In recent centuries, we have made many advances in the type of electrical wiring that we use in our homes. From the 1880s to the late 1930s, the go-to method used when wiring a home was called Knob and Tube wiring (also known as K&T wiring). While this used to be the de facto way to bring electricity to a home, now there are safer and more efficient ways to wire.
Here at Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency, we get a few calls every month from people asking about Knob and Tube electrical wiring, its safety concerns, and how it affects home insurance policies. Now we’re here now to set the record straight in writing:
What Homes Have Knob and Tube Wiring?
The Knob and Tube method was most prevalent from the 1880s to the 1930s, but many professionals continued to use this method of wiring up until the 1950s. Even some homes that were built in the ’60s and ’70s were constructed with Knob and Tube wiring. If your home was built in any of these periods, there is a chance that you have K&T wiring.
What Are The Potential Problems with K&T wiring?
One of the most prevalent problems with Knob and Tube wiring is that the material used to insulate it is rubber, which degrades over time. This means that the homes with K&T wiring are getting more and more dangerous as time progresses and the rubber gives way and exposes bare wiring to air and moisture. In more modern wiring systems, the insulation is made of much more durable plastic.
What is The cost Associated with Rewiring a Home?
If your home has an old Knob and Tube wiring system, you should consider spending the money to have a professional electrician update your home to a modern wiring system. The cost of this job will naturally vary depending on the electrician, size of the home, and many other factors. According to Angie’s List, though, the average cost of rewiring a 1,500 to 3,000 square foot home will be in the range of $8,000 to $15,000.
What Are The Benefits of Rewiring?
Replacing your home’s wiring is an expensive endeavor, but the benefits are well worth the costs. In addition to being much safer for your home and your family (let’s face it – replacing electrical systems is much less of a hassle than dealing with a house fire), you will also most likely qualify for a reduction in your home insurance premium because of the update. Modern electrical wiring puts your home at much less of a risk for a claim, and insurance providers will often account for that when determining what you pay.
If you rewire your home and get rid of an old Knob and Tube wiring, let your Massachusetts insurance agent know. All you have to do to speak with a Vargas and Vargas Insurance agent at 617-298-0655. Our home insurance experts will be able to adjust your house insurance to reflect your safer electrical wiring, which should save you on your insurance premium!
