it comes to your safety, Kato Electrical can be the best company to make sure that your home has no problems with electrical wiring and other electrical components.