Aluminum wiring, while not extremely common in Northeast Ohio is still found throughout various homes wired within a certain date range. Where aluminum wiring is found, it should be remediated by a fully licensed, bonded, and insured electrical contractor that specializes in rewiring homes, like the team at Connected Electrical.
Below are some highlights of the risks of aluminum branch circuit wiring in Northeast Ohio
- Mostly installed in mid 1960’s through earlier 1970’s when copper was at an extremely high price
- Refers to branch circuit wiring for 120v non-dedicated circuits
- Is not illegal but extremely difficult to modify due to expensive specialty outlets, switches, and wire nuts that are rated for use.
- Not widely found in Northeast Ohio due to lack of new construction residential building completed in the area at that time.
- More common to see in additions or minor remodels completed in Northeast Ohio during that time
Primary Risks:
- Aluminum is not as efficient of conductor as copper – it expands & contracts more than copper when heated – causing connections to loosen over time, leading to arcing
- Mixed metal oxidation – Copper & Aluminum connections can cause oxidation, resistance, and heat. Very little care is typically taken to ensure that these metals are not being mixed in connections.
Remediation:
- Completely rewiring all aluminum branch circuits
- Specialty wire nuts, receptacles, lights and switches designed to work with aluminum – These are very costly & still do not address some of the other underlying issues with Aluminum wiring & it’s heat issue.
- These should not be used in the kitchen where high electrical loads will still be produced.
Summary:
US Consumer Product Safety Commission found that homes built prior to 1972 with aluminum wiring are 55 times more likely to have a fire compared to copper wiring. Combine that underlying risk with homes that have been modified by individuals unfamiliar with the hazards of aluminum wiring & the risk increases.
As a company – Connected Electrical handles homes with aluminum branch circuit wiring on a case by case basis given the hazards of it & the liability of modifying it. In most cases, we recommend fully rewiring all of the aluminum branch circuits in the home. At a bare minimum, the kitchen should be fully rewired.
Connected Electrical offers a wide range of landscape lighting packages for every taste and budget. If you’re interested in refreshing your outdoor space, call us at (216) 238-5314 in the Greater Cleveland area, (330) 574-4285 in the Akron/Youngstown area, or (614) 820-5485 in the Metro Columbus area. You can also book a design consultation here.
