If you’re buying a house that was built during the 1960’s or 1970’s, one of the things you will have to look out for is aluminum wiring, specifically, single-strand aluminum wiring. Aluminum wiring is considered a big safety hazard and can even make it harder to acquire homeowner’s insurance.
Why is aluminum wiring so dangerous?
One of the biggest problems with aluminum wiring is oxidation. Over time, oxidation causes the outer surface of the wiring to deteriorate. Deteriorated aluminum wiring resists current flow, generating heat. Additionally, thermal expansion causes the wiring to expand and contract which weakens connections creating a fire hazard.
According to the US Fire Administration, homes with this type of wiring are 55 times more likely to reach fire hazard conditions than is a home that is wired with copper wiring. The risk of a fire occurring increases with the age of the home as the wiring progressively deteriorates.
How can aluminum wiring be repaired?
The Consumer Product Safety Commission approves of two methods of repair. The first method is rewiring the entire home with copper wiring. Rewiring an entire home can be expensive and impractical in some cases. The cost to rewire a home with copper wiring can range from $8,000 to $15,000.
The second approved method of repair is using Copalum crimps. In this method, a piece of copper wire is attached to the aluminum branch wiring using a metal sleeve and a powered crimping tool. An insulating sleeve is then placed around the crimp connector. The cost of repairing aluminum wiring using Copalum crimps is about $50 per outlet, switch, or light fixture. Only electricians trained by the Copalum manufacturer can perform these repairs so finding a certified contractor may be difficult.
Detecting Aluminum Wiring
The best way to determine if your home has single strand aluminum wiring to hire a professional home inspector. During a home inspection, a home inspector will inspect all the systems in the home including the electrical system looking for hazards such as aluminum wiring.