Voltus Energy Solutions is a licensed New Jersey electrical contractor, and older homes are our specialty. If your home still has knob-and-tube wiring, you are not alone: much of New Jersey’s beautiful older housing stock was built with it. The question is not whether it was good work in its day, but whether it is safe and insurable for how you live now.
Knob-and-tube wiring has no ground wire, its cloth-and-rubber insulation grows brittle over the decades, and it was never designed for central air, EV charging, kitchen renovations, or a house full of electronics. The most common real hazards come from later mistakes: the wiring buried under blown-in insulation so it cannot shed heat, or spliced into and overloaded by well-meaning past work.
What we do
We assess your existing wiring circuit by circuit, identify what is still active and where the risk actually is, and replace it with modern, grounded wiring that meets code. We handle the permit and inspection, and we coordinate the work so it can be staged over time if that suits your budget.
- Full or partial rewiring: we prioritize active knob-and-tube in living spaces, anything buried in insulation, and circuits feeding grounded outlets.
- Grounded, code-compliant circuits: modern wiring with proper grounding, GFCI and AFCI protection where required.
- Insurance documentation: paperwork your insurer needs to write or renew a policy.
- Panel and service coordination: if the panel needs attention too, we handle it as one clean project.
Older homes, handled with care
These are homes built to last, with plaster walls, original trim, and finishes worth protecting. We rewire using careful fishing techniques, existing wall cavities, and minimal, well-placed access points, then patch cleanly. Doing meticulous, permitted work without tearing a historic home apart is exactly what we are built for.
Voltus serves Montclair, Maplewood, Glen Ridge, and older-home communities across Essex, Union, and Morris counties. See all our service areas, or call (973) 382-9995 for an assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to replace all the knob-and-tube wiring at once?
Not always. It should be assessed circuit by circuit. Active knob-and-tube in living areas and anything overloaded, buried in insulation, or feeding grounded outlets is the priority. We stage the work so it fits your budget and your home.
Will my insurance company make me remove knob-and-tube?
Very often, yes. Many New Jersey insurers will not write or renew a policy on a home with active knob-and-tube wiring, or they charge more. We provide documentation of the work for your insurer.
Is knob-and-tube wiring dangerous?
It is not automatically dangerous, but it has no ground wire, its insulation gets brittle with age, and it was never designed for modern loads. Covering it with insulation or overloading it is where the real fire risk comes in.
Will you damage my walls and plaster to rewire?
We work hard not to. On older and historic homes we use careful fishing techniques, existing cavities, and minimal, well-placed access points, then patch cleanly. Protecting original plaster and finishes is part of the job for us.
How much does knob-and-tube replacement cost?
It depends on the size of the home and how much active wiring remains. We give a clear, itemized estimate after assessing the home, and we can phase the work so it is manageable.
Towns we serve
Voltus serves Elizabeth, Madison, Bloomfield, Verona, South Orange, Springfield, and the surrounding towns. See all service areas.