Knob And Tube Wiring
Knob and tube, often referred to by it’s acronym K&T, wiring was an early method of wiring that was in common use in the country from the 1880’s to the 1930’s. A single insulated copper conductor was run within wall or ceiling cavities and through joists via a protective porcelain insulating tubes. Porcelain knob insulators fastened by nails into the structure support the wire over it’s length.
K&T often still lingers in older homes in hard to access areas like attics, wall cavities, and crawl spaces, and it not uncommon to find knob and tube wiring in older homes in our area today.
This early form of residential wiring was intended only for lighting purposes and has quickly become outdated as the electrical requirements of a modern home have increased tremendously. The lack of a ground wire in the system is one of it’s drawbacks as well as it’s outdated method of insulation.
The insulation used in the K&T era was asphalt-saturated cotton cloth or rubber, both of which degrade over time and can pose a significant safety hazard. This early wiring system was never envisioned to carry the power loads of modern day homes require.
While you can choose to purchase a home that has K&T wiring many insurance carriers will not insure homes that have it and any policy that you may find will come with a significant price premium.
Wallingford PA Real Estate – Wallingford, PA 19086
