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Find and fix failing connections in older aluminum-wired homes and buildings before they overheat.
Aluminum branch circuit wiring was used in homes and buildings built from about 1965 to the mid-1970s as a cheaper substitute for copper. The risk is at the connections: aluminum expands and loosens at outlets, switches and fixtures, the connection heats up and it can arc, which can start a fire.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission found that homes with aluminum wiring installed before 1972 are 55 times more likely to have connections reach fire hazard conditions than homes wired with copper. Read the CPSC guide to repairing aluminum wiring.
Not sure? We can check. Call (602) 564-1144.
Repeated trips on the same circuit can point to a failing connection.
Heat at an outlet or switch is a classic sign of a loose connection.
Lights that flicker or dim on one circuit suggest a poor connection.
Scorched plastic, melted parts or a burning smell need attention now.
Outlets that cut in and out can mean a connection is failing.
Sounds at a device or in the wall point to arcing.
Failing aluminum connections often give no warning at all, so the absence of signs does not mean the wiring is safe. Burning smell or scorch marks? Call (602) 564-1144. If you see smoke or flames, call 911 first. See emergency electrical services.
The right fix depends on the property and the condition of the wiring. We inspect first, then recommend one of these. We install both AlumiConn and COPALUM connectors.
A screw-type connector made for joining aluminum and copper wire. A short copper pigtail connects to each aluminum wire, and it installs in most boxes without a special crimping tool.
A crimp splice installed with a special tool by trained electricians. It makes a permanent copper-to-aluminum connection and has a long track record.
Replacing the aluminum with copper is the most complete fix, and also the most work and cost. It makes sense in some buildings and during larger remodels.
Twist-on wire nuts and CO/ALR switches and outlets alone are not recommended. The CPSC found they can overheat or fail in testing.
Do not try this yourself. The repair needs the right connector, tools and training.
We check outlets, switches, light fixtures and the connections at the panel for heat, discoloration and loose terminals.
We test the wiring path to find the connections that are failing or at risk.
We repair each connection with AlumiConn or COPALUM connectors, and replace damaged devices or heat-damaged parts.
We check the repaired circuits to confirm they work and the connections are secure.
Most aluminum wiring work is in single-family homes, and we also repair aluminum branch wiring in apartment buildings and commercial properties from the same era. The scope depends on the property, and the work is often paired with an electrical inspection or a panel upgrade. See electrical inspections, electrical panel upgrades and commercial electrical services.
[PLACEHOLDER PROJECT EXAMPLE: one real aluminum wiring repair. Age and type of property, what was found, the repair method used (AlumiConn or COPALUM), and the result. Replace before publishing.]
The price depends on how many outlets, switches and fixtures are on aluminum wiring, how accessible they are, the repair method and whether devices or the panel need work too. We quote after we inspect the property. Call (602) 564-1144 or request a consultation and tell us when the building was built.
Usually not. Connector repair with AlumiConn or COPALUM at each connection point is an accepted permanent fix and avoids opening walls. Rewiring with copper is the most complete option, and we recommend the right one after an inspection.
No. The CPSC warns against doing it yourself, and twist-on wire nuts overheated in its testing. The repair needs the right connectors, tools and training.
Yes. We repair aluminum branch wiring in homes, apartment buildings and commercial properties. Tell us the building type and when it was built, and we will plan the inspection and the repair around your tenants and operations.
Usually not. Aluminum service conductors and large feeders are still used today and are installed differently from the aluminum branch wiring in outlets and switches that caused the problems in older buildings.
Not every aluminum-wired building has a failing connection, but connections can deteriorate without warning, so have the wiring inspected. If you see warm devices, flickering, a burning smell or breakers that keep tripping, call us now.
Tell us when the building was built and what you are noticing. We will inspect the wiring and recommend the right repair.
