I'm sure insurance companies base their concern in part by statistical
information regarding old wiring. The problem with K&T is that it's easily
recognized as "old wiring" with little to determine its actual age, which
dates anywhere from the late 1800's into the 1960's and in rare instances
later. Rather then judge its present condition, it's easier to condemn it,
as many people do largely out of ignorance. Armor cable of various types
has been in use from just before 1900 and a variety of non metallic cables
not long after that, neither seems to rate the same negative attention paid
to K&T, which I'd attribute to the general inability to distinguish its age.
Today, we use a grounded electrical system, and as none of these old wiring
methods had grounds or at least adequate ones, IMO, it would make sense to
install new wiring as the opportunity arose


people's "cavedweller" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Mar 5, 3:11 pm, "Joseph Meehan" wrote:
wrote:
I just bought a new (old) house and I have a couple of questions. Our
underqualified although state licensed (Wisconsin) inspector missed
some extremely obvious Knob and Tube wiring which turns out to be half
the house so I'm rewiring most of the house. The first question is:

Do I have to remove all of the dead knob and tube wiring?

The second question is:

I'm running armoured cable to the attic to replace the Knob and Tube
and the cable is running in an open cavity between two bedrooms. Do I
have to open the wall and secure this every four feet?

Thanks,
Gavin

Are you sure you want to replace it? Really. K&T is a very good
wiring system. You would not put any new in, but assuming what is there
has
the capacity for what you need, why replace it?


Agreed. Seems most of the impetus for replacement comes from anal
insurance companies and their threat of policy cancellation.