Aluminum rewiring for older NJ homes
Aluminum rewiring fixes a known fire hazard in homes built with aluminum branch wiring. If your house went up between 1965 and 1974, you may have it. Bruce has worked on these homes for years. He has been a Master Electrician since 1988. He knows the safe ways to fix aluminum wiring.
During those years copper got expensive. Builders switched to aluminum for the wiring inside walls. It seemed fine at first. Over time a real problem showed up.
Why aluminum wiring is a problem
Aluminum and copper behave differently. Here is what goes wrong over the years.
Aluminum expands and shrinks more than copper as it heats and cools. Every time you use a circuit, the wire warms up. Then it cools. Over and over. This slow movement loosens the screws at outlets and switches.
A loose connection makes heat. Heat makes the connection worse. Aluminum also forms a coating when it meets air. That coating adds resistance, which adds more heat. The spot can get hot enough to scorch or start a fire inside the wall.
The CPSC is the Consumer Product Safety Commission. They studied this. They found that homes with aluminum branch wiring are 55 times more likely to have a connection reach a fire hazard condition than homes wired with copper. That is not a small number.
You may not see any sign at first. That is what makes it risky. The connections heat up behind the wall where you cannot see them. By the time you smell something or notice a warm outlet, the damage is already done. A warm cover plate, flickering lights, or an outlet that has stopped working can all point to a bad aluminum connection. If you notice any of those, stop using that outlet and call us.
Two ways to fix it
There are two real fixes. Both are safe when done right.
Full rewire
A full rewire pulls out the old aluminum and runs new copper. This is the most complete fix. It removes the problem for good. It costs more and takes more time. We cover full rewires on our whole-house rewiring page.
COPALUM or AlumiConn pigtailing
The other fix is pigtailing. We add a short piece of copper wire to each aluminum connection using a special connector. The two main approved methods are COPALUM and AlumiConn.
COPALUM uses a special crimp tool. AlumiConn uses a small lug connector. Both are made for joining aluminum to copper safely. The copper pigtail is what touches the outlet or switch. The risky aluminum to device connection is gone.
Pigtailing every connection in a home usually runs about 3,000 to 6,000 dollars. The price depends on how many outlets, switches, and boxes you have. It is far cheaper than a full rewire and it satisfies the safety concern.
The insurance angle
This matters more than most people think. Many insurance companies will not write a policy on a home with aluminum branch wiring. Some drop homes when they find out. Others charge more.
If you fix it the approved way, that changes. We give you the paperwork showing the work was done with COPALUM or AlumiConn and inspected. That often satisfies the insurer. It can save your policy. It also helps when you sell the house.
Permit and inspection
Aluminum wiring fixes need an NJ UCC permit. We pull it. The town inspector checks the work. You get a record that the home was made safe. We work with PSE&G and JCP&L when needed. When you call Harrelson Electric, you get Bruce. No subcontractors.
For a real look at rewiring costs in NJ, ask us during the visit. Bruce will tell you straight whether pigtailing or a full rewire fits your home.
Call (800) 732-0585 to get your aluminum wiring checked.
