When clients come across aluminum wiring in a home they often express concern and wonder if it is a major issue. Myles Braid has some thoughts about this issue.
Bill: How much of a detriment is aluminum wiring in a home?
Myles: Here's some info on aluminum wiring for you. The real concern with this type of wiring is that it is not handyman friendly. Homeowners quite often change the receptacles, switches or light fixtures and do not realize that aluminum branch wiring requires a special crimped on connector that should be done by an electrician.
I'm assuming the building is circa mid 1970's so I usually inform people that there are hundreds of condos and townhouse and thousands of homes with it. (half of Gordon Head )
In the late 1960's and early 1970's copper prices rose and contractors/electricians switched from copper to lower costing aluminum wiring. Although no longer used in distribution circuits (the small wires in a house or condo that carries electricity to the plugs and switches), aluminum wiring is still used today in certain applications. For example, 240 volt circuits for stoves and dryers. It sometimes is used on the main service entrance wire from the road to the house.
The conductivity of aluminum is not as good as copper so thicker gauge wire was used. For example, today the most common copper wire size is 14 gauge. The comparable aluminum wire size used was 12 gauge. Concerns with this type of wiring have arisen, for example, when aluminum wire is connected to receptacles and switches which were not designed for aluminum, or, when aluminum and copper wires are attached. In these cases a reaction can occur causing the connections to fail, perhaps become disconnected, and potentially overheat, spark and catch fire. Symptoms of this can sometimes be seen in the discolouration of receptacles, flickering lights, or the smell of hot plastic insulation.
Aluminum wiring in residential installations will operate as safely as any other type of wiring if the proper materials are used and it is installed as per the manufacturer's instructions and the Canadian Electrical Safety Code.
Cheers, Myles
Myles Braid RHI
HomeGuard Building Inspections Ltd
www.homeinspectorsvictoria.ca/
Victoria 250 920-8676
Duncan 250 715-6556
Electricity is extremely dangerous. Unless you know exactly what you are doing, you should always hire a qualified electrician to do any rewiring or fixture replacement. A loose wire or an incorrect connection and the result could be a fire that costs you more than your property.
Posted by: Electrical Contractor | 10/13/2011 at 03:40 PM