Aluminum Wiring and Electrical Wiring Repair

If your house is over thirty years old, call Mister Sparky at (479) 226-7128  to inspect your home’s aluminum wiring.

Reducing the fire risks associated with aluminum wiring keeps you and your family safe and protects your home. Regular maintenance checks, including monitoring for signs of wear, overheating, or damage are vital. 

Your local Mister Sparky professional electrician is experienced with aluminum wiring. We’ll thoroughly inspect the entire electrical system to identify and rectify any faulty connections or deterioration that pose a fire risk.

Following the inspection, we will recommend solutions tailored to your unique circumstances. For safety, we substitute electrical components, such as outlets and switches, with models designed specifically for aluminum wiring. This ensures compatibility and reduces the likelihood of problems.

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What are Some Warning Signs of Faulty Aluminum Wiring?

1. Flickering Lights: If lights flicker unpredictably or dim without apparent cause, it could indicate poor connections within the aluminum wiring. Aluminum expands and contracts more than copper when heated, leading to loose connections.
2. Circuits That Do Not Work: When entire circuits lose power without tripping a breaker, it might indicate a break in the circuit or a bad connection. This can be more common in aluminum wiring systems due to their tendency to oxidize and corrode, preventing electricity from flowing correctly.
3. Electrical Outlets That Do Not Work: Outlets that are unresponsive or intermittently working could suggest issues with the wiring connections to the outlet. If your home contains aluminum wiring, it may have loosened or oxidized at the contact points, interrupting the electrical flow.
4. Switch Plates and Receptacles That Are Hot to the Touch: Electrical devices should not emit heat during regular operation. If switch plates or outlets are warm or hot, this could indicate excessive electrical resistance, often due to improper connections or overloading, which is a risk with aluminum wiring.
5. The Smell of Burning Plastic Around Switches and Receptacles: A distinctive odor of burning plastic indicates that electrical components are overheating, which can lead to insulation or wiring melting. This is a severe sign of electrical failure and poses a significant fire risk.
6. Smoke or Sparking Around Electrical Devices: Visible smoke or sparks from outlets, switches, or electrical devices are immediate red flags. They usually signify short circuits, overheating, or damaged wiring, which could lead to electrical fires.
7. Unusual Static on the Radio, TV, or Computer: Interference in electronic devices can be caused by improper electrical grounding or issues with the electrical wiring acting as an unintentional antenna. While less directly associated with aluminum wiring alone, it can indicate broader electrical system problems when combined with other issues.

If you notice any of these symptoms, a professional electrician, especially one experienced with aluminum wiring, must inspect your home's electrical system. They can assess the extent of any issues and recommend solutions, such as repairing connections, adding copper pigtails to aluminum wires, or replacing aluminum wiring with copper to ensure your electrical system is safe and reliable.

Mister Sparky's trained and experienced electricians will show up within the time of your scheduled appointment, or your aluminum wiring repair is free!

Why is Aluminum Wiring a Safety Risk?

Aluminum wiring poses several safety risks due to its physical and chemical properties. The connections between aluminum wires, outlets, and switches can rapidly degrade, posing a significant fire risk.

Here's why aluminum wiring is considered a safety risk:

• Thermal Expansion and Contraction: Aluminum expands and contracts with heat more than copper does. This can lead to a loosening of the connections over time, creating gaps where sparks can form, potentially leading to electrical fires.
• Oxidation: When exposed to oxygen, aluminum forms an oxide layer on its surface. This aluminum oxide is less conductive than aluminum itself, increasing resistance at the connections. High resistance can cause overheating at these points, raising the fire risk.
• Creeping: Aluminum is softer and more malleable than copper. Under electrical loads, aluminum can "creep" or gradually deform, especially at connection points. This creeping can lead to loosening of the connections, causing arcing, overheating, and potentially fire.
• Galvanic Corrosion: When aluminum wiring is connected to devices with copper contacts or wires, an electrochemical reaction can occur, leading to corrosion at the connections. This corrosion increases electrical resistance and can lead to overheating and fire.
• Higher Resistance: Aluminum has a higher resistance than copper, which generates more heat under the same electrical load. This additional heat can lead to further degradation of connections over time.

Due to these risks, homes with aluminum wiring require special maintenance and care.