A Knob and Tube Wiring Overview
Need for Replacement
New Jersey and its urban areas like Englewood Cliffs are populated by many old homes complete with charm and history. When homes were first wired to carry electricity, the technology of the day came under the name “knob and tube” because it consists of white ceramic tubes that rubber insulated wires are run through and held up by ceramic knobs. It’s an out of date setup, especially when you consider repairs that have come along the way or insulation that has been placed on or nearby, and with today’s added appliances and devices. It’s a safety hazard.
We are specialists in the replacement of knob and tube wiring and will gladly inspect your home for safety.
The Move Away from Knob and Tube Wiring
In the 1880’s when electricity found its way into homes, there was only the need to provide lighting, and knob and tube was an easy solution.
It was the cheapest solution, and as a result, continued to be the chosen method of wiring a home well into the 1940’s. The alternative included the more expensive use of conduits, metal junction boxes, and armored cables. Around this time, standards for wiring emerged and soon wire insulated with plastic came into the mainstream and brought expenses down, and speed of installation. Knob and tube installations, as a result, fell out of existence.
Why Knob and Tube Wiring Should Be Removed
The reasons are many but begin with the insulation around the wires. Rubber decays and exposes the wires while plastic does not and is thus far superior for insulating wires.
Knob and tube wiring is also not grounded. You may have noticed the outlets in old houses as having only two slots for plugs – the third, the round one commonly found today, is the ground wire. The lack of grounding, in the event of a power surge, can cause a dangerous situation such as a fire.
And yet another reason knob and tube wiring should be replaced is because it simply can’t handle the requirements of a modern home. 1880 to 1940 saw lights, fans, a refrigerator maybe. Today’s homes have all that plus washers, dryers, stoves, tv’s, computers, hair dryers, VCR’s and much more.
We are go-to experts for knob and tube replacements and will gladly evaluate your home for safety as well as for knob and tube replacement.