I've installed a few of these newer smart dimmers in older homes with cloth wiring—honestly, they've held up pretty well. Just make sure your wiring insulation isn't brittle or damaged before you dive in...otherwise, sticking with basic LEDs isn't overly cautious, just smart.
"Just make sure your wiring insulation isn't brittle or damaged before you dive in..."
Good point about checking insulation first—have you found any tricks for safely handling older cloth wiring? I've been leaning toward low-voltage LED strips myself...less worry, less energy, and they look pretty sleek under cabinets.
Totally agree on the LED strips—I've put them in a couple kitchens now, and the difference is night and day. One thing I'd add about older cloth wiring: even if it looks okay, it's worth testing flexibility carefully. I've seen insulation that seems fine at first glance but cracks as soon as you move it around. If you're unsure, sometimes it's better to bite the bullet and replace sections rather than risk shorts later on...peace of mind counts for a lot.
LED strips are great, no argument there. But I'm curious—have you considered the environmental impact of tossing out all that old cloth wiring? I get the peace-of-mind angle completely, but sometimes older wiring can be safely preserved with proper insulation methods or protective sleeves. I've worked on a few retrofits where we were able to carefully encapsulate and preserve existing wires, reducing waste and saving money too.
I know it's not always possible, especially if the insulation is already brittle like you mentioned. But before jumping straight to replacement, have you looked into eco-friendly solutions for stabilizing or reinforcing older wiring? Might be worth exploring if sustainability is part of your remodeling goals. Just a thought...
Good points about sustainability, hadn't really thought about the environmental angle with the old wiring. I usually lean toward replacement just because I've seen some sketchy stuff hidden behind walls—like wires literally crumbling in my hands. But you're right, if the wiring's still decent, encapsulating or sleeving it could be a solid compromise.
I did one kitchen remodel where we kept most of the original wiring intact by using protective sleeves and junction boxes strategically. Saved some cash and felt good about not tossing perfectly usable materials. Still, I'd probably only go that route if the wiring was clearly in good shape. Peace of mind counts for a lot when you're flipping houses, especially if you're handing it off to someone else down the line.
But yeah, definitely worth considering eco-friendly options more often. Maybe I'll look into it more seriously next time around...
