Expert Knob and Tube Wiring Removal in Winnipeg

The oldest electrical wiring still in existence today within Winnipeg homes is named knob and tube wiring. Knob and tube wiring was primarily used up until the 1950's. Thus older homes in Winnipeg for example in Wolseley and River Heights probably contain some knob and tube wiring. Knob and Tube Wiring consists of Ceramic Knobs, Ceramic Tubes and Wiring (hence as the name implies). The knobs are nailed or screwed into wall studs and floor/ceiling joists to support the wiring along the run. The tubes are used when the wiring run passes through studs and joists. Only 2 types of wiring is used, a hot and a neutral. The ground wire to prevent electrical shock is not present. Sometimes a proper electrical box was not used at the switch, receptacle or light.

Do you know how your Winnipeg home's electrical has been maintained or upgraded? Most older homes in Winnipeg had 30 or 60 amp services, which are hardly adequate for today's home electrical needs. The problems with knob and tube wiring are associated with the age of the electrical system, its maintenance and how upgrades or changes have been done. Knob and tube electrical wiring systems in Winnipeg are expired, deteriorated, tampered with, ungrounded, overloaded and therefore are high risk for shock and fire. This makes the knob and tube wiring circuit potentially unsafe for shock or electrical short. It only has to happen once to realize its full impact.

There are Knob and Tube wiring problems within older Winnipeg homes. With increased modern energy draws, the wiring may overheat. Remember, this system was used between 1900 to 1950 when very few people even had a TV. (Now look at us) The rubber and cloth insulation around the knob and tube wiring breaks down over time creating a potential for an electrical short. Often, we see the electrical connection at the light simply taped together and pushed up into the attic insulation. Winnipeg homes built in this time period often used sawdust as an insulator - a perfect recipe for a fire.

There are some clear safety concerns with this type of electrical wiring. What make it even more difficult is that a lot of the knob and tube wiring is behind finished walls and ceilings. This make is very difficult if not impossible to fully inspect. Usually Winnipeg home inspectors will look to see if a plug or light is working. Unless they have x-ray machines, they can't see behind finished walls and ceilings. Sometimes new wiring is used in visible areas and "spliced" into the knob and tube wiring up in the wall cavity. Another handyman special.

Some older Winnipeg homes had these knob and tube wiring systems incorrectly tampered with (aka handyman special) as the electrical needs of the home-owners increased over time. These modifications to the knob and tube system, in some cases, have been done in an unsafe manner by a unqualified person thus creating more risk for the current home-owner. When risk is increased, Winnipeg insurance companies will charge more and have started to even deny coverage if your home contains knob and tube wiring. Lenders also are starting to see the risk too and may decide not to lend.

In addition, many policies have disclaimers (aka the fine print) stating that coverage is denied if the home contains knob and tube or aluminium wiring. Your home may not even be protected without you even knowing it. The insurancer or lender may have no idea how your home was wired unless it had been declared beforehand or certified as only copper wiring. The disclaimers are there to protect themselves, not the home owner. In any case, you’ll need to make your insurance company aware and determine what their individual policy is.

Sykes Electric are the best knob and tube wiring removal experts in Winnipeg, hands down. We are fully insured, licensed and certified electricians with over 30 years experience in residential electrical in Winnipeg specializing in Knob and Tube Wiring removal or Aluminium Wiring replacement.

In Greater Winnipeg, Sykes Electric have received many positive reviews for their work and handling of these types of jobs. When you need expert knob and tube wiring removal in Winnipeg demand the expert installation that Sykes Electric is known for.