Multiphase Electric
Rewired kitchen in a white-cabinet remodel — pendants over the island, under-cabinet lighting, recessed cans, and new receptacles along the backsplash
4.9 40+

Knob & Tube Rewiring

Original wiring, replaced or decommissioned — usually in under a week.

(503) 908-1593
20+
Years in Business
100%
Licensed & Insured
2000+
Projects Completed
Rewired hallway lit by linear wall sconces, recessed cans, and a continuous LED strip along the baseboard, looking toward the stairs

Out with the old

Many homes throughout the Portland metro still contain their original knob-and-tube wiring, common before the 1950s and never designed for a modern household. As the insulation deteriorates the system becomes harder to expand safely, and harder to insure — some policies require replacement or decommissioning before coverage is renewed. We have spent years in older Portland homes, so the old wiring comes out with as little disruption as possible.

It's time to rewire if:

  • Your home was built before 1950
  • Your insurer has flagged the wiring or raised your premium
  • You're buying a home with knob-and-tube
  • Breakers trip frequently on older circuits
  • You're remodeling where knob-and-tube already runs

Certifications & Licenses:

Oregon CCB

Electrical contractor

Rewiring work

Every circuit is replaced or decommissioned, permitted, and documented for your insurer.

Knob-and-Tube Wiring Replacement

Knob-and-Tube Decommissioning

Whole-Home Rewiring

Partial Home Rewiring

Electrical System Modernization

Branch Circuit Replacement

Grounded Receptacle Upgrades

Electrical Panel Upgrades

Electrical Service Upgrades

Wiring for Remodel Projects

Electrical Safety Evaluations

Code Compliance Improvements

Why insurers agree

  • All of it, not a patch

    The old wire is replaced end to end or properly decommissioned. What we don't do is redo the run you can see and leave the rest energized behind the plaster.

  • Proof for your insurer

    You get the permit and the inspection report underwriters ask for — usually the one thing standing between the house and a policy that renews.

  • Stay in your house

    Access holes stay small and get patched, finished rooms stay usable, and the work area is left clean at the end of each day.

The old wire out, the house lived in throughout.

  1. Home evaluation

    We walk the home, identify active knob-and-tube circuits, assess attic and basement access, and give you a realistic timeline and fixed quote.

    An electrician shaking hands with two homeowners in the entryway of their home
  2. Replace or decommission

    Every circuit is dealt with end to end — replaced or properly decommissioned, never patched. We work in occupied homes and clean up as we go. Most houses are done in 3–5 days.

    An electrician in a hard hat wiring a wall switch box, while a second fits pendant lights from a ladder behind him
  3. Inspection & insurance documentation

    City inspection passed, permit paperwork in your hands — exactly what your insurer needs to restore or establish full coverage.

    A finished open-plan kitchen and living space, lit by recessed downlights and two glass pendants over the island

Trusted by Homeowners & Businesses

proudly serving the Portland metro

Multiphase Electric covers the whole metro — from Hillsboro and Newberg out to Corbett, and south through Oregon City to Molalla. Licensed in Oregon, with emergency service anywhere on this map.

  • Portland, Multnomah County
  • Tigard, Washington County
  • Gresham, Multnomah County
  • Beaverton, Washington County
  • Clackamas, Clackamas County
  • Hillsboro, Washington County
  • Milwaukie, Clackamas County
  • West Linn, Clackamas County
  • Canby, Clackamas County
  • Lake Oswego, Clackamas County
  • Wilsonville, Clackamas County
  • Dundee, Yamhill County
  • Corbett, Multnomah County
  • Molalla, Clackamas County
  • Newberg, Yamhill County
  • Fairview, Multnomah County
  • Troutdale, Multnomah County
  • Oregon City, Clackamas County
  • Sellwood-Moreland, Portland, Multnomah County
  • Tualatin, Washington County
  • Bethany, Washington County
  • Beavercreek, Clackamas County
  • Damascus, Clackamas County
  • Estacada, Clackamas County
  • Sandy, Clackamas County

what buyers ask

Mostly from owners and buyers dealing with an insurer. If yours isn't here, call and we'll tell you where you stand.

  • What is knob-and-tube wiring?

    Knob-and-tube wiring was installed between the 1880s and the 1940s — the first generation of home electrification. The system lacks proper grounding, and its insulation is brittle and prone to cracking and breaking down, which causes hazards and electrical issues. We recommend replacing it.

  • Should my knob-and-tube wiring be replaced?

    Yes. For most homes that still have it, that is 120-plus years of use. The insulation becomes brittle and breaks down, causing electrical fires and hazardous conditions in your home. Multiphase Electric has 20-plus years in the remodeling industry and hundreds of homes improved. We can replace your old wiring in under a week in most cases, depending on the size of your house.

  • Will my insurance company make me replace it?

    Many insurers are reluctant to insure a home with active knob-and-tube, and some policies require replacement or decommissioning before coverage can be issued or renewed. Homeowner's insurance typically does not pay for the work as preventive maintenance, but we provide the permit and inspection documentation you need to submit once it is done.

  • Can we live in the house while you rewire it?

    Yes, and most of our customers do. We work room by room, keep the house powered outside the circuits we are on that day, patch the access holes, and clean up the work area before we leave.

  • Will you have to open up my walls?

    Some access holes are unavoidable — the old wire has to come out and the new wire has to get in. We keep them small, put them in closets, along baseboards, and other low-visibility spots wherever the framing allows, and we patch them when we are done.

  • Can you rewire only part of the house?

    Yes. We do partial rewires all the time, usually where a remodel or an insurance requirement drives it, and we can decommission the circuits we are not replacing. What we will not do is replace only the visible run of a circuit and leave the rest of that old wire energized behind the plaster.

  • I am buying a house with knob-and-tube. Can you look at it before I close?

    Yes. We do electrical safety evaluations for buyers and can tell you what a full or partial rewire would involve while you still have room to negotiate. Bring us the inspection report if you already have one.

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Questions? Call (503) 908-1593