As a homeowner, you likely take great pride in tackling home improvement projects yourself. However, there are some things that are worth calling a professional for: electrical wiring , for example. If your home was built before World War II, there’s a chance that it was wired with the knob-and-tube method. This wiring method is now obsolete, and should be replaced wherever it exists.
As the name suggests, knob-and-tube wiring is comprised of ceramic knobs and tubes. Unfortunately for the owners of older homes, knob-and-tube wiring is difficult to improve or retrofit, and is considered a fire hazard—especially when the wires are surrounded by building insulation. This is because the fiber materials in knob-and-tube wiring can become brittle over time. If your home has this type of wiring, it’s possible that your insurance company will not approve fire insurance. For the sake of your own safety, it’s important to have an electrician identify and remove knob-and-tube wiring and replace it with a safer method of wiring as soon as possible. 