Maintaining your electrical system is crucial to home safety and security. If you live in an older home or are about to purchase one, aluminum branch wiring may be a concern. This copper wiring alternative has known weaknesses that pose a risk to your home and family. A qualified home inspector should be able to identify if your home has aluminum branch wiring during a home inspection.

A Guide to Aluminum Branch Wiring

What Is It?

From 1965 to 1973, aluminum was used to wire homes because of the prohibitive cost of copper. Although first thought to be safe, over time AL wiring has been associated increased risk of home fires. 

The exposed endings of AL wiring oxidize. This corrosion can lead to loose connections and overheating. If it overheats or arches, it may spark a fire,  All aluminum wire endings inside electric panels need to be treated with anti-oxidant to help prevent this. However, wire connections at electric fixtures are not so easily treated. And the corrosion becomes worse  over time, not better.

Copper and aluminum have different expansion and contraction rates when heated during normal use. Thus, when these two wire types are spliced together, they tend work loose. That is why special wiring connectors are needed for copper and aluminum splices.

Many insurance companies won’t insure homes that have any aluminum wiring. It is important to verify this with your insurance company prior to buying a new home.

Identifying It

If you have visible wiring around your breaker box or in the attic, you may be able to identify it as aluminum. ” “AL” may be printed on the  wire casings. Inside the electric panel, it is relatively easy for a home inspector or electrician to identify AL wiring. It is silver colored.

What to Do

If aluminum branch wiring is found during a home inspection, there are several repair options. An expensive, but definitive, option would be to re-wire the house with copper wiring.  

The next best option is COPALUM Crimping connector repair. In this process a piece of copper wiring is connected to existing aluminum branch wire circuit with a specially designed metal sleeve and a powered crimping tool. This connection must be made before each and every electric fixture.

Never take on repair of aluminum wiring as a DIY project. Only hire electricians who specialize in AL wiring repair to do the work.

 

If you’re planning renovations or purchasing a home, schedule an inspection with Archway Home Inspections. Founder Jeff Tikkanen has more than 17 years of experience providing inspections, maintenance consultations, and radon mitigation throughout Greater Cincinnati. Call (513) 871-1473 to schedule a home inspection, and visit their website to explore their services further.