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Will cloth wiring cause me to fail a four-point insurance inspection?

Saturday, June 12, 2021

Electricians call it “rag wiring” and, according to Citizens Insurance, the presence of active cloth-covered wiring in an older home does not automatically mean it will fail a four-point inspection. Citizens is the largest insurer in Florida, and most other companies follow their lead. But if the cloth is frayed and deteriorated, like in photos below, then the wiring will definitely be a problem.

    Also, see our articles What is a four point inspection? and Is the 4-point insurance inspection strictly pass or fail? and What is the difference between a full home inspection and a four-point insurance inspection? and Will a house without air conditioning pass a 4 point inspection? and How long is a four point inspection valid? 

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 

Here’s links to a collection of our blog posts about OLD AND OBSOLETE ELECTRICAL:

• What is rag wiring? 

• Is all cloth wiring dangerous? 

When did they stop using aluminum wiring? 

Is tinned copper wire safe? 

Why is there a 3-phase breaker in a single phase electric panel with only two bus bars? 

 When did knob and tube wiring stop being used in homes? 

Is knob and tube wiring illegal?

What is "knob and tube" wiring? 

Why is there no bathroom electric receptacle in this old house?

Are two-prong outlets up to code and legal?

When should a corroded or damaged electric panel cabinet or disconnect box be replaced? 

What are the code requirements for an old fuse panel/box? 

What is a split bus electric panel?

Why is a fuse box/panel an insurance problem for homebuyers? 

Why are old electrical components not always "grandfathered" as acceptable by home inspectors?

Why is an old fuse panel dangerous?  

Why are Zinsco and Sylvania-Zinsco electric panels a problem? 

Who is the manufacturer of those "bad" electric panels?

• How do I find out the manufacturer of an old electrical panel?

Should I buy a house with a fuse panel/box? 

How dangerous is rust and corrosion inside an electrical panel?

 Are old fuse boxes illegal?

Why are Challenger electrical panels not insurable? 

When did they stop using aluminum wiring in houses?

• Are Wadsworth electrical panels dangerous? 

How old is a Wadsworth breaker panel?

• How old is a Walker EQ Load Center electrical panel? Is it unsafe? 

How old is a Pushmatic electrical panel? is it safe?

When should I replace electric receptacle outlets? 

  • What are those strange looking wall switches in houses from the 1950s and 1960s? 

 • Are light switches required to be grounded? 

How dangerous is old electrical wiring?

Is there an adapter that can be placed on a two-slot receptacle to make it safe? 

I heard that aluminum wiring is bad. How do you check for aluminum wiring? 

 What can I do about an apartment with only two prong/slot receptacle outlets?

What is tinned copper wiring?

   Visit our OLDER AND HISTORIC HOUSES page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.

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