| Aluminum wiring was installed in most of the | | | | better off. |
| homes built between 1965 - 1973 because the | | | | Other options are: |
| high use of copper by the military during the | | | | 1. Rewire the house with copper wiring. This is not |
| Vietnam War. This made obtaining copper wire | | | | much of a choice since a typical house could cost |
| difficult and expensive. The alternative was | | | | ten thousand dollars or more. |
| aluminum wiring which was plentiful and cheap, but | | | | 2. You can connect copper to a typical outlet or |
| the potential danger it posed was not recognized | | | | switch and attached to it to the aluminum wire in |
| at the time. | | | | the wall. You would need to hire an electrician to |
| What makes aluminum wiring more dangerous | | | | make the connections using the approved method |
| that copper? | | | | called Copalum, which utilized a special connector |
| Aluminum by nature is a softer metal that copper, | | | | and a high pressure crimping tool to make the |
| it contracts and expands more when heated and | | | | connection. This would be very expensive if you |
| is more susceptible to oxidation, which is a thin | | | | even could find an electrician that still has the |
| film on it's surface caused by oxygen. It should be | | | | equipment. I have heard of around $10.00 - $15.00 |
| noted that this pertains to only to the smaller | | | | per connection. |
| single wires that you see on wall receptacles and | | | | 3. Change out switches and receptacles with |
| switches. The aluminum stranded wiring you see | | | | special aluminum rated ones. You can get them at |
| on the 220 volt appliance and air conditioning | | | | electrical supply companies, online or I have found |
| circuits do not pose a problem. When aluminum | | | | them at Lowes. The problem is they are more |
| wires are only twisted together, like you would | | | | expensive. You will pay about fifty cents for a |
| with copper, the wires expand and contract then | | | | normal copper rated wall outlet, but an aluminum |
| current flows through them which produces heat | | | | rated one will cost about $3.75 and a wall switch |
| from the poor connection and if the wires has | | | | is about $4.50. Needless to say, this will add up |
| oxidized, this will heat up the connection even | | | | costs to your bottom line, but still cheaper. |
| further, causing a potential for overheating and a | | | | 4. There is a connector sold that has had good |
| possible fire. | | | | testing results named Alumiconn. These are still |
| How can I tell if the house has aluminum wiring? | | | | about $3.00, so you might as well spend another |
| The best way to know is to have it verified by | | | | dollar and buy the aluminum rated outlet or switch. |
| an electrician or home inspector. You can check | | | | I would use these for connecting light fixtures or |
| yourself but of course, you need to be careful. I | | | | other connections. |
| do not suggest that you remove the breaker | | | | The other precaution to take is to use an |
| panel cover which will show all the wiring from the | | | | anti-oxidant paste on all connections. This is a thick |
| circuits, but you could turn the breaker off to a | | | | grey paste that keeps the wire from oxidation |
| room and remove the cover plates to the light | | | | and help prevent resistive heat. |
| switches and receptacles and loosen the screws | | | | The important thing to remember when working |
| that hold them in the electrical box. Pull the switch | | | | with aluminum wiring is that it is not the wiring |
| or receptacle out and look at the bare wire | | | | itself that is makes it dangerous, it is the wiring |
| around the connection screw. Aluminum will be | | | | connections. I am reminded of last year when I |
| bright silver. This is not to be confused with tinned | | | | inspected a home that was featured on the TV |
| copper wiring which has a dull silver finish, but this | | | | show "Flip this House" and the guys that did the |
| was used in a much earlier time. | | | | rehab, did their own wiring and just used a normal |
| What special precautions need to be taken when | | | | twist connectors to join wires together. A licensed |
| working with aluminum wiring? | | | | electrician had to be called in to rewire the entire |
| My best advice is to have all the wiring evaluated | | | | home and the price of the home had to be |
| by a licensed electrician for safety, preferable one | | | | lowered to allow for these repairs. They didn't |
| that is familiar with aluminum and if you can keep | | | | want to spend the extra money on the proper |
| from changing out receptacles, switches and | | | | outlets and switches and it wound up costing |
| lighting that would be best, just don't mess with it. | | | | them more in the long run. You want to put out a |
| I know if you are doing a complete rehab, you will | | | | quality and safe home and not put others at risk, |
| want to change out lights, old and dirty light | | | | so please be careful when dealing with homes |
| switches and receptacles with many coats of | | | | with aluminum wiring. |
| paint, but if you can clean them up, you are | | | | |