My mom is getting her old knob and tube wiring replaced in her 120-year-old home soon, and the electrician mentioned it might be okay for her to stay there while the work is done. I'm curious if anyone has experienced living in the house during similar electrical upgrades. What was it like, and how disruptive was the process? I'd prefer if she stayed with me, but she's insisting on staying put!
3 Answers
We also lived in our house while it was being done, but we ended up sleeping in the unfinished basement. We put up plastic sheeting to seal off the basement from the upstairs and covered the path with cardboard to avoid dust. It wasn’t heavy construction, just a little dust when they had to punch holes. Overall, it was manageable!
If she can handle some power outages, it might be fine for her to stay in the house. Just keep in mind that during the work, she might have her AC cut off, especially if it’s hot outside. There could be some dust and stuff, but it's usually not too crazy. Just remember, they won't remove all the knob and tube wiring at once; instead, they'll install the new wiring alongside it.
I’ve lived through it myself when I had my knob and tube replaced! My electrician was super helpful—he asked me to put away small items and told me which rooms he’d be working on. I moved furniture into the center of each room and covered everything to keep dust at bay. He ensured the fridge stayed plugged in and cleaned up every day. Your mom might have to adjust her living situation a bit, but if her electrician is as good as mine, she should be fine!