Cloth Electrical Wiring

What is Old Cloth wiring?            

• Cloth wiring is usually made of cotton, rayon, or Silk.  Because cloth wiring has the fiber cloth that is easily ignitable. More than likely the wiring is treated with asbestos. 

• Old Cloth wiring was the standard during the first half of the 20th Century.  It was used heavily after WW2 and started to become phased out after the 1960’s.  It very common in the areas Explore Electric services commercial or residential buildings in Brooklyn NY, Manhattan NY, and Queens NY.

• Unfortunately, when an electrical product becomes phased out it still exist in the market for a while. The reason is supplying houses have already bought in bulk at wholesale prices and will try to empty the remaining inventory and electrical contractors might not quickly evolve with the times. This is why cloth wiring was used up until the 1970’s. A lot of Cloth Wiring exist in Brooklyn NY, Manhattan NY, and Queens NY areas today...including newly renovated areas.

How to Fix Cloth Wiring!

• First, wear gloves because cloth wiring contains asbestos!

• Applying tape to wiring has been a practice for many years and is preferred method by field electricians and home/business owners.  If there is nothing else available and there is minor damage to cloth wiring (like a crack) then this is an option.  Unfortunately, this should not be a main practice or your main way of repairing any wire, it is outdated and relied upon way too much.   

• The preferred method is using a UL listed product like Heat shrink.  A UL listed product in the electrical industry means something was tested in a laboratory.  Usually, the product is given much more current than the wire was rated for and monitored for a longer time.  The laboratories test wires in wet, dry, and above room temperature settings. 

Look For This Logo on Electrical Products.

• Heat shrink was literally created just for fixing damaged wires.  Here is an example, for a product I use as a Master Electrician to fix old and damaged wiring. This Product is specifically made for this...Not Electrical Tape!!!

When should you Replace Wiring?

• Replacing wiring or portions of wiring to save money should be obvious. Wires heating up, wires having more than minor cracks to the insulation, circuit breaker in your electrical panel are tripping, outer cable metal jacket is corroding, flickering of lights, electrical equipment emitting a burning odor, or electrical equipment emitting smoke. 

  
  

  

• When In Doubt: Call a Licensed Electrician if you are in Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan...The only reason Licensed is better is for Insurance purposes. Electricians who are licensed can also write audits to home insurance companies and suggest affordable steps a home or business owner can take to reduce fire and electrical hazards.

• Queens Electrcian, Electrician Brooklyn, Licensed Electrician Brooklyn, Electrician Queens NY.

  
  

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