Aluminum Wiring Can Be Home Hazard, Here's Why to Rewire

Have you noticed flickering lights, hot light switches or outlet plates, or dead circuits? How about the smell of burning plastic? These are all signs that your home may be wired with aluminum wiring. 

And while you may not have experienced any of these tell-tale hazardous signs, you need to make sure your home is free of aluminum wiring.  

Wondering why is aluminum wiring so bad?  

And, if it is so bad, why was it used in homes in the first place? 

Our electricians at Axiom Power are pros at rewiring aluminum wiring. Here we’ll explain why aluminum wiring was used in homes and why it now needs to be replaced. 

Why Was Aluminum Wiring used in Homes? 

The use of aluminum wiring in homes dates all the way back to the 1880s when it was used for electrical utilities – stringing transmission lines across towns & cities. 

It was not until the early 1960s though that aluminum wiring started being used in homes. Before then, copper wiring was used, but due to a national shortage, copper prices increased drastically. This forced home builders to turn to aluminum wiring, as it was more abundant (and cheaper) than copper. 

Between the early 1960s and the 1970s, more than two million homes across the United States were outfitted with aluminum wiring. By the 1970s, it became apparent that there were some serious hazards to aluminum wiring. 

The wiring actually isn’t the problem; aluminum safely conducts electricity. The problem comes in at the connections. 

Hazards of Aluminum Wiring at Home 

 Aluminum quickly became associated with an increased risk of house fires. Aluminum over time can move and crack which causes arcing and overheating. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that aluminum wiring connections are 55 times more likely to become a fire hazard than copper wiring. 

The wiring actually isn’t the problem; aluminum safely conducts electricity. The problem comes in at the connections. A hazard of aluminum wiring is that the electrical connections corrode over time. Many electrical items, such as outlets, switches, fans, and lighting fixtures are incompatible with aluminum. 

Fixing Aluminum Wiring 

When you find aluminum wiring in your home, you’ll want to call a licensed electrician. Axiom Power can use one of these three approved CPSC solutions to fix aluminum wiring: 

1. Complete home rewiring 

Just as the name implies, this approved solution completely replaces the aluminum wiring in your home with traditional copper wiring.  

Home rewiring can be an expensive solution and the price depends on the home size, age, and ease of access to the old wiring, but generally plan to spend around $10,000+.  

2. COPALUM connectors 

This permanent repair solution is more cost-effective than rewiring the entire home. It uses connectors to crimp copper with the aluminum wires into a pigtail connection, thus creating a cold weld between the two wires.  

The biggest downfall to this solution is that the installation of COPALUM connectors requires special tools certified only by the manufacturer, which are often hard to find. 

3. AlumiConn lug connector 

This approved permanent solution is a newer option. Approved about 10 years ago by the CPSC, this solution is similar in cost to COPALUM connectors, but AlumiConn miniature lug connectors only require a special torque screwdriver that is readily available to electricians. This solution requires proper torque on the connectors to pass muster. 

Is Your Home Free Of Aluminum Wiring? 

If your home was built between the 1960s and the 1970s you will want to have your home inspected by a licensed electrician. Your home is getting older and aluminum wiring is not up to today’s standards. 

Do not risk your family and home’s safety, call Axiom Power today at (813) 308-9328 for an in-home electrical inspection and evaluation.