Many people who own a home that was built in the 1970’s will run into aluminum wiring.  It is estimated that over 450,000 homes across Canada have aluminum wiring.

The concerns with aluminum wiring are that it is more susceptible to expansion and contraction due to temperature changes.  Aluminum wiring also oxidizes more quickly than copper wire, leading to increased resistance.  Increased resistance will lead to heat build-up, potentially resulting in a fire.  Aluminum wiring also has a tendency to corrode, resulting in poor connections, which further result in sparking, arcing and the possibility of fires.

There are several ways to notice that there are concerns with your aluminum wiring.  These include

• arc or sparking at an electrical device (this also includes unusual sounds such as sizzles or buzzes)
• faceplates and receptacles that are warm to the touch
• fuses or breakers that continually trip or blow, flickering lights
• discolouration of light switch or cover plates
• damaged equipment or wiring
• upon closer inspection, you may see melted wire insulation, plastic and charring of terminal connections.  In some cases, wires might actually be fused together.

Should your home have aluminum wiring, we highly recommend an inspection by a Licensed Electrical Contractor.  There are solutions for repair and replacement of aluminum wiring.  Contact us at Defender Electric to find out how!