Knob And Tube Wiring in Fort Collins, CO

In and around the Fort Collins, CO, area, homes built up to the middle part of the 1950s were likely to have a very old and unsafe form of wiring. Modern households generally do not utilize this kind of electrical wiring. Knob and tube wiring involves the copper wiring running through the home using porcelain tubes to pass the wire through beams and joists. The copper wire was often insulated with either a rubber or a cloth material that can degrade with exposure to heat. To keep the wire off the wood frame of the home, small porcelain knobs were used to prevent contact between the wood and wire. Contact between the hot copper wire and the wood can cause a fire. In addition to a major fire hazard, the old knob and tube wiring does not have a ground wire. This means it is not suitable for use with any electrical devices using 3-prong outlets and cords, which is the standard today.