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Another option is to leave the knob and tube wiring in place and simply add modern wiring alongside it. This allows you to keep your original wiring while still having the benefits of modern electrical standards. If your home has aluminum or K&T wiring, you’ll likely have to pay higher rates. Your coverage may even be canceled or denied if you have this type of wiring.
Always read the policy if there is a questions about coverage or a claim. If any information herein should conflict with your actual policy’s specific language, the policy language will be controlling. If you are buying a home, it is a good idea to have a certified electrician inspect the wiring, but overall it is not something that should prevent you from buying a home. If the work was done by a reputable electrician and not someone rewiring their home for a DIY project, it should be fine.
How to Insure a House With Knob and Tube Wiring
Knob and Tube wiring is an old two-conductor wiring method that consists of hot and neutral wires separated from each other. ‘Knobs’ are ceramic knobs connected to the house framing to hold the conductors in place. ‘Tubes’ are ceramic tubes that run through framing members to protect the conductors.
However, there are some things you need to consider before you decide to keep your knob and tube wiring system. The home likely won’t pass a professional home inspection that lenders often require. You’ll then be required to convert to modern electrical service.
Knob & Tube Wiring – Finally, There Is Hope
Obviously, this approach carries the danger of having to reduce the asking price or wait a long time to sell. In the St. Louis area, the agents at Berkshire Hathaway HomeSellers Select Properties have observed various sorts of residences. They can provide their professional opinion on whether your home can be sold with knob-and-tube wiring or whether it need immediate maintenance.
Remove from the kitchen, bathrooms, laundry room, or outdoors – these areas are prone to water related damage which can lead to a higher risk of electrical damage with the old wiring. Install a ground fault protection and an arc fault protection to enhance safety. Replace all the bad circuits that are damaged, incorrectly modified, or covered with insulation.
The Dangers of Aluminum Wiring
It’s doubtful that you can even find an insurance company willing to offer a policy if your home has knob and tube wiring. This wiring is characterized by ceramic or porcelain knobs and tubes affixed to the frame of the house. Knob and tube wiring can pose a serious fire and electrocution hazard. If the wiring is in reasonable condition, the property will be simpler to sell than if it provides an obvious threat. From the buyer’s perspective, it’s the difference between a cost that will be incurred after the move and one that must be addressed immediately to make the property safe and habitable.
The best resource I’ve found for determining the proper wiring methods for knob and tube wiring is a book titled Electrical Inspection of Existing Dwellings. This book ought to have a place on the shelf of every home inspector’s resource library. You should be concerned with the safety of the wiring and the insurability of the home. I’ll discuss both in this post, but first, some background. Find out how affordable personalized house insurance can be in 5 minutes with an online quote. With us, you can pay monthly or annually and there’s no fixed-term contract.
I just purchased a primary home and rental property coverage. I was very satisfied with the outcome of my claim and the support received throughout. We had to leave for 9 days and many personal belongings were destroyed. This was the first time I'd ever needed to make any type of insurance claim, and I expected the worst.
Knob and tube wiring is an obsolete method in today’s buildings. Until the Second World War, homes were built with K&T – keep in mind they did not use the number of electronics and appliances we do now, which is where the danger lies. This increase in electrical load can cause strain on the wires, resulting in a fire hazard. If your current property or future home has K&T wiring, you need to consider the pros and cons. In this blog, you will learn about the current challenges and safety issues with this type of electrical system and how it can impact your Ontario home insurance.
Charm, stone and layouts that you just don’t see any more. They don’t fall into the cookie cutter style of homes that are produced today. When looking to purchase a home, you may opt for an older home due to the charm it has.
To help ensure that your electrical system is working properly, hire a qualified electrician to inspect and assess your home’s electrical system. Be sure that the electrician is referencing national electric code standards when assessing your home. There’s an increased risk of electrical shock in homes with aluminum wiring.
If you’re buying a home with knob and tube wiring, make sure that your home inspector is familiar with this type of wiring. If your home inspector finds any problems with it, have it further inspected and repaired as needed by an electrician. Finally, make sure that you can get insurance coverage on the home. House insurance policies from Square One represent the highest level of protection currently available in Canada. We make it easy for you to protect your home against water damage – the leading cause of claims. And, we protect your belongings on a replacement cost basis, with no charge for depreciation.
And with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, people clearly love the way we're changing house insurance. You can go back and change whatever you like, whenever you like. Very easy to read, no mumbo jumbo that you can’t understand, it’s great, I love it! While not the leading cause of fire loss, electrical accidents are the most expensive, resulting in almost $1.3 billion in annual damage from 2015 to 2019, according to the NFPA. It is a requirement that photos of the Knob & Tube wiring, and our circuit breaker panel are provided to our underwriter. However, later versions of the wiring were manufactured with an asphalt injected coating.
This system worked well in a time when electrical needs for households were much less than they are today. Yet, increased modern day demands along with other factors have made knob and tube wiring a potential hazard and obstacle when looking for homeowner’s insurance. If your home's electrical is made up of aluminum wiring, you should be able to find a company to insure it.
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