Had a call last week for a flickering light in an old Chicago bungalow, found a main panel with cloth wiring from the 40s that was basically dust.

3 comments

3 Comments

That's not a flickering light, that's a house politely asking for a full rewire. Cloth wiring from that era turns to literal confetti if you look at it wrong. Honestly surprised the whole place wasn't just a warm glow in the dark.

terrycraig1mo ago

Old cloth wiring can be fine if it hasn't been messed with.

clairen851mo ago

I used to believe that old cloth wiring was okay if it was left alone. Then I saw a piece crumble apart just from a draft in the attic. That stuff really does turn to dust, and it's not worth the risk. A flickering light with wiring that old is a pretty clear sign to get it all replaced.