Source
r/HomeImprovement•
Digmaster

Do I need to replace cloth romex wiring

I recently purchased a house and I can see a ton of the wiring is this cloth covered romex, instead of the typical rubber covered stuff. The individual wires inside are rubber covered (and thankfully include a neutral), only the outer cover is cloth. From what I see online, this is “first generation romex”, and I see discussion about replacing it with modern stuff. Considering only the outer jacket is cloth covered, do I really need to replace the wiring with modern Romex? It seems to be in fine condition really.

Posted Dec 26, 2020, 1:39 AM UTC

010
Ijustwanttolookatpor•

If it ain't broke, don't fix it, is my approach to stuff.

4
DigmasterOP•

We’re planning to finish the basement in a year or two, so it’s an easier fix now.

2
distantreplay•

If you ordered an pre-sale inspection (and you did) and your inspector did not call it out, it probably is fine. If the rubber insulation covering individual conductors is not cracked or hardened, and if the outer cloth jacket is still intact and not deteriorated it is probably very safe. There is some safety redundancy in all of these products (as in the case of the double insulation) when compared with something like knob and tube.

2
DigmasterOP•

You are right, he didn’t call it out. He was generally pretty good but missed a few things (like a slow leak under the kitchen sink).

I did pull out an outlet and saw one of the wires had a cracked covering, wasn’t sure if this was from age or the old owner doing something weird. I’ve replaced all the outlets (they were old and yellowed) and only noticed one so it’s hopefully rare?

1
jehovahs_waitress•

It is rarely a problem .

2
buckleybuilds•

The rubber (inner) jackets on the earlier Romex can deteriorate, leading to possible problems/hazards where bare copper could be exposed to the cloth (outer) jacket, which is flammable. Over time, the copper itself can become brittle and break readily. Perhaps consult an electrician, have him/her de-energize a circuit or two, remove the wiring in a few outlets and check the condition of the rubber and the copper. The two or three hours labor charge from the electrician will be well worth the peace of mind and sound sleep you can then enjoy.

GC, specializing in historic restoration, New Orleans, Louisiana

1
DigmasterOP•

Thanks for the info. I’ll probably reach out to an electrician, I’ve replaced most of the outlets in the house and one wire had split insulation in an outlet.

1
Paul_Ott•

One spot to look out for is any ceiling fixture of the “flush-mount” or basic “keyless” white utility variety, as the hot bulb is closer to the wires than in a hanging/chandelier situation, and the heat can degrade the plastic insulation over time.

1
flannelmaster9•

New wiring use new romex. Old leave it be.

Don't drywall basement ceiling. Go with drop ceiling

1
1bighack•

Sometimes it can contain asbestos

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