Aluminum Wiring?
We want homeowners and homebuyers to avoid confusion
about the existence of aluminum wiring in their home. Many
people make the mistake of fearing that their house must be
completely re-wired. The mere presence of aluminum circuitry
does not always justify rewiring the entire home. In most cases,
replacement of aluminum wire is an over-reaction to what is
often a manageable problem.
Aluminum wires were installed in many homes during the late
1960's and early 70's. In some dwellings, electrical fires
occurred within a few years of construction, which is why most
aluminum branch wiring was discontinued. However, the actual
cause of these fires was not the aluminum wire itself, but the
tendency for aluminum connections to become loose at outlets,
switches, fixtures, and circuit breakers.
Aluminum wiring, in some instances, is known to be hazardous,
but it is still commonly used for 220-volt circuits. If installed
according to manufacturers' specifications, it presents no
significant fire hazard. In fact, most electric power companies
use aluminum for their main service lines.
To ensure the safety of the aluminum connections in your
home, alterations can be made, rendering the system safe,
without the exorbitant cost of rewiring. For example, copper wire
ends, known as "pigtails," can be retrofitted at all terminals.
There are two primary rules governing the proper attachment of
aluminum wires: The connecting terminals must be rated for
aluminum wiring, and the wire ends should be treated with a
special compound to prevent corrosion. Only a licensed
electrician should be entrusted to perform electrical work on
your home.
Depending on the age of the alloys and the initial workmanship
of the installation, the type and extent of necessary repair could
cover a wide range of choices. Many houses wired with
aluminum in the 1970’s have shown no problems, while the
problems with some houses in the 1960’s could actually be
made worse by improper diagnosis and installation.
There are those houses where the only realistic solution is a
complete rewiring job, and there are others where nothing
needs to be done. We can and do recommend that an electrical
contractor familiar with the problems of aluminum wiring be
retained to evaluate the system and recommend appropriate
actions. Our reports include inspection of the electrical system
as part of our Standards of Practice. We have an obligation to
inspect the electrical system of a home, unless that portion of
the home is inaccessible. In that case, lack of access will be
noted in the inspection report, with a recommendation for
further evaluation as soon as access can be provided.
about the existence of aluminum wiring in their home. Many
people make the mistake of fearing that their house must be
completely re-wired. The mere presence of aluminum circuitry
does not always justify rewiring the entire home. In most cases,
replacement of aluminum wire is an over-reaction to what is
often a manageable problem.
Aluminum wires were installed in many homes during the late
1960's and early 70's. In some dwellings, electrical fires
occurred within a few years of construction, which is why most
aluminum branch wiring was discontinued. However, the actual
cause of these fires was not the aluminum wire itself, but the
tendency for aluminum connections to become loose at outlets,
switches, fixtures, and circuit breakers.
Aluminum wiring, in some instances, is known to be hazardous,
but it is still commonly used for 220-volt circuits. If installed
according to manufacturers' specifications, it presents no
significant fire hazard. In fact, most electric power companies
use aluminum for their main service lines.
To ensure the safety of the aluminum connections in your
home, alterations can be made, rendering the system safe,
without the exorbitant cost of rewiring. For example, copper wire
ends, known as "pigtails," can be retrofitted at all terminals.
There are two primary rules governing the proper attachment of
aluminum wires: The connecting terminals must be rated for
aluminum wiring, and the wire ends should be treated with a
special compound to prevent corrosion. Only a licensed
electrician should be entrusted to perform electrical work on
your home.
Depending on the age of the alloys and the initial workmanship
of the installation, the type and extent of necessary repair could
cover a wide range of choices. Many houses wired with
aluminum in the 1970’s have shown no problems, while the
problems with some houses in the 1960’s could actually be
made worse by improper diagnosis and installation.
There are those houses where the only realistic solution is a
complete rewiring job, and there are others where nothing
needs to be done. We can and do recommend that an electrical
contractor familiar with the problems of aluminum wiring be
retained to evaluate the system and recommend appropriate
actions. Our reports include inspection of the electrical system
as part of our Standards of Practice. We have an obligation to
inspect the electrical system of a home, unless that portion of
the home is inaccessible. In that case, lack of access will be
noted in the inspection report, with a recommendation for
further evaluation as soon as access can be provided.
