Charley writes from Thackerville, Oklahoma: “Can I blow insulation over my existing electrical wires without the wires getting hot or do I need to raise the wires up over the insulation?
It is fine to insulate over and around electrical wires as long as they are not the old knob and tube style. Knob and tube wiring is sometimes found in buildings built before 1950 and dating all the way back to the late 1800s. The term refers to the porcelain knobs that the wiring was wrapped around as it went around corners and the porcelain tubes the wires ran through as they penetrated wood beams, joists, floor boards and walls. If your home has this system, we recommend hiring a licensed electrician who has experience with knob and tube wiring to review it.
Related Questions
- Charley writes from Thackerville, Oklahoma: "Can I blow insulation over my existing electrical wires without the wires getting hot or do I need to raise the wires up over the insulation?
- Pil writes from Edgewater, New Jersey: "How can i help improve insulation of an existing room and would that also help better sound proof the room from noise from outside of the room?
- Chris writes yet again from State College, Pennsylvania: "One last question - it is possible to use faced insulation with existing insulation. If so how - face up or down?
