Condo insurance
When getting a home insurance quote, you’re usually asked about the type of wiring in your home. This is because your home’s electrical system plays a major role in the risk of a fire, which can directly affect your insurance premiums, eligibility, and coverage options.
If your home has an older wiring system, it’s generally considered a higher risk because it may not meet modern Canadian electrical safety standards or safely support today’s electrical demands. Outdated wiring can even lead to higher insurance costs and, in some cases, make it harder to get coverage altogether.
In this blog, you’ll learn how to identify the type of wiring in your home, the most common types of electrical wiring in Canadian homes, and which systems are considered safest for home insurance purposes.
Key takeaways
The type of electrical wiring in your house can directly affect your home insurance premiums, eligibility, and overall safety. Follow these steps to identify your home’s wiring system:
- Consider the age of your house
- Look at the visible wiring
- Look at your electrical panel
- Look closely at outlets and light switches
- Get help from a licensed electrician
How to tell what kind of wiring your house has
Here are a few steps you can take to identify the type of wiring in your home before calling a professional:
- Consider the age of your house
- Look at the visible wiring
- Look at your electrical panel
- Look closely at outlets and light switches
- Get help from a licensed electrician
Consider the age of your house
The age of your home can be a good place to start when identifying the type of electrical wiring it may have, as older homes are more likely to have older types of wiring.
As a general rule of thumb, if your home was built:
- Before the 1950s, it might have knob-and-tube wiring
- From the 1950s to the 1960s, it might have early cloth-sheathed NM cable
- From the 1960s to the 1970s, it might have aluminum wiring
- From the 1980s onward, it might have copper wiring
However, don’t rely on age alone, as homes can be partially or fully rewired over time. For example, a home with knob-and-tube wiring may have been updated to modern copper wiring during renovations.
Look at the colour and look of visible wiring
Look for any visible wiring in unfinished areas of your home, such as the basement or attic. If you see white, yellow, or orange plastic-covered cables, this usually indicates modern copper wiring. Grey or silver coloured wiring or cables, on the other hand, labelled ‘AL’ might indicate aluminum wiring.
If you notice white or cloth-covered wires running individually without any casing, along with porcelain knobs and tubes, this might mean your home has knob and tube wiring. However, if you’re unsure what you’re looking at, don’t open walls or electrical boxes yourself. It’s best to call a licensed electrician.
Visit your electrical panel, often in the basement
Your home’s electrical panel will often be located in the basement or garage. A modern breaker panel will have switch-style breakers rather than older screw-in fuses, and a newer, clearly labelled panel may suggest the home has been updated or partially rewired.
On the other hand, if your home has a fuse box rather than breakers, it may indicate that the electrical system, and potentially the wiring itself, is older.
Look closely at outlets and light switches
Three-prong outlets usually indicate a grounded, modern system, which is typically required by code for new homes. Two-prong outlets are commonly found in older homes and often suggest outdated or ungrounded wiring.
Watch for signs such as discolouration, warmth, or loose fittings, which can indicate aging electrical components that haven’t been updated or replaced for a long time.
If you’re still unsure, get help from a licensed electrician
If you’re still unsure what type of wiring your home has, it’s best to contact a licensed electrician for a professional inspection. They can identify older or potentially hazardous wiring and let you know if any updates or repairs are needed.
You can find licensed electricians in local contractor directories and verify their license with the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA).
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3 of the most common types of electrical wiring in Canadian houses
The type of electrical wiring in your home can affect safety, maintenance, and even your ability to get home insurance coverage. Here are three of the most common types of electrical wiring found in Canadian homes:
- Copper wiring
- Aluminum wiring
- Knob and tube
Copper wiring
Considered the safest and most reliable material, copper wiring is the standard for today’s electrical systems. It has high conductivity, durability, and doesn’t expand or contract much, making it generally safer and lower-risk than older systems like knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring.
- Appearance: Orange, brown, or yellow metal wires with a plastic-coated cable
- Time period: Homes built from the 1980s to the present
- Typical lifespan range: Can often last 100+ years
- Safety risk: Low-risk compared to older systems, it is the industry standard for safe, modern electrical systems
Aluminum wiring
Aluminum wiring was installed in thousands of Canadian homes in the 1960s and 1970s as a lower-cost alternative to copper wiring. While large aluminum service entrance cables are still widely used today, older small-gauge aluminum branch wiring can loosen at connections over time. This is important for homeowners to consider, given that this can increase the risk of overheating and possible electrical fires.
- Appearance: Silver or grey metal wires with a coloured cable sheathing
- Time period: Homes built in the 1960s and 1970s (Electrical Safety Foundation International)
- Typical lifespan range: Can last 40 to 50+ years, but connections can loosen or degrade sooner
- Safety risk: Prone to overheating and oxidation, which can lead to fire risks if they haven’t been properly maintained or upgraded
Knob and tube wiring
Knob and tube wiring was commonly installed in homes built between the 1800s and 1930s. It was named for the single insulated wires that run separately through walls and ceilings, with ceramic “knobs” that hold the wires in place and “tubes” that protect them. This type of wiring is no longer used in new builds due to safety concerns, but it can still sometimes be found in older homes.
- Appearance: White or cloth-covered wires running individually (no casing) through visible porcelain knobs and tubes
- Time period: Homes built between the 1800s and 1930s (Electrical Safety Foundation International)
- Typical lifespan range: Can physically last 50 to 100+ years, but unlikely to meet modern safety standards
- Safety risk: Higher risk compared to modern wiring and not designed for today’s electrical loads
What is the best type of wiring for insurance?
“Generally speaking, insurers want your home’s electrical wiring to meet current Canadian safety standards and be able to safely support the higher electrical demands of modern households,” says Channelle Cote, AMF- and RIBO- licensed broker at YouSet.
Modern copper wiring is generally viewed most favourably by insurers because it’s considered reliable, lower risk, and compatible with today’s electrical safety standards. It is often considered the “gold standard” because it usually doesn’t require additional inspections or come with exclusions, as older wiring systems might.
In contrast, older systems like knob-and-tube wiring can pose challenges for home insurance due to their age, lack of safety features, and limited ability to meet modern electrical demands. In some cases, insurers may even refuse coverage.
That said, the age and type of your wiring system isn’t the only thing insurers take into account when calculating your premium. They’ll also consider other factors like:
- Whether the wiring has been inspected or upgraded
- The overall condition of the electrical system (not just wiring type)
- If you have any risk-reduction measures in place (ex. partial rewiring, panel upgrades)
