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Aluminum wiring in a house

Aluminum branch wiring was common for about a decade. The wire is not the weak point; the connections are.

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The short version

Which homes
Cables installed between 1965 and the mid 1970s may contain aluminum, according to the CPSC.
The risk
Pre-1972 aluminum-wired homes were 55 times more likely to have an outlet connection reach fire hazard conditions.
What to do
Have a qualified electrician identify the wiring and repair the connections.

Burning smell, sparks or a hot outlet? Stop using that circuit, switch its breaker off if you can reach the panel safely, and call now. If there is smoke or fire, leave and call 911.Call (844) 505-0813

How to check without touching wiring

  • Look at cable jackets in an unfinished basement, attic or garage.
  • Shine a flashlight at a low angle to read the embossed markings.
  • Aluminum cable is marked Al or Aluminum every few feet.
  • CU-clad or Copper-clad is a different wire and is not covered by this advice.

Trouble signs the CPSC lists

  • Face plates that are hot to the touch.
  • Flickering lights.
  • Circuits that do not work.
  • The smell of burning plastic at outlets or switches.

What the CPSC found, and the fixes it approves

  • Why connections failAluminum connections deteriorate in ways that raise resistance, and that causes overheating. The CPSC notes failures often come with no warning.
  • Complete replacementNew copper circuits are installed and the old aluminum is abandoned in the walls. The CPSC calls it effective, though for many homes impractical or very expensive.
  • COPALUM repairA short copper wire is joined to each aluminum end with a special COPALUM connector. Every connection in the house is treated.
  • AlumiConn connectorThe third method the CPSC approves as a permanent repair, described in its publication as an acceptable alternative.

What an electrician will do

  1. Confirm the wire type from the cable markings.
  2. Check outlets, switches and junction boxes for signs of heat.
  3. Explain which of the approved repairs suits the house.
  4. Repair every connection, not only the ones that show damage.

The CPSC puts it in capitals: if you notice signs of a problem, have a qualified electrician find the cause. "DO NOT TRY TO DO IT YOURSELF. You could be electrocuted, or you could make the problem worse."

Related guides

Sources

  • US Consumer Product Safety Commission, Publication 516: aluminum wiring
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