Are you living in a home that was built before 1950? Chances are the home builders during that time used knob and tube wiring. Those with houses built this way should ask electricians to perform a lighting retrofit for the safety of their structures.
Today, electricians no longer use the knob and tube electrical wiring in houses and it is also widely believed to have hidden risks involved to homeowners.
History of knob and tube electrical wiring
In Canada, knob and tube wiring was the common electrical wiring applied for homes and other structures from the 1800s to the 1930s. Many professionals still opted to use this method even until the 1970s when constructing new homes. However, today, a lot of homeowners who are looking to lighting retrofit the electrical wiring in their homes or complete a renovation are already discovering some problems with their hidden knob and tube electrical wiring. Many are wondering and are having a difficult time proceeding.
Knob and tube wiring get its name from the ceramic knobs which are used in holding wires in place as well as ceramic tubes which act as protective casings for wires that are running through wall studs or on floor joists. Instead of the three wires which are commonly found in modern electrical systems, the knob and tube wiring is only made up of two- white and black wire. This basically means that there is no ground wire in the electrical system for excess charge or in the event of a short circuit. As a result, the outlets of knob and tube wiring homes will have two prongs. Many of electricians opt to install in homes the ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) so that there will be some three pronged outlets. The GFCIs can trip whenever they sense that there is an imbalance between the hot as well as the neutral wires. Which is why even if they are not grounded, they will be presumed safe since they are able to cut the electrical current whenever needed. Additionally, the neutral and hot wires in the knob and tube setup are also run and sheathed separately and are also placed approximately one inch apart, rather than being bundled together like the new wiring.
Problems with the Knob and Tube Wiring
The knob and tube wiring poses no imminent threat to the home dweller if they are intact and in full working condition. However, since the age of the installation and the modification which were made to this type of electrical system by the previous owner or a questionable electrician, problems arise later on. One of the most common problems encountered with this type of wiring is in its insulation which is made of rubber instead of plastic materials. Over time, the rubber will degrade and then expose bare wires to moisture and air which will therefore increase the likelihood of catching fire or short circuit. The extra circuits also pose a problem for the knob and tube electrical wiring. It is important to get a full lighting retrofit in order to avoid these sorts of problems.