If your home was built before the 1940s, there is a good chance some of its original wiring is still behind the plaster. We replace it with modern grounded wiring, pull the permit, and plan the work around your walls so your home stays livable while we rewire.
Licensed, bonded and insured electrical contractor. 24/7 emergency service. Serving Seattle since 2012.
Signs Your Home Still Has Knob and Tube Wiring
This system was the standard way to wire homes from the late 1800s into the 1930s, so it is common in Seattle’s older bungalows, Craftsman homes and early box houses. You may have it if you notice:
- White porcelain knobs or tubes holding single wires along joists in the attic or basement
- Two-prong outlets throughout the house and few grounded three-prong outlets
- An old fuse box, or a newer panel fed by cloth-covered wiring
- Lights that flicker or dim when a larger appliance turns on
- Breakers or fuses that trip when you run a space heater, hair dryer or microwave
- A home inspection report that flagged “active knob and tube”
Some homes were partly rewired years ago, with original circuits still feeding a few rooms. Our electrical safety inspection shows you exactly what is left and what is still in use.
Why Replacing Knob and Tube Makes Your Home Safer
This wiring was not bad for its time. The problem is age and how homes have changed around it.
- The insulation on the wire breaks down. After 90 or more years, the rubber and cloth coating can turn brittle and crack, especially where it has been disturbed.
- There is no ground wire. Grounded outlets protect people and electronics. The old system has no equipment ground, so modern three-prong devices are not protected the way they are meant to be.
- It was designed to shed heat into open air. When insulation is blown into walls or attics around it, the wire can run hot. Washington’s electrical rule for knob and tube allows loose or rolled insulation around it only after a licensed electrical contractor surveys the wiring and certifies its condition in writing, and foam insulation is not allowed at all.
- It was never sized for today’s loads. A 1920s circuit was planned for a few lights, not a kitchen full of appliances, a heat pump or an EV charger.
- Decades of changes add risk. Old splices and add-on wiring from past owners are a common source of problems.
Knob and Tube Rewiring Planned Around Your Home
A good rewire replaces the old circuits without turning your house into a construction zone. Here is what our replacement work includes.
- A full survey of what is live. We trace every remaining original circuit so nothing gets missed and no old wiring stays energized behind a wall.
- New grounded copper circuits. We run modern cable sized for how you use your home today, with grounded outlets where the old two-prong ones were.
- Careful routing through walls and ceilings. We work through attics, basements and crawlspaces where we can to keep wall openings small, and we tell you before work starts where openings are needed.
- Old wiring disconnected for good. Abandoned wiring is disconnected so it can never be accidentally re-energized.
- Panel and safety upgrades where they make sense. If your fuse box or panel cannot support the new circuits, we can handle a panel upgrade as part of the same project, along with code-required protection for kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms.
- Permit and inspections included. We pull the electrical permit and schedule the inspections, so the finished work is documented for your records, your insurer and a future buyer.
What to Expect From Your Rewiring Project
- Call or book online. Tell us the age of your home and what you have seen or been told about the wiring.
- Inspection and wiring survey. We look at the attic, basement, panel and a sample of outlets and switches to map what is original, what has been updated and what is still live.
- A plan and estimate. You get a clear scope: which circuits we replace, where we need access, whether the panel needs work, and a free estimate before any work begins, with no hidden fees. Rewiring can also be done in phases, starting with the circuits that matter most. If rewiring is part of a larger project, financing through the GreenSky program can spread the cost over time.
- Permit. We apply for the electrical permit with the City of Seattle or the state, depending on where you live.
- Rewiring. New circuits are typically installed one area at a time, so power is usually off only where work is happening rather than across the whole house.
- Inspections and walk-through. The electrical inspector reviews the work at the required stages. When it passes, we walk you through what changed.
Rewire First, Then Upgrade Your Comfort
Old wiring often stands in the way of other projects homeowners want to tackle. Many older Seattle homes need better insulation, and the existing wiring has to be dealt with before insulation goes in. Adding a heat pump, an EV charger or a new kitchen can also mean more electrical capacity than the old circuits and panel can handle.
Because we handle electrical, heating and cooling under one roof, we can plan the rewire with what comes next in mind. If you are thinking about heat pump installation or a panel upgrade down the road, the new wiring can account for it, so you are not opening the same walls twice.
Why Seattle Homeowners Trust Us With Their Wiring
Our company was built on one idea: do the work with integrity and stand behind every project. Here is what that means for your rewire.
- A licensed electrical contractor holding a Washington State 01 Electrical Administrator license, bonded and insured.
- Serving the area since 2012, from our office on South 96th Street in Seattle.
- Electrical, heating and cooling in one company, so your rewire fits your future plans for your home.
- Practical recommendations and honest service. If only part of your home still has live original wiring, we tell you, and we will not push a whole-house rewire you do not need.
- Hundreds of Google reviews from homeowners across King County and the surrounding area.
Homeowners Notice the Clear Explanations
The most common thread in our reviews is that our team explains what is wrong and walks customers through their options before any work starts. That matters even more on a rewire, where you want to know exactly what is happening inside your walls.
Ready to find out what is behind your walls?
Knob and Tube Wiring FAQ
Not always right away. Old wiring that is in good condition, has not been altered and is not buried in insulation can keep working. The trouble is that most of it is now close to a century old or older, it has no ground, and it cannot safely carry modern loads. We inspect it, tell you honestly what shape it is in, and help you decide whether to replace it now or in phases.
Usually, yes. New wiring can be fished through walls and ceilings from the attic, basement and crawlspace, so most rooms need only small access openings rather than open walls. Before work starts, we talk through where openings are needed so there are no surprises.
It depends on your insurer. Some insurance companies ask about knob and tube before writing or renewing a policy, and some may require an electrician’s evaluation or replacement. Check with your agent. If you need documentation, our inspection gives you a clear picture of what is in your home and what has been replaced.
Yes, homes with this wiring are bought and sold, especially in older Seattle neighborhoods. It does tend to come up in the buyer’s home inspection, and the buyer’s insurer may ask about it. Replacing it before you list, or getting a written evaluation, can make those conversations easier.
It depends on the size of your home, how much knob and tube is still live, and how easy the walls and ceilings are to reach. A partial rewire can be a short project, while a whole house takes longer. After the inspection, we can give you a clearer sense of the timeline for your home.
In most cases, yes. Rewiring is usually done in sections, so most homeowners stay in the house while the work happens, with power off only in the area being worked on at the time.
Safer Wiring, Planned Around Your Home
Replacing old wiring is often the start of a broader upgrade. We also handle wiring and rewiring for remodels and additions, and panel upgrades when your home needs more capacity.
Talk through your home’s wiring with our team. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with 24/7 emergency service.
