Knob and Tube Wiring Replacement
Outdated wiring puts your home at risk — Kochs Electric replaces knob and tube systems with safe, code-compliant wiring built for modern electrical demands. Our electrical services help homeowners bring their house up to code and keep it protected for years ahead.
5 Highlights on Knob and Tube Wiring Replacement
- Full rewiring from panel to outlet. Kochs Electric replaces every knob and tube circuit in your home, running new copper conductors through conduit or as NMB Romex cable, and connecting each run to a properly rated breaker in your updated service panel.
- AFCI and GFCI protection included. Every replacement circuit gets arc fault circuit interrupter and ground fault circuit interrupter protection where the NEC requires it, giving your home overcurrent protection that knob and tube systems simply can’t provide.
- Grounded, polarized receptacles throughout. Old knob and tube wiring is ungrounded and unpolarized. Replacement wiring installs grounded, polarized outlets that meet current residential code requirements.
- Licensed master electricians on every job. Kochs Electric sends licensed, certified journeymen and master electricians — not apprentices working unsupervised — to inspect, diagnose, and rewire your home.
- Permit pulled and inspection passed. Every knob and tube replacement project includes permit filing and a final inspection, so your work is documented, compliant, and insurable.
Why Choose Our Knob and Tube Wiring Replacement
Kochs Electric has replaced knob and tube wiring in hundreds of residential and commercial properties. That experience matters when your walls are open and your home is de-energized. Our team delivers residential services with the same care and precision on every job, whether it’s a single circuit or a full-house rewire.
We don’t cut corners on conductor gauge. We match AWG ratings to the load on every circuit, whether that’s a 15-amp branch circuit feeding a bedroom or a 20-amp circuit serving a kitchen receptacle. Every splice is made inside a proper junction box — never buried in a wall cavity.
Our electricians troubleshoot before they pull wire. We test each existing circuit with a multimeter and voltmeter to map what’s live, what’s dead, and what’s already been partially replaced. That diagnostic step saves time and prevents surprises once we start the rewiring.
We’re fully licensed, bonded, and insured. Our master electricians carry credentials that meet state licensing requirements, and we stay current on NEC code cycles so your replacement wiring meets the latest compliance standards.
Kochs Electric also coordinates directly with your insurance carrier when needed. Many insurers won’t cover homes with active knob and tube wiring. We provide documentation of completed work so you can get — or keep — your homeowner’s policy. Insurance companies often require written confirmation of completed work before issuing or renewing coverage on a rewired property.
We back every knob and tube replacement with a workmanship guarantee. If something we installed fails, we come back and fix it. That commitment extends to all electrical work we perform – no exceptions.
Signs You Need Knob and Tube Wiring Replacement
1. Your home was built before 1950: Knob and tube wiring was standard in residential construction from the 1880s through the 1940s. If your home dates to that era and hasn’t been fully rewired, there’s a strong chance knob and tube conductors are still running through your walls, attic, and basement. A licensed electrician can inspect and confirm what’s there.
2. Your breakers trip repeatedly under normal load: Knob and tube systems were designed for a fraction of the amperage demand modern homes place on circuits. When you run a microwave, refrigerator, and dishwasher on circuits rated for far lower loads, breakers trip — or worse, fuses blow and get replaced with oversized fuses that allow dangerous overloading.
3. Your outlets are two-prong and ungrounded: Two-prong receptacles are a direct sign of ungrounded wiring. Without a ground conductor, your electronics and appliances have no fault protection path. Replacing knob and tube wiring adds the ground wire that makes three-prong, grounded outlets safe and functional.
4. You smell burning near outlets or switches: Frayed, damaged insulation on aged knob and tube conductors can arc against wood framing or other conductors. That arcing produces heat and a distinct burning smell near outlets, switches, or junction boxes. This is a hazardous condition that needs immediate diagnosis and rewiring.
