| Author |
Message |
    
Handygirl
Citizen
Username: Handygirl
Post Number: 13
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 2, 2004 - 10:19 am: |     |
A friend just had a kitchen light fixture replaced and the electrician (who is a mutual friend from out-of-town) found that the existing wires were in terrible shape. He said that when he removed the existing light fixture the insulation on the wires just crumbled off and he was concerned about the safety of the wiring throughout the house. The electrician said that the insulation was a cloth or weave. My friend lives in a 1920s Dutch Colonial in South Orange and wonders (i) whether anyone has encountered this problem, (ii) what was done (if anything) to remedy the problem, (iii) how dangerous it is and (iv) about how much it might cost to fix. Thank you.
Handygirl |
jgberkeley
Citizen
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 3506
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 2, 2004 - 12:49 pm: | |
I could open almost any outlet, light or switch fixture you have in your house and scare the whatever out of you.
All the olders homes have this type of wiring. If you open the boxes to work on them, the insulation breaks away and you have to fix it.
Consider this, if you do not touch it, it will likely not break away and not be a problem. If it does short out, the breaker will trip, the fuse will blow and some metal will melt away and that will be that. Then you call for repair.
Be aware that if I wanted the work and you let me look, I could scare you into anything.
Just my opinion.
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic. |
ML1
Citizen
Username: Ml1
Post Number: 1606
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 2, 2004 - 1:32 pm: | |
We had some remodeling done last year, and as part of the process, all the wiring in the master closet was exposed. It was all original, with cloth insulation. It looked pretty funky to me, and I mentioned it to the electrician. His response was that it's been there 80+ years with no problems, so we shouldn't worry about it.
so we aren't worrying  |
Richard O'Connor
Citizen
Username: Roconn
Post Number: 178
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 2, 2004 - 3:37 pm: | |
If it aint broke and its undisturbed ... leave it alone and it will be fine
Richard (ROC)
--Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic.--
--AIM: ROConn |
Michael K. Mc Kell
Citizen
Username: Greenerose
Post Number: 204
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 3, 2004 - 6:52 am: | |
Ditto on all of the above.
Most are knob and tube.
Leave it be... Fix as you go.
Michael K. Mc Kell
|
Handygirl
Citizen
Username: Handygirl
Post Number: 14
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 3, 2004 - 9:50 am: | |
Thank you all so much for the information and advice. My friend rested much easier last night!
Handygirl |
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