You’ll qualify for standard homeowners insurance again. Most carriers in Rhode Island won’t touch a policy if knob and tube wiring is still active, and if you just bought your home, you’ve likely got 30 days to fix it before they drop coverage entirely.
Your home becomes safer. Knob and tube systems weren’t built for the electrical load you’re running today. The insulation cracks, the capacity maxes out, and there’s no grounding to protect you. That’s how fires start.
You’ll also see your property value go up. Buyers don’t want to inherit a rewiring project that costs $12,000 to $36,000. When you replace outdated wiring in your house now, you’re protecting your investment and making your home easier to sell down the line.
And your electrical system will actually work the way you need it to. More outlets, more circuits, and the ability to run your appliances, devices, and HVAC without tripping breakers or daisy-chaining power strips across every room.
We’ve been doing electrical work across Rhode Island since the early ’90s. We’ve handled over 1,500 commercial projects and countless residential upgrades, including full knob and tube removal in some of the oldest homes in the state.
East Greenwich has one of the highest concentrations of historic homes in Rhode Island. That means a lot of beautiful architecture and a lot of outdated electrical systems. We know how to work in these homes without tearing them apart, and we know what local inspectors expect when the job is done.
We’re licensed, insured, and members of the Rhode Island Electrical Inspectors IAEI Roger Williams Chapter. We follow NFPA standards on every job. You’ll get a certificate of insurance before we start, and you’ll get work that passes inspection the first time.
We start with a full assessment of your current system. That means checking every circuit, identifying what’s active, what’s been modified, and where the knob and tube wiring actually runs. A lot of older homes in East Greenwich have had partial upgrades over the years, so we need to see what’s still original and what’s already been replaced.
Once we know what we’re working with, we map out the new system. That includes planning for modern grounded circuits, adding capacity where you need it, and figuring out how to run new wire with minimal wall damage. We use fishing techniques and precision access points to keep disruption low.
Then we remove the old wiring and install the new system. Everything gets grounded, everything meets current Rhode Island electrical code, and everything gets inspected. The timeline depends on the size of your home and how much wiring needs to be replaced, but most full-house projects take one to three weeks.
After the work is done, you’ll have documentation for your insurance company and a system that’s built to last. No more fire risk. No more coverage issues. Just a home that works the way it should.
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You’re getting a complete old wiring removal and replacement. We pull out the knob and tube system and install modern wiring with proper grounding and circuit protection. That means new breaker panels if needed, updated outlets, and enough capacity to handle how you actually live.
In East Greenwich, where the median home price is pushing $900,000 and these properties are in high demand, buyers expect updated systems. An electrical system upgrade for old homes isn’t just about safety—it’s about keeping your home competitive and insurable in one of Rhode Island’s most desirable markets.
We also handle the permitting and inspection process. Electrical work in Rhode Island requires permits, and inspections have to pass before your insurance company will sign off. We manage that entire process so you don’t have to chase down paperwork or deal with failed inspections.
Every job is priced individually because every home is different. Square footage, accessibility, and how much of the system needs replacing all factor in. We’ll give you a clear estimate up front so you know what you’re paying before we start.
Most homeowners in Rhode Island pay between $12,000 and $36,000 for a full knob and tube wiring removal, with the average falling somewhere between $3,500 and $9,000 depending on the scope. The range is wide because every home is different.
If you’ve got a smaller home and only a few circuits need replacing, you’re on the lower end. If you’re dealing with a larger historic property in East Greenwich where the entire system is original and the wiring runs through hard-to-reach spaces, you’re looking at the higher end.
We price every job individually after we assess your home. That way you’re not paying for work you don’t need, and you’re not surprised by costs halfway through the project.
Yes. Once the knob and tube wiring is removed and replaced with a modern grounded system, your home will qualify for standard homeowners insurance coverage in Rhode Island.
Right now, most insurance companies won’t issue or renew a policy if knob and tube wiring is still active. If you just bought your home and the inspector found old wiring, your insurer has likely given you 30 days to replace it or they’ll cancel your coverage.
After we complete the upgrade, you’ll get documentation showing the work was done to code and passed inspection. That’s what your insurance company needs to approve your policy and often improve your rates.
A full-house knob and tube wiring removal in East Greenwich typically takes one to three weeks, depending on the size of your home and how much of the system needs to be replaced.
If we’re only replacing wiring in part of the house—say, one floor or a specific addition—the timeline is shorter. If we’re rewiring the entire property, it takes longer because we’re pulling old wire, running new circuits, upgrading the panel, and coordinating inspections.
We work efficiently and keep disruption to a minimum, but we’re not cutting corners. Electrical work has to be done right, and it has to pass inspection. We’ll give you a realistic timeline before we start so you know what to expect.
No. Covering knob and tube wiring with insulation or drywall without replacing it makes the fire risk worse, not better. The system was designed to be open to air so it could dissipate heat. When you cover it, the wiring overheats, and that’s when fires start.
Even if the wiring looks fine now, the insulation around the wires deteriorates over time. Add in the fact that modern homes pull way more power than these systems were designed for, and you’re stacking risk on top of risk.
Insurance companies know this, which is why they won’t cover homes with active knob and tube wiring. The only real solution is to replace it with a modern grounded system that meets current code.
If your home was built before 1950, there’s a good chance it still has some knob and tube wiring, especially if it hasn’t been fully rewired. You’ll usually see it in the basement, attic, or crawl spaces—white ceramic knobs holding up wires, with ceramic tubes running through floor joists.
Other signs include two-prong outlets throughout the house, frequent breaker trips when you’re running normal appliances, or flickering lights when you plug something in. If you’ve got a fuse box instead of a breaker panel, that’s another indicator.
The only way to know for sure is to have a licensed electrician inspect your system. We’ll check what’s active, what’s been updated, and what needs to be replaced so you’re not guessing.
Yes. Replacing knob and tube wiring increases your home’s value because buyers won’t have to take on a major electrical upgrade after closing. In a market like East Greenwich, where homes are selling for close to $900,000 on average, an outdated electrical system is a red flag.
Buyers either walk away, or they use the cost of rewiring—often $12,000 to $36,000—as leverage to negotiate your price down. When you replace the wiring before listing, you remove that obstacle and make your home more attractive to buyers who want move-in ready.
You’re also protecting your own investment. A modern electrical system means you can get insured, you’re not dealing with fire risk, and your home works the way it should for as long as you own it.
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