5. Your insurance company flagged the wiring: Insurance carriers routinely deny coverage or cancel policies on homes with active knob and tube wiring. If your insurer has flagged your electrical system as defective or obsolete, knob and tube replacement is the direct path to restoring your coverage.
Our Knob and Tube Wiring Replacement Process
Step 1 — Inspection and Diagnosis A licensed Kochs Electric electrician inspects your panel, traces existing circuits, and uses a multimeter and voltage probe to identify all active knob and tube conductors. We document what we find before any work begins.
Step 2 — Permit Filing We pull the required electrical permit with your local authority having jurisdiction. No knob and tube replacement at Kochs Electric starts without proper permitting in place.
Step 3 — De-energizing and Demolition We de-energize the circuits being replaced at the service panel or disconnect. Old knob and tube conductors are removed where accessible and capped or abandoned in place where removal isn’t feasible.
Step 4 — Running New Wire Our electricians route new copper conductors — NMB Romex cable or armored BX where code requires — through walls, attic spaces, crawl space runs, and basement runs. We staple, clamp, and route every cable to NEC standards.
Step 5 — Connecting and Terminating Each new circuit terminates at a properly rated breaker in your panel. Outlets, switches, and receptacles are connected, grounded, and tested. AFCI and GFCI breakers or devices are installed where required.
Step 6 — Final Inspection We schedule and pass the required inspection with the local authority, then hand you the completed permit documentation.
Brands We Use
Kochs Electric installs materials from trusted, code-compliant manufacturers on every knob and tube replacement project.
- Leviton
- Square D
- Eaton
- Hubbell
- Southwire
- Cerrowire
- Carlon
- Raco
- Klein Tools
- Fluke meters
- Leviton
- Square D
Every brand we specify is rated for residential and commercial use, listed by UL, and compliant with the National Electrical Code.
Other Services
| Knob and tube wiring replacement | Replace knob and tube wiring | Outdated wiring rewire |
| Knob and tube rewiring service | Knob and tube electrical upgrade | Old wiring replacement electrician |
| Residential knob and tube replacement | Home rewiring knob and tube | Ungrounded wiring replacement |
| Knob and tube wiring removal | Remove knob and tube wiring | Electrical panel upgrade old wiring |
| Professional knob and tube replacement | Licensed knob and tube electrician | NEC compliant rewiring service |
FAQs About Knob and Tube Wiring Replacement
What is knob and tube wiring?
Knob and tube wiring is an early electrical wiring method that uses ceramic knobs to anchor conductors and ceramic tubes to route wire through framing. It runs two conductors — a hot wire and a neutral — with no ground wire, and uses rubber insulation that degrades over decades.
When does knob and tube wiring need to be replaced?
Any knob and tube system that’s still active, overloaded, or showing signs of damaged insulation needs replacement. Most insurance carriers require replacement before they’ll issue or renew a homeowner’s policy on a property with active knob and tube circuits.
Why can’t I just leave it alone if it’s working?
Active knob and tube wiring can’t support modern electrical loads. It has no ground conductor, no arc fault protection, and insulation that becomes brittle and frayed over time. A circuit that appears functional can still arc, overheat, or short-circuit without warning.
How long does knob and tube replacement take?
Most single-family homes take two to five days depending on square footage, the number of circuits, and how accessible the existing wiring is. Kochs Electric gives you a specific timeline after the initial inspection.
Can I replace just part of my knob and tube wiring?
Partial replacement is possible, but your insurance carrier may still flag the property if any active knob and tube circuits remain. We’ll tell you exactly what’s there and what your insurer is likely to require.
Does knob and tube replacement require a permit?
Yes. Every knob and tube rewiring project requires a permit and a final inspection. Kochs Electric handles both.
How much does knob and tube wiring replacement cost?
Cost depends on home size, circuit count, and accessibility. Kochs Electric provides a detailed written estimate after inspecting your property — no guesswork, no surprise charges. The price is fixed once you approve the estimate, so you know exactly what the electrical work will cost before we start.