At Seatown Electric we handle all aspects of home wiring. We specialize in Whole Home Rewiring, The Seattle area is filled with Knob and Tube wiring. Our goal is to eliminate as much as possible. Seattle Electricians must be well trained in Knob and Tube wiring since there is so much of it in Seattle. A small job like adding aditional outlets might require Knob and Tube rewiring.
Our electrical codes have changed drastically in 2008-2016. If we add outlets, or even replace outlets we are required to install some sort of AFCI protection. AFCI protection stands for Arc Fault Circuit Interupter. This device is designed to protect the home from low current arcing. You can either install AFCI protection at the panel box, or replace the device (outlet) with an AFCI protected outlet, they look similar to GFCI outlets.
Since AFCI protection is required and they are designed to find faults they tend to find faults when they are hooked up to Knob and Tube. This is why it sometimes makes sense to just get rid of the Knob and Tube.
Knob and Tube wiring is rumored to be "safe" if it has not been tampered with. I find this statement to be false. Knob and tube is designed for eary 1900 era equiptment. Take a step back into time and imagine what that looked like, a small table lamp or two, 1-2 outlets per room for small radios. This wiring was not designed for compact wall heaters, curling irons, 3-4 wall TV's per home, toaster, surround sound, computers etc... Not to mention all of that new age equiptment has no ground protection with Knob and Tube wiring.
If you have Knob and Tube it should be replaced, SeaTown Electric, you're Seattle Electricians can help replace this old wiring. (206)-293-0037
www.seatownelectric.com
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