Whole-Home Rewiring in Altadena, CA
Replacing knob-and-tube, cloth-insulated and other outdated wiring with grounded, code-compliant circuits, planned to keep wall and ceiling damage to a minimum.
Does Your Home Need Rewiring?
Wiring doesn’t fail on a schedule, but some systems are well past what they were designed for. Signs it’s time to look closely:
- Knob-and-tube wiring (porcelain knobs and tubes in the attic or crawlspace), common in pre-1940s homes
- Cloth-insulated cable that is brittle or crumbling
- Two-prong outlets throughout, meaning no equipment ground
- Aluminum branch wiring, used in some homes built in the mid-1960s to early 1970s
- Warm outlets or switch plates, flickering lights or a burning smell
- Insurance or a home sale flagging the wiring
Read our guide to electrical safety issues in older homes.
How a Rewire Works
- SurveyWe map every circuit, check the panel and attic/crawlspace access, and agree a scope: whole house, or the worst areas first.
- Plan and permitWe plan cable routes to use attic and crawlspace access and minimize openings, then file the permit.
- Rough-inNew grounded cable is run room by room. You can usually stay in the home, with power off only in the area being worked on.
- Devices and protectionNew outlets and switches, with AFCI and GFCI protection where current code requires it for new circuits.
- Inspection and patchingThe inspector signs off before walls are closed. Openings are patched ready for paint.
Rewiring in Altadena
Altadena has many 1910s–1940s Craftsman, Spanish Revival and Tudor homes with plaster walls, original wood trim and knob-and-tube still in service. We plan around those finishes. Rewiring is often paired with a panel upgrade, since the old panel is usually too small for the new circuits. For fire rebuilds, the house is wired new, so this is about getting the layout right from day one.
For Altadena addresses, permits come from LA County Public Works Building & Safety (Altadena is unincorporated, so not the City of Pasadena or LADBS). Pasadena, South Pasadena, San Marino and La Cañada Flintridge each have their own building departments. We pull the permit and meet the inspector.
What affects the cost
- Size of the home and number of circuits
- Attic and crawlspace access, and wall construction (plaster vs drywall)
- Whether the panel or service also needs upgrading
- How much patching is included
We serve Altadena and nearby: Pasadena, South Pasadena, San Marino, La Cañada Flintridge, Sierra Madre, Arcadia and Eagle Rock. See all areas we serve.
What Customers Say on Google
“Our local electrician was amazing! He fixed our flickering lights and installed a new outlet with zero hassle. On time, reasonably priced, and very respectful of our home. You can tell he cares about doing quality work. Highly recommend him for any home electrical needs!”
— Google review
“One night, many outlets ceased to function and I feared that something bad had occurred. The electrician came out at night when I called and fixed it up when I needed it.”
— Google review
Frequently Asked Questions
Is knob-and-tube wiring illegal?
No, existing knob-and-tube isn’t automatically illegal, but it has no ground, wasn’t designed for modern loads, and must not be buried in insulation. Many insurers want it replaced.
Can I stay in the house during a rewire?
Usually yes. We work in sections so most of the home has power while one area is being rewired.
Will you have to open every wall?
No. Most cable is fished through walls from the attic and crawlspace. Openings are made only where needed and patched afterwards.
Do I need to rewire if I’m upgrading the panel?
Not necessarily, but the panel upgrade is a good time to assess the wiring it feeds and fix the worst circuits.