Knob and Tube Remediations
Knob and tube wiring started being used in the 1880s and stopped being installed in the 1940s as better wiring alternatives were created. Some older houses still have active knob and tube wiring, and it can become a safety hazard. So much so that some insurance companies won’t insure homes that have active knob and tube wiring in place.
Why should I get knob and tube wiring removed/replaced?
Aging Infrastructure: Knob and tube wiring, at least 70 years old, is susceptible to copper wire oxidation and deteriorating insulation.
Insulation Challenges: Modern insulation in older homes can pose fire hazards when combined with knob and tube wiring.
Inadequate for Modern Demands: Today’s appliances require higher amperage loads than knob and tube wiring can safely handle, posing overheating and fire risks.
Unsafe Modifications: Amateur splicing can increase the risk of overloading and heat damage.
If you live in an older house, 1950 or earlier, and you have knob and tube wiring, call us at Deao Electric. We can inspect, remove, and replace your knob and tube wiring system for a fair price to give you and your family peace of mind. You home is where you should feel safest, so call Deao Electric today.
BX or Romex?
Replacing knob and tube wiring brings up the question of which is the better alternative. Romex or BX. Both methods are obviously better than knob and tube with some not so subtle differences between them. Each contains 1 or more hot conductors along with a neutral conductor and a ground wire.
Romex is sheathed in PVC, it’s flexible, resistant to heat and fire, it’s easy to install and relatively inexpensive. Romex has been the most common type of wire used in residential applications over the last 40 years.
BX is also referred to as Armor Clad or Flexible Metal Conduit because it’s sheathed in a flexible metal spiral made either from aluminum or galvanized steel. The metal shield means that BX has advantages over Romex.
Resistant to punctures from nails or screws
More resistant to being chewed through by rodents or pests
BX shields electric fields
BX is slightly more difficult to install than Romex. It’s also more expensive initially. But it would only take one picture hanging mishap or critter invasion to change the dynamic.
