You’ll stop worrying every time you plug something in. Your insurance company will actually return your calls. And you won’t have to explain to buyers why your 1940s electrical system is “totally fine.”
Warwick has more homes built before 1961 than almost anywhere in Rhode Island. That means a lot of houses still running on knob and tube wiring that can’t handle what you’re asking it to do. Your phone chargers, your microwave, your laptop—none of that existed when this system was installed.
When you upgrade to modern wiring, you’re not just checking a box for your insurance agent. You’re adding circuits that can actually support your life. You’re installing grounding that protects your electronics. And you’re removing the fire hazard sitting inside your walls that’s been there for decades.
We’ve been working in Warwick long enough to know which neighborhoods have the oldest wiring and what problems show up most often. We’re members of the Rhode Island Electrical Inspectors IAEI Roger Williams Chapter, and we follow NFPA’s Certification Code of Ethics on every job.
We’ve rewired homes in Conimicut, Gaspee, Oakland Beach, and across Warwick’s 30+ villages. Most of these houses were built when electrical codes were completely different—or didn’t exist at all. We know how to work with old construction without tearing your walls apart more than necessary.
You’ll get licensed electricians who show up on time, explain what needs to happen, and give you a price that’s based on your actual house—not some generic estimate.
We start with an inspection of your current system. We’ll map out where the old wiring runs, what’s still active, and what’s been patched over the years. You’ll know exactly what needs to be replaced before we touch anything.
Then we plan the new system. That means figuring out how many circuits you actually need, where outlets should go, and how to run new wire with the least amount of wall damage. We’re not just swapping old for new—we’re designing an electrical system that works for how you live now.
During installation, we pull out the old knob and tube wiring and install grounded circuits that meet current Rhode Island electrical code. We add capacity where you need it, install proper breaker panels, and make sure everything is safe and inspected. When we’re done, your home is fully grounded, up to code, and ready for your insurance company’s review.
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You get a complete removal of knob and tube wiring and installation of modern, grounded electrical circuits. That includes new wiring, updated breaker panels, additional outlets where you need them, and proper grounding throughout your home.
In Warwick, where 21.5% of homes were built before 1940, most knob and tube systems are showing serious wear. The cloth insulation breaks down. The connections loosen. The system can’t handle air conditioning, space heaters, or the kind of electrical load a modern family uses every day. We replace all of that with wiring that’s built for today’s demands.
You’ll also get documentation that satisfies your insurance company. Most insurers in Rhode Island won’t cover homes with knob and tube wiring, or they’ll charge you significantly higher premiums. After we complete your electrical system upgrade, you’ll have the inspection reports and permits you need to restore standard coverage. That alone can save you hundreds or thousands per year.
Most knob and tube wiring removal projects in Warwick cost between $8,000 and $25,000 depending on the size of your home and how much wiring needs to be replaced. A small bungalow with limited wiring will cost less than a larger two-story home with multiple circuits.
The price depends on how accessible your wiring is, how many new circuits you need, and whether we’re rewiring the whole house or just certain sections. Homes with finished basements or limited attic access take more time because we have to work around existing walls.
We price every job individually after we’ve seen your house. You’ll get a clear breakdown of what needs to happen and what it costs before any work starts. No surprises, no hourly rates that spiral—just a flat price based on your actual project.
Yes. Most insurance companies in Rhode Island will offer standard homeowners coverage once knob and tube wiring is completely removed and replaced with modern, code-compliant wiring. You’ll need to provide proof that the work was done by a licensed electrician and passed inspection.
Right now, if your insurer knows you have knob and tube wiring, you’re either paying higher premiums or you’ve been denied coverage entirely. Some companies will insure you temporarily but require the wiring to be replaced within a certain timeframe—usually 30 to 90 days.
After we finish your upgrade, you’ll have the permits and inspection documents your insurance company needs. Most homeowners see their premiums drop to normal rates, and some save over $1,000 per year just by removing the surcharge for outdated wiring.
You can list it, but you’ll have a much harder time closing the sale. Most buyers can’t get financing for a home with knob and tube wiring because lenders see it as a liability. Even if a buyer wants your house, their bank will likely require the wiring to be replaced before approving the loan.
If you do find a cash buyer, they’ll use the outdated wiring as a negotiating point and ask for a significant price reduction—often more than it would cost you to just replace the wiring yourself. You’ll also lose buyers who walk away the moment their home inspector flags the electrical system.
Replacing knob and tube wiring before you sell makes your home financeable, insurable, and far more attractive to buyers. You’ll get more offers, fewer complications, and a higher sale price. It’s one of the few upgrades that directly removes a deal-killer from the transaction.
Most knob and tube wiring removal projects in Warwick take between three days and two weeks depending on the size of your home and how much wiring we’re replacing. A smaller home with straightforward access can be done in less than a week. Larger homes or houses with complicated layouts take longer.
The timeline also depends on whether we’re rewiring the entire house or just the sections that still have knob and tube. Some homes have been partially updated over the years, so we’re only replacing what’s left. Others need a full electrical system upgrade from the panel to every outlet.
We’ll give you a realistic timeline during the estimate. We work efficiently, but we don’t rush electrical work. You’ll know when we’re starting, how long we’ll be there each day, and when your power will be off. Most homeowners can stay in the house during the work, though you’ll have limited electricity at times.
It’s both. Knob and tube wiring wasn’t designed to handle the electrical load modern homes require, and the insulation around the wires deteriorates over time. That combination creates a real fire risk, especially if the system has been modified or overloaded over the years.
The wiring itself has no ground wire, which means your electronics aren’t protected from power surges and your outlets can’t safely handle three-prong plugs. The cloth or rubber insulation breaks down after decades of heat exposure, leaving wires exposed inside your walls. And because the system was designed for far less power, running modern appliances on it can overheat the wiring.
Insurance companies refuse to cover homes with knob and tube wiring because the fire risk is well-documented. Electrical fires from outdated wiring are one of the leading causes of house fires in older homes. Replacing it isn’t just about code compliance—it’s about removing a hazard that gets worse the longer it sits in your walls.
If your goal is to get insurance coverage and eliminate the fire hazard, you need to replace all of it. Insurance companies won’t give you standard coverage if any knob and tube wiring is still active in your home, even if it’s just in one room or circuit.
Some homeowners try to replace only the most visible sections or the parts that are causing problems, but that doesn’t solve the insurance issue and it doesn’t remove the safety risk. The wiring that’s hidden in your walls is often in worse shape than what you can see, and it’s all the same age.
We’ll inspect your entire system and show you what’s still active. In some cases, previous owners already replaced sections of the wiring, so you’re not starting from zero. But if there’s any knob and tube left, it all needs to go. The good news is that once it’s done, it’s done—you won’t have to think about your electrical system again for decades.
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