Knob and tube wiring
An early type of electrical wiring found in some pre-1950 homes. Insurers often decline to cover homes with active knob and tube, so it usually needs to come out before closing.
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Free to set up. No credit card.Part 1 of 4
Why a seller cares
Active knob-and-tube in a pre-1950 home can stop a buyer's insurance, and no insurance means no loan. It is one of the few inspection findings that can end a financed sale rather than reprice it.
Part 2 of 4
A simple example
The inspector finds active knob-and-tube in the attic of your 1928 home. The buyer's insurer declines to write a policy until it is replaced.
| What is found | What tends to follow |
|---|---|
| Active knob-and-tube | A rewire before closing, or a buyer who cannot get insurance |
| Old wiring left in place but disconnected | Usually fine, with an electrician's letter |
| Rewired years ago with permits | A selling point, and a question answered before it is asked |
Knob-and-tube is an insurance problem before it is an electrical one.
Part 3 of 4
What people get wrong
That it is only a concern if it looks damaged. Insurers decline it on sight, damaged or not.
Part 4 of 4 · where to read next
Where it appears in the sale
What a definition is, and what it isn't
Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.
Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish
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