Truth About Knob and Tube Wiring
7016309225 • September 17, 2025
🏚️ The Truth About Knob-and-Tube Wiring: What Homeowners Need to Know

If you've ever bought or lived in an older home, chances are you’ve heard of knob-and-tube wiring. This vintage electrical system was standard in homes built from the 1880s through the 1940s—and while it was innovative in its day, it raises some serious concerns today.
So, what exactly is knob-and-tube wiring, and is it something you should be worried about?
Let’s break it down.
⚙️ What Is Knob-and-Tube Wiring?
Knob-and-tube (often abbreviated as K&T) is a method of electrical wiring that uses ceramic knobs to hold wires in place and ceramic tubes to guide them through wooden beams. Unlike modern wiring, it has:
- No grounding wire
- Separate hot and neutral wires, run individually
- Cloth or rubber insulation (which can deteriorate over time)
While it worked well for the lower electrical demands of early 20th-century homes, it wasn’t designed for today’s energy-hungry appliances or safety standards.
🚩 Why Knob-and-Tube Wiring Is a Concern
Many homeowners ask us: “Is knob-and-tube wiring dangerous?” The answer? It can be. Here’s why:
No Ground Wire
Modern wiring includes a ground wire for safety. K&T lacks this, which increases the risk of shocks and fire—especially when used with today’s electronics.
Insulation Breakdown
The cloth insulation used in knob-and-tube systems becomes brittle over time, exposing live wires that can arc or overheat.
Modified or Improperly Repaired Wiring
Many homes with K&T have had "DIY fixes" over the years—mixing old wiring with modern components. These mismatched setups often violate code and pose safety hazards.
Overloading the System
Homes built with K&T were never designed to handle the load of modern HVAC systems, microwaves, EV chargers, or multiple electronics.
🏡 Can You Sell or Insure a Home with Knob-and-Tube Wiring?
Many insurance companies are reluctant—or outright refuse—to insure homes with active knob-and-tube wiring. Even if you find coverage, expect higher premiums. Some mortgage lenders may also deny loans until the wiring is updated.
If you’re selling a home, outdated wiring could be a deal-breaker for buyers.
🔧 What Should You Do if You Have Knob-and-Tube Wiring?
If your home has knob-and-tube wiring, here are your options:
✅ Schedule a professional inspection – to assess condition, safety, and potential upgrades
✅ Consider a full or partial rewire – especially in high-use areas like kitchens and bathrooms
✅ Avoid insulating over it – it needs space to release heat, and insulation can become a fire hazard
✅ Don’t plug modern high-wattage devices into older outlets – they may not be safe or up to code
⚡ Ready to Upgrade? We Can Help.
At KrisLee Electric, we specialize in evaluating and replacing knob-and-tube wiring with modern, safe, and code-compliant electrical systems. Whether you’re renovating, buying, or selling an older home, we’ll guide you every step of the way.
📞 Contact us
today for a professional inspection or estimate—because when it comes to electrical safety, what you don’t see can hurt you.


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Thanksgiving today is a warm, cozy holiday filled with good food, family, and football. But imagine trying to pull off your Turkey Day traditions without electricity—no oven, no lights, no parade on TV, no fridge full of leftovers! Electricity plays a huge part in how we celebrate Thanksgiving now, and it’s easy to forget that it wasn’t always this way. Let’s take a little journey through history to see how far we’ve come—and how power has changed the way we celebrate the season. 🕯️ Before the Flip of a Switch: Thanksgiving in the 1800s When Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863, most homes relied on oil lamps, wood stoves, and hand-powered kitchen tools. Cooking a full Thanksgiving meal meant: Chopping wood for fuel Baking pies in cast iron ovens Storing perishables in iceboxes, not refrigerators Lighting the dinner table with candles or gas lanterns There were no electric carving knives, no slow cookers, and certainly no "smart ovens." ⚡ The Spark of Modern Comfort: Electricity Enters the Scene Electric power began lighting up American homes in the late 1800s, but it wasn’t until the 1920s–30s that electricity started becoming more common in middle-class homes—just in time to revolutionize the Thanksgiving experience. Electric ovens made cooking faster and more precise Refrigerators extended food storage Electric lighting meant more family and guests could gather late into the evening Radios and, later, televisions brought entertainment to the holiday table Fun Fact: The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with a television broadcast aired in 1948—and it’s been a Thanksgiving staple ever since! 🦃 Thanksgiving in the Age of Smart Homes Fast forward to today, and we’re cooking turkeys with Wi-Fi ovens, setting timers with smart speakers, and managing the entire meal with a phone app. Modern Thanksgiving might include: Programmable smart thermostats to keep guests comfortable LED holiday lights that save energy and reduce fire risk Backup generators ensuring nothing interrupts the big meal EV chargers for guests arriving in electric vehicles Watching the game in 4K while the robot vacuum cleans up crumbs 💡 We’re Thankful for Progress—and for You We’re grateful for the modern power that keeps our homes safe, warm, and full of life—especially around the holidays. And we’re even more thankful for the customers and community who trust us to keep that power flowing year-round. Whether you're upgrading your kitchen, installing smart devices, or making sure your panel is ready for holiday guests, we’re here to help. Contact us for a pre-holiday electrical inspection or service—so your Thanksgiving can be powered by peace of mind. Wishing you a bright, warm, and happy Thanksgiving from all of us at KrisLee Electric! 🦃



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