FAST ELECTRIC SPOKANE · GUIDE
Knob-and-tube wiring in Spokane homes
Spokane’s older neighborhoods - Browne’s Addition, Corbin Park, Emerson/Garfield, Hillyard and others - are full of pre-1950 homes, and many still have knob-and-tube wiring somewhere in the walls or attic. Here is what that means for you.
Updated October 16, 2026
Published October 16, 2026
What knob-and-tube is
Knob-and-tube (K&T) is the original way homes were wired, roughly 1900-1950: single insulated wires run through ceramic tubes in joists and held on ceramic knobs. It has no ground wire, and the wire insulation is rubber and cloth that gets brittle with age.
Why it matters now
- No ground. Modern safety depends on grounding; K&T circuits cannot offer it.
- Brittle insulation. Decades of heat make the old rubber crack and flake, especially where wires pass through hot attics.
- Covered by insulation. Blown-in attic insulation over K&T traps heat the wiring was never designed for.
- Insurance. Many insurers decline coverage, exclude electrical fires, or charge more for homes with active knob-and-tube. Some require an electrician’s letter about its condition.
- Capacity. These circuits were sized for a 1930s house - a few lights and a radio, not a modern kitchen.
What can be done
Sometimes K&T is limited to one area and can be replaced in a targeted way; sometimes it runs through most of the house and a full or staged rewire makes more sense. An assessment tells you how much is actually active - plenty of old homes have dead K&T left in place alongside newer wiring, which is a very different situation.
If you are buying an older Spokane home, ask for the wiring to be checked before closing. If you already own one, a look in the attic and basement answers most questions in one visit. Call (509) 239-5654 - our wiring and rewiring and electrical inspections pages cover the services.
Common questions
Is knob-and-tube wiring dangerous?
It is not automatically dangerous - it worked for decades - but age, brittle insulation, no grounding and later modifications make it a risk worth assessing. Covered-over or spliced K&T is the real concern.
Will insurance cover a home with knob-and-tube?
It depends on the insurer. Some decline, some exclude electrical claims, some insure with conditions or an electrician’s assessment letter. Check before you buy or renew.
Does all the knob-and-tube have to come out?
Not always. Inactive wiring can often stay in place, and partial replacement of active runs is sometimes sensible. An assessment shows how much is actually live and feeds a real plan instead of a guess.
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Fast Electric Spokane · 12 N Grant St, Spokane, WA 99202