This looks safe

GritandGlamour
by GritandGlamour
Electrical nightmare?! Unsafe basement of the year award!? What in the world am I going to do with this?!
Knob and tube"inactive" hmmm mmm
The hardest maze of wires
No words
  10 answers
  • GritandGlamour GritandGlamour on Jan 23, 2015
    I wish my husband would stop with the "out of sight out of mind" crap
  • Lucid Designs Lucid Designs on Jan 23, 2015
    Knob and tube is actually pretty safe, as long as it's in decent condition. That's why it was standard code as long as it was before the more recent stuff, which hasn't been around for longer than a few decades. But it looks like the last owner had some fun adding on to pre-existing wiring, and that much wiring is pretty redundant.
  • Stacy | BlakeHillHouse Stacy | BlakeHillHouse on Jan 24, 2015
    Knob and tube can be safe. However, that is quite a tangle there. I would call an electrician to get an estimate on upgrading your panel. At the very least, it would be a good idea to have an electrician come out and inspect what you have got going on and make some recommendations.
  • Kelly S Kelly S on Jan 26, 2015
    I'm a marine electrician and my husband is a retired one. With all the owner alterations that have been done I would not attempt this myself. You will need to contact a licensed reputable electrician. They will also need to be bonded and insured. I would look for them on Angie's List or the local Builders' Association. Once you have several names check with your Better Business Bureau and the State Attorney's Office to see if any one has filed a complaint against them. Good luck.
  • Susan Susan on Jan 26, 2015
    Call Mike Holmes
  • Kayo Frazier Kayo Frazier on Jan 27, 2015
    Call a professional. This is NOT a DIY.
  • Dolly Dolly on Jan 28, 2015
    Yea Like Kelly said, if god for bid a fire starts from an unlicensed electrician, you can kiss your home owners insurance good bye.
  • Mandy Urquhart Mandy Urquhart on Feb 14, 2015
    I live between Lansing and Jackson...Got to love our Michigan Basements!!! When I saw your pictures I could swear they were taken in my house! I feel your pain! My house was build in 1889 and "Updated" too!!!
    • Sandy Tromin Sandy Tromin on Apr 15, 2015
      @Mandy Urquhart mine too in eaton rapids, I donot have a heating system in and no one wants to go"underground" to work
  • MaryStLouis MaryStLouis on Feb 19, 2015
    You need to call a licensed electrician to get a permit and replace all the knob and tubing and other messes you can and can't see up there. Please don't hire anyone who will not get a permit. Inspectors protect the homeowner from shoddy workmanship so it's worth every dime you'll pay.
  • Casita Casita on Apr 15, 2015
    Hire a licensed electrician. I have a 150 year old plus house and someone I used to know (see the "used to know" part) tied in new wire to the old... Suffice it to say we almost died in our sleep. Electricity has come such a long way and is so much more powerful so don't sacrifice your home or the safety of your family. Do it right the first time.