Can I just leave knob-and-tube if it's working?

Working isn't the same as safe. The insulation is past its life, there's no ground, and insurers treat it as a defect. Leaving it risks fire, denied claims, and a failed sale down the road.

Do you have to remove all the old wire?

No. We disconnect it and leave it in the walls — dead wire can't cause harm. Removing it would mean tearing your house apart for no safety gain.

Will my insurance drop me over knob-and-tube?

Many Virginia insurers decline new policies on homes with active knob-and-tube, or charge much more. After replacement, we give you documentation — permits and inspection sign-off — to send your agent.

How do I know if my house has it?

Look in the attic or basement for single wires on white porcelain knobs. Or check your outlets — if they're all two-prong with no ground, that's a strong hint. We confirm with a free inspection.

Knob-and-Tube Replacement in Alexandria, VA

Name: Alexandria Rewiring Pros
Address: Alexandria, VA
Telephone: +13016799193
Price range: $$

What knob-and-tube wiring is

Knob-and-tube was the standard way to wire houses from about 1880 to the 1940s. Single wires run through porcelain tubes where they pass through wood, and sit on porcelain knobs where they run along joists. The hot and neutral wires run separately, with air between them. There is no ground wire. It was clever for its time. It is not safe for today's loads.

Why it has to go

Three reasons. First, no ground wire means no safe path for a fault — a shock or fire risk modern code won't allow. Second, the old rubber and cloth insulation is brittle now. It cracks, flakes, and falls off. Third, insurance companies in Virginia routinely decline or surcharge homes with active knob-and-tube. Some buyers can't get a mortgage until it's replaced. If your inspector found it, your insurer already knows.

Where it hides in Alexandria homes

Old Town rowhouses and Del Ray bungalows are full of it. It lives in attics, inside walls, and under floors. Here's the scary part: many homes have had "updates" where new wiring was spliced into old knob-and-tube in junction boxes buried behind drywall. Those hidden splices are a leading cause of electrical fires. A proper replacement finds all of it — not just what's visible.

How we replace it

We run new grounded cable to every outlet, switch, and fixture. The old knob-and-tube gets disconnected and abandoned in place — digging it all out would mean gutting your walls, and dead wire that's disconnected is harmless. Every new circuit is grounded, and the panel gets updated to handle it. The work is permitted and inspected.

Attics need special care

Knob-and-tube in attics is often buried under added insulation. That's dangerous — the system was designed to cool in open air. We disconnect attic runs first, then rewire. If you're adding insulation, do the electrical first.

Why you can't just replace "some" of it

Homeowners sometimes ask if we can replace just the visible knob-and-tube and leave the rest. Insurers won't accept that. Their forms ask a yes-or-no question: is there active knob-and-tube in the home? A partial job still answers yes. The only replacement that satisfies an underwriter — or a buyer's lender — is a complete one: every run disconnected, every circuit new and grounded. That's why we map the whole house first. No surprises halfway through, no "we found more" change orders.

If your home still has knob-and-tube, call (301) 679-9193. We'll map every run in your house and give you a written plan — free.