Your insurer isn’t bluffing. Most carriers in Massachusetts now refuse to cover homes with active knob and tube wiring, and the ones that do charge you extra for the risk. If you’re trying to sell, buyers walk away the moment their inspector flags it. Mortgage companies won’t finance it.
This isn’t about upgrading for the sake of it. It’s about keeping your home insured, keeping your sale on track, and eliminating a real fire hazard that’s been sitting in your walls for 70+ years.
Once the old wiring removal is done, you’ll have documentation your insurance company accepts, electrical capacity that supports how you actually live, and access to Mass Save incentives that were previously blocked. You’ll also have a system that’s grounded, code-compliant, and built to handle modern appliances without overheating.
We’ve spent over 30 years working in older homes across southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. We’re licensed, insured, and we know exactly what insurance adjusters and home inspectors are looking for when they review electrical work.
Rehoboth sits right on the state line, and plenty of homes here were built before 1950. That means knob and tube wiring is still active in attics, walls, and basements all over town. We’ve seen it all—partial upgrades that were never finished, mixed systems that create confusion during inspections, and original wiring that’s been buried under insulation for decades.
We’re not here to upsell you. We’re here to assess what you actually have, explain what needs to happen, and get it done right so you can move forward.
We start with a full inspection of your home to locate every section of active knob and tube wiring. That includes attics, basements, crawl spaces, and anywhere else the original system might still be live. You’ll get a clear scope of what needs to be replaced and what the timeline looks like.
From there, we pull new wiring through your walls and ceilings, install a modern breaker panel if needed, and make sure everything is grounded and up to current Massachusetts electrical code. We don’t cut corners. Every connection is tested, every circuit is labeled, and every outlet is verified.
Once the work is complete, we run a full system test and provide written documentation that satisfies insurance companies, real estate attorneys, and home inspectors. If you’re working with Mass Save, we’ll also provide the sign-off they require before insulation or air sealing work can move forward.
Ready to get started?
A complete knob and tube wiring removal in Rehoboth, MA means replacing the old two-wire system with modern three-wire wiring that includes a ground. That’s what makes your outlets safe for computers, TVs, kitchen appliances, and anything else that relies on grounded protection.
You’ll also get a panel upgrade if your current system is still running on 60 amps. Modern homes need at least 100 to 200 amps to handle everyday electrical loads without tripping breakers or overheating wires. We size everything based on how you actually use your home.
If your goal is to qualify for Mass Save incentives, we’ll coordinate with the program to make sure our work clears the way for insulation and air sealing upgrades. Many Rehoboth homeowners don’t realize they’re eligible for up to $7,000 in barrier mitigation incentives to help cover the cost of knob and tube removal. We’ll help you understand what’s available and provide the documentation the program requires.
The cost depends on the size of your home, how much of the original wiring is still active, and whether you need a panel upgrade. Most full replacements in a 1,500 to 2,000 square foot home run between $8,000 and $15,000. Larger homes or homes with complicated layouts can cost more.
If you qualify for Mass Save’s barrier mitigation program, you may be eligible for up to $7,000 in incentives to offset the cost. That program is income-based, so not everyone qualifies, but it’s worth checking before you move forward.
We’ll give you a clear estimate after the inspection. No surprises, no upselling. Just an honest assessment of what needs to happen and what it’s going to cost.
Most insurance policies won’t pay to remove knob and tube wiring unless it’s directly tied to a covered claim, like a fire. What they will do is drop your coverage or refuse to renew if you don’t replace it within a certain timeframe—usually 30 to 90 days.
Some carriers in Massachusetts will still insure homes with knob and tube wiring, but they’ll charge higher premiums or exclude electrical fire damage from your policy. That’s not real coverage. If something happens, you’re on your own.
The good news is that once the work is done and documented, your rates typically go back to normal. You may even save money long-term by switching to a carrier that wouldn’t cover you before. We provide all the paperwork your insurer needs to verify the upgrade.
You can list it, but you’ll run into problems once the buyer’s inspector finds it. Most buyers won’t close on a home with active knob and tube wiring because they can’t get insurance or financing. Even if they’re paying cash, their insurer will likely refuse coverage.
Some sellers try to negotiate a credit or lower the price to account for the wiring, but that rarely works out. Buyers either walk away or demand that the work gets done before closing. If you’re already under contract, that puts you on a tight deadline.
The smarter move is to replace the wiring before you list. You’ll avoid delays, attract more buyers, and you won’t have to drop your price to compensate for a known safety issue. We’ve helped dozens of Rehoboth homeowners get their electrical systems updated before putting their homes on the market.
Most jobs take between three and seven days, depending on the size of your home and how accessible the wiring is. If we need to open walls or ceilings to run new wire, that adds time. If your attic and basement are open and easy to work in, it goes faster.
We’ll give you a timeline upfront so you know what to expect. If you’re working against an insurance deadline or a closing date, let us know. We’ll do everything we can to prioritize your job and keep things moving.
You’ll need to be out of certain rooms while we’re working, and your power will be off for short periods during the panel upgrade. We’ll coordinate with you to minimize disruption and make sure everything is safe and functional at the end of each day.
If any of it is still active and carrying current, yes. Insurance companies and Mass Save don’t distinguish between partial systems and full systems. If it’s live, it’s a problem.
Some homes in Rehoboth have had partial upgrades over the years, where certain rooms or circuits were updated but others weren’t. That’s common, but it doesn’t solve the insurance issue. Inspectors and adjusters will flag any active knob and tube wiring, even if it’s only in one section of the house.
We’ll map out your entire system during the inspection so you know exactly what’s still original and what’s been replaced. From there, we’ll focus on the areas that need attention. If there’s old knob and tube wiring that’s been disconnected and abandoned, that’s usually fine—but we’ll verify it’s truly dead before we sign off.
Knob and tube wiring is a two-wire system with no ground. The wires run separately through your walls, supported by ceramic knobs and tubes, and they’re insulated with cloth and rubber that breaks down over time. It was designed for low electrical loads—lights and maybe a radio. Not microwaves, computers, or central air.
Modern wiring uses three-wire cables with a ground, which protects you from electrical shock and prevents damage to sensitive electronics. The insulation is rated to last decades without cracking or fraying, and the system is designed to handle the electrical demands of how people actually live today.
The other big issue with knob and tube wiring is insulation. If someone blew insulation into your attic or walls without removing the old wiring first, those wires can’t cool properly. That creates a fire risk. Modern wiring is rated to be surrounded by insulation without overheating.
Local Resources
Useful Links
Other Services we provide in Rehoboth
