Rewiring and Knob and Tube Replacement in Spokane, WA

What Rewiring Involves

Knob and tube was the standard way to wire homes from roughly the 1880s to the 1930s: single wires run through porcelain tubes in the framing and supported on porcelain knobs, with splices wrapped in tape. It isn’t automatically dangerous, but after a century it’s often brittle, modified by past owners, buried in attic insulation it was never meant to be covered by, and ungrounded. It’s common in Browne’s Addition, the South Hill, Cliff/Cannon, West Central, Logan and the Perry District. Our guide to Spokane electricians lists other signs of aging systems.

How to Tell What Wiring You Have

• Porcelain knobs and tubes in the attic or unfinished basement with separate single wires.
• Cloth-covered cable instead of plastic-sheathed.
• Two-prong outlets throughout the house.
• Very few outlets per room, and lights with pull chains.
• A fuse box or a small panel added on to old circuits.
• Splices taped together without junction boxes.

Insurance, Selling and Safety

Many insurers ask whether a home has knob and tube or fuses, and some won’t write new policies until it’s replaced or evaluated. Buyers’ lenders and inspectors may flag it too. Beyond paperwork, the real safety issues are damaged insulation, overheated splices, missing grounds, and wires buried in insulation that traps heat.

How Electricians Rewire Old Homes

Rewiring a plaster-walled Spokane home is careful work. Electricians fish new cable through walls from the attic and basement, cut small access holes where needed, and reuse existing paths when possible. Many homeowners rewire in phases: first the circuits most at risk, such as the kitchen, bathrooms and anything buried in attic insulation, then the rest during later remodels. Patching and painting are usually separate trades.

• Assessment and a written plan, room by room
• Permit from the City of Spokane or L&I
• New circuits, boxes, grounded outlets and switches
• AFCI and GFCI protection where required
• Old wiring disconnected and abandoned or removed
• Inspection, then patching by you or a drywall/plaster contractor

Rewiring often pairs with a panel upgrade, since old homes usually have small services too.

Partial Rewiring and Repairs

Not every house needs a full rewire right away. An electrician may recommend replacing only circuits that are damaged or overloaded, adding dedicated circuits for the kitchen and bathroom, adding GFCI protection to ungrounded outlets, and moving circuits out of insulated attics. If you’re seeing scorched outlets or trips, start with outlet and breaker repair.

Why Spokane Has So Much Old Wiring

After the Great Fire of 1889 destroyed much of downtown, Spokane rebuilt fast, and the city’s population grew several times over in the next two decades. Whole neighborhoods went up during the years when knob and tube was standard: Browne’s Addition, the lower South Hill, Cliff/Cannon, West Central, Logan, Peaceful Valley and much of the area north of the river. Many of those homes have been remodeled several times, which means wiring from three or four eras can sit side by side in one house.

Cloth-insulated cable from the 1930s through the 1950s, sometimes called old NM or “cloth Romex,” is common in later bungalows and early ranches. It’s better than knob and tube in some ways, but the insulation dries out, and many runs have no ground. An electrician evaluating an older home looks at all of it, not just the oldest wiring.

Plaster Walls, Historic Homes and Patching

Plaster and lath walls are part of what makes Spokane’s older homes special, and electricians who rewire them regularly work to keep openings small. They use the attic and basement as access, drop wires through wall cavities, and cut only where framing blocks the way. In balloon-framed houses, wall cavities often run from the basement to the attic, which helps. Patching is usually done by a plaster or drywall contractor afterward. For historic homes, ask about preserving original trim and hardware where possible.

What Affects the Cost of Rewiring

Rewiring costs depend on house size, the number of circuits and outlets, wall materials, access from the attic and basement, and whether you add circuits or upgrade the panel at the same time. Phased rewiring spreads the cost out. Ask for a written plan that lists which circuits and rooms are included, what protection will be added, and whether the old wiring will be disconnected and removed or abandoned in place. Include the permit and inspection, and plan separately for patching and painting. If the panel is old too, see the panel upgrade guide.

Buying an Older Spokane Home

If you’re buying a house in one of Spokane’s older neighborhoods, ask your inspector to note the wiring type, the panel size and brand, and whether there are ungrounded outlets. If knob and tube or cloth wiring shows up, have a licensed electrician evaluate it before closing. A clear estimate gives you something to negotiate with and helps you talk to your insurer. Many buyers plan a phased rewire, tackling the kitchen, bathrooms and attic circuits first, then the rest during future remodels.

Warning Signs of Failing Old Wiring

Old wiring often gives warning before it fails: lights that flicker when you walk across the floor, outlets that work intermittently, a faint burning smell, discolored outlet covers, or breakers and fuses that trip or blow often. In attics, look for wiring that’s been stapled, spliced with tape or buried under insulation. Any of these is a reason to call a licensed electrician for an evaluation before the problem gets worse.