Knob And Tube Wiring - Elimination 1 of 3

[@dr.tribbles4145]

Wow bro much respect for getting up in that attic

[@CITAP1]

Concrete slab today.

[@catlaw4466]

My asthma flared up watching this. Lol. Glad you have a mask on! Thanks for posting this, I am replacing old KT in my attic right now.

[@CITAP1]

I've always worn a mask! Glad the video is giving you some help.

[@catlaw4466]

One question; how do you remove the knobs and tubes without just shattering them with a hammer, which is how I have been doing it.

[@CITAP1]

@@catlaw4466 You can hit a flat bar under the knob and pull it out like a big fat nail. You can also use a rubber dead blow hammer. To initially loosen it.

[@johnstancliff7328]

what a mess! I'd be removing all the debris in the attic along with the old insulation and starting all over again..... Plus putting in some plywood for making it easier to get around....

[@CITAP1]

That all happened later in the project.

[@johndaniel6149]

The upright vessel looks like a steam separator, did the house have boiler heat at one time?

[@CITAP1]

The house does have a central boiler with pipes and radiators throughout. We just have guesses as to what it was. The house may have been on a well system years ago and it was a gravity feed reservoir is one guess. Expansion tank is another

[@rayfridley6649]

@@CITAP1 Yes, but is that house still on well water, or has it been connected to municipal water mains?

[@CITAP1]

@@rayfridley6649 The house is on a municipal water 1-1/4" supply. They have two fire hydrants within 100 feet of the house, North and South. It has a pumped septic system.

[@jeromewysocki8809]

The upright vessel is likely an expansion tank for a boiler, in the house heating system (hot water heat or steam heat).

[@paulhunter546]

Hey Jeff..looks like you have your hands full there. I liked your comment about the old wiring " that's interesting " lol. I've made the same comment working on projects where someone else had worked on it b4 me ;-) Yep..good thing you have those " catlike " reflexes..lol.

[@CITAP1]

Im changing out an old 200 amp main today and get onto the attic Monday. There's a lot to do and I need a full time runner to assist so I'm not climing in and out of the attic all day. Huge waste of time and energy. Plus I don't want to just start tearing things out leaving the family of 5 without power upstairs for a week. This one's going to be a pain. Are you read for the very cold blast we might get next week? You take care Paul ..

[@paulhunter546]

@@CITAP1 Cold blast ? I looked at the weather for next week..saw some rain but nothing too bad. Are you talking about a different area ?

[@CITAP1]

@@paulhunter546 saw the weather map for next week. Teens twenties across the nation monday a few days. A chance it would come this way. Ill look again later. I got an odd one. Somebody called my cell, said he had gotten a few calls from my number. Wasnt me, hadn't used phone since morning. Odd thing was he asked if I was Paul???

[@paulhunter546]

@@CITAP1 That's a strange one for sure..I don't even have your # lol

[@terry6552]

Hey how did you ground the Gcfi in the bathroom

[@CITAP1]

There is a new 10 gauge green stranded wire from the breaker panel up to the junction box. It is surface mounted following the electrical mast up to the second floor then goes into the attic over to the junction box.

[@montanaharkin]

Great video. Do you still contract in the Seattle area?

[@CITAP1]

Glad you enjoyed the video. I've got a couple old customers to take care of, then build my own house, retire, and travel to those bucket list places. There are plenty of good electricians available.

[@montanaharkin]

@@CITAP1 Thanks for sharing the knowledge.

[@CITAP1]

@@montanaharkin You bet! Is there something in particular you're wondering about?

[@montanaharkin]

@@CITAP1 to route new power up to the attic from the basement, what is the usual best route? Alongside the chimney? Exterior wall? Outside house in conduit?

[@CITAP1]

@@montanaharkin You always go for the shortest easiest path. If I have to open a bunch of walls and ceilings, I might consider doing a conduit. If you don't want conduit, the amount of work to open then restore walls and ceilings could be worth the effort. On this project, because the walls and ceilings were already open, I routed wire through the house up to the attic. Just look at your options and decide what's best for you, that will be the right way...

[@lrodecw]

That place looks like a death trap it's just hard see what your standing on

[@CITAP1]

Walking on the joists and 1"x12"x6' or 8' boards and strips of 3/4 plywood. In later videos of this project, we cut and installed several more boards across the joists to move about on.

[@erbewayne6868]

Why didn't electricians install romax in the first place?

[@CITAP1]

This house was built long before NM nonmetallic sheathed cable (romex) existed. KT knob and tube was the standard at the time of construction.

[@erbewayne6868]

My point! You have to start somewhere. It was state of the art when installed.

[@CITAP1]

@Erbe Wayne Technology of the day. I've worked on a couple of houses where they had gas lighting. It was long since decommissioned but very interesting.

[@tonybennett2023]

Listening to this guy breathing makes me glad I’m retired.

[@CITAP1]

I'm actually just retiring now too. Attics and crawl spaces are no more for this guy. I do enjoy doing the work though. I may still do small side projects for friends, family, regular clients.

[@philbarrows424]

Wow That attic is a SHITSHOW!!

[@CITAP1]

It looks great now. All cleaned out and R42 blown in .

[@thequeenlibertyliberty9084]

Cats 🐱

[@CITAP1]

Yes, Cats, Craziness on 4 feet.

[@thequeenlibertyliberty9084]

@@CITAP1 😹 Yes. Glad you are safe! It was a little scary watching you do the tight rope walk there.... lol it looked like a shredder room.