Knob and Tube Wiring: The Original Equipment Your House Outgrew
If your home was built before about 1950 — and Central New Jersey is full of beautiful homes that were — there is a real chance some of the original knob and tube wiring is still live behind the walls. You can spot it in unfinished basements and attics: ceramic knobs holding single wires that run through ceramic tubes in the framing. It was good work in 1930. It was never designed for a house with central air, a kitchen full of appliances, and an EV in the driveway.
Why it becomes urgent
Three reasons homeowners call us about it. Their insurance company found it and is refusing to renew, or a new insurer will not write the policy at all. A home inspector flagged it during a sale and the deal is wobbling. Or the lights flicker and fuses blow and they finally want to know what is behind the walls. All three end the same way: the old wiring comes out, modern wiring goes in, and the problem is closed permanently.
The Insulation Problem Nobody Mentions
Knob and tube was designed to shed its heat into open air. When attics get insulated — and every energy upgrade blows insulation exactly there — the old wires end up buried in it, holding heat they were never meant to hold. That combination is specifically prohibited by code. If your attic has been insulated and the house still has old wiring, that alone is reason to have it looked at.
How We Rewire Without Wrecking Your House
Full rewiring does not mean gutted walls. Our crews fish new wiring through existing walls and ceilings, working from the attic and basement, opening only what truly has to be opened and telling you exactly where before we start. We replace the old circuits room by room, so the house stays livable throughout, and every new circuit lands in a modern, properly sized panel. Permit and municipal inspection included — in New Jersey this work requires both, and the inspection paperwork is exactly what your insurer wants to see.
What It Costs
Every old house is different, so this is a written-quote job: we walk the house, scope exactly which circuits are still original, and give you a firm flat price before any work begins — whole house or one urgent section at a time. If you just want to know where you stand, our $259.99 service call covers the assessment and gives you a straight written answer, including the honest case where your wiring turns out to be newer than you feared.
Serving Central and Northern New Jersey Older Homes
From pre-war colonials in Westfield and Cranford to farmhouses in Chester and Holmdel, we work in older homes every week across Monmouth, Middlesex, Somerset, Union, Morris and Essex County. Real people answer 24 hours a day. Call or text 732-585-6560.
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