If you are doing some kitchen remodeling in a pre-1950's house that has not been previously remodeled, you will most likely have Knob and Tube Wiring. This is an obsolete form of wiring. Though it is not inherently dangerous, it is often considered hazardous, and you should seriously consider replacing it. Local codes might even require it once you open up the walls. Of course, you should always have electrical work done by a licensed electrical contractor.

Knob and Tube (K&T) wiring is insulated copper wire which passes through holes drilled in studs. The wires are protected from chafing by porcelain tubes. Periodically, the wires are supported by and passed through porcelain knobs that are nailed down and keep the wire suspended. These are single copper wires so current passes through in one direction, the hot wire, and returns through a separate neutral wire. There is no ground wire.

Knob and Tube Wiring

During the first half of the twentieth century, homes were wired with electricity primarily for electric lights. The only appliances found in most homes consisted of small appliances such as tea kettles or toasters. Therefore as refrigerators, televisions, and other electrical devices came along with their increasing electrical amperage demands homes often received a patchwork of modifications to their K&T wiring as each new device was added. Many of these modifications were improperly done, resulting in shock and fire hazards caused by reverse polarity, crossed neutrals, and overloaded circuits.

Knob and tube wires are insulated with a rubberized cloth or fiber that can deteriorate over time. Even if your local code does not require replacement, it is a very good idea to do so because of the age of the system, the possibility of deterioration, and the fact that grounded appliances with 3 prong cords are not designed to operate on K&T wiring. There are also insurance companies that will refuse to provide insurance for a home with knob and tube wiring.

How can you tell if you have knob and tube wiring in your kitchen? If your wall switches are push button, that would be one indication of K&T wiring. If your receptacles do not accomodate a grounded plug, that is another indication. However, there have been modifications that have updated electrical receptacles, switches, and even junction boxes but left the K&T wiring in place inside the walls. Sometimes, the only way to know for sure is to open up a wall or check in the attic.

How much will all of this cost? It depends on whether just the kitchen needs to be rewired or the entire house. It also depends on what modifications might have already been done, and if they were done properly. An entire house could cost as much as $8-10 thousand dollars. If just the kitchen needs to be rewired you must consider that some wiring expense would be incurred in your kitchen remodel anyway, so an additional $2000 or so might not be out of line to replace some old K&T wiring.

The GOOD news is knowing that you have done what is necessary to protect your house for your safety and enjoyment, and preserve the resale value as well. As a reminder, make sure that your work complies with all applicable codes and is done by a licensed and bonded electrical contractor.

Now that you've got your wiring issues resolved, be sure to contact the professionals at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center to save money on your appliance purchases.

Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center
12025 Ventura Blvd. Ste B-105
Studio City, CA 91604
PH 877 696-2987
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Decision Steps

1. Define the problem. Perhaps you're remodeling your kitchen and replacing the tired old appliances. So you need to purchase new. Maybe, you've got a 12 year old washing machine that's failing and you don't want to pay another repair bill. Your decison may be a compound decision. “Should I purchase just a new washer, or should I go ahead and purchase a washer/dryer pair.”
2. Specify the decision criteria, i.e. objectives. Are these straightforward replacements, eg. refrigerator, range, dishwasher, or will you be adding new product categories, such as cooktop, wall oven, built-in coffee maker, microwave drawer, etc. There's a lot go consider. Think hard about what you want the best outcome to look like. Your decision criteria should answer the question, “Will this get me where I want to be?”
3. Gather Alternatives. This is the creative phase where you'll look broadly at all possibilities, even unconventional ideas. For example, maybe you want to consider point of use refrigerators rather than one massive unit. It's important to look at a wide range of alternatives because you're likely to find good alternatives that you hadn't previously considered. At some point you'll need to switch gears from expanding possibilites, and to begin to narrow the field. Knowing just when to stop looking may not be self-evident. Set a timeline. For example: “By next Friday I will quit looking at appliances, and begin comparing from the existing list.” Ask your designer or advisor to let you know when they think you need to move on.
4. Evaluate the choices. After removing the alternatives that just don't meet the decision criteria and arriving at a manageable list, you need to begin a more structured evalaution process. Here's where you apply the specific decision criteria against each alternative. It's a process of making tradeoffs and rating or scoring each alternative on each criteria.
5. Select the best alternative, and make the decision. You've made the tradeoffs and done the scoring, tested the logic, considered roadblocks, and confirmed your best choice. The decision may have been difficult, but has now been reached.
6. Implement the decision. Nothing could be more frustrating than going through this entire process, only to stumble on the implementation. It's time to move forward with your action plan. This means notifying others of your decision, placing orders, making deposits, etc. Sometimes, people are hesitant to execute on a good plan. Then prices change, items are sold out. Once a decision is made, don't hesitate.
7. Evaluate the result. Afterwords, it's always a good idea to look back. What went well? What didn't? What can we learn to apply to the next decision? Even the best decisions will have unexpected turns and twists.

During this process, it helps to have a good appliance advisor. Keep him or her in the loop as you move through the steps. If you expect good advice, It's important to let your appliance advisor know the details of the process, especially with respect to your timeline and budget.

Consult the experts at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center soon and best wishes with your new appliances:

Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center
12025 Ventura Blvd. Ste B-105
Studio City, CA 91604
PH 877 696-2987
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1. Research for a good contractor. Don’t merely rely on ads or Yellow Pages. Get recommendations from friends and neighbors. Check Angie’s List and the BBB.
2. Use only licensed and bonded contractors. Ask them for references, and check the references. If you can, visit previous jobs.
3. Get at least three estimates. Don’t automatically take the low bid. You can learn a lot from an estimate. Is it well prepared and professional? Is the scope of work clearly defined with completion dates, and cost breakdowns? Don’t simply accept the bid as final. It’s OK to negotiate. Clarify anything you don’t understand.
4. Do not pay for everything in advance. Customs vary, but the payment schedule should leave a substantial amount due upon satisfactory completion.

Follow these four recommendations and make sure that you get your appliances from a reliable source:
Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center
12025 Ventura Blvd. Ste B-105
Studio City, CA 91604
PH 877 696-2987