If your home was built from the 1950’s to the 1970’s contact Positricity today! Your home could be at risk if aluminum wiring was used in its construction. Since 2004, Positricity has helped homeowners in the Clearwater, Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg areas avoid disaster by providing aluminum wire remediation. Aluminum wiring was thought to be a practical and proactive alternative to traditional copper wiring. For one thing, aluminum wiring is anywhere from 25% to 40% less expensive than copper wiring. Advances in the manufacturing of aluminum wiring have not prevented it’s use in the modern-day electrical environment. In fact, newer technology such as the 8000 Series of aluminum wiring offer better conductivity, better resistance to “cold creep”, improved strength and can allow for easier installations as it is about 50% lighter than copper.
However, for those homes built prior to the development of better aluminum wiring alternatives, dangers could be present. Over time aluminum wiring used in older construction become susceptible to “cold creep”. This means that older aluminum wiring reacts differently than copper when there are changes in temperature. Aluminum wiring will expand, or contract based on the weather and temperature. This can cause the wiring to become loose at connection points and that negatively affects conductivity. With a weak connection, aluminum wiring becomes a major fire hazard. At the very least it can lead to electrical failures.
If it is determined that your older home was constructed with aluminum wiring and it is necessary to repair or replace there are several options.
Complete Replacement – Depending on the style and construction of your home, it may be possible to install a completely new copper wire system. The old aluminum wiring would remain in the walls and simply be abandoned. This is the safest alternative, but it is also the most expensive. Again, based on the style and construction of your home it could also prove impractical.
Alumiconn Repair – This is a far less expensive alternative and involves attaching a section of copper wire to all the ends of the aluminum wiring at all connection points. This is also known as “pig tailing”. This utilizes a special connection called an Alumiconn which is used to join the aluminum wire to the copper wiring. This would be done at every connection in your home such as outlets, dimmer switches, fixtures, appliances and junction boxes. A Previous method was COPALUM , but this is no lnoger the preferred method both from a cost and reliability point of view.
At Positricity, we can help you with all your electrical needs. Not all electricians are properly trained to install Alumiconn connections. You need an experienced electrician who will terminate and torque down the connectors properly. The professionals at Positricity are trained and certified to perform Aluminum Wire Remediation. This is not a do it yourself project and should not be delayed, as the stakes are too high. If you are unsure as to whether you have aluminum wiring in your home, do not hesitate to call Positricity to conduct a thorough inspection. With 24/7 service, we are available when you need us the most. Schedule your appointment today!