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It can be safe to buy or live in a house with knob and tube (K&T) wiring, but only if the system is in good condition, functional, and has been thoroughly inspected and approved by a licensed electrician. Never purchase a home with K&T wiring without getting a professional electrical inspection first.

Key considerations include:

• Safety and Condition: An inspector will verify that the wiring is safe and has not deteriorated. Over time, the insulation can wear away, leaving exposed wires that pose a significant fire or shock hazard.

• System Capacity: The electrical service should be at least 60 amps. However, even at this capacity, K&T systems often struggle to handle the demands of modern appliances and electronics.

• Lack of Grounding: Knob and tube wiring is an ungrounded system, which is a safety concern for many modern devices.

• Ongoing Maintenance: If you live in a home with K&T wiring, it's recommended to have it inspected by an electrician every one to two years to ensure it remains in safe working order.

Ultimately, any inspection or modification of a knob and tube system should always be performed by a certified professional.

Switching the hot and neutral wires in an outlet or receptacle, a condition known as reverse polarity, is dangerous. While the outlet will still function and provide power, it creates a significant electrical shock hazard because anything plugged into it will remain electrified even when switched off. If you touch a conductive part of the appliance, such as the metal components of a toaster, you could receive an electric shock.

On average, the cost to wire a new home ranges from $2 to $5 per square foot. The cost to rewire a house is around the same, ranging from $2 to $4 per square foot. Often, though, new wiring comes with lower overall costs since it’s much easier to access a home’s foundation. 

You may not always need to hire a local electrician to install a doorbell camera. Wireless doorbell cameras, for instance, are simple enough for the average homeowner to install. They easily attach to your threshold and run on batteries, so no wiring is necessary.

However, wired doorbells with cameras likely require electrical work that should only be attempted by licensed electricians. You’ll need to call a pro if you’re working with a wired doorbell camera.