Aluminum is a cheap and common wire that was widely used throughout the states during the 1960’s and 1970’s. In fact in some regions aluminum wiring is still used. However, in the state of Florida and other states that have high humidity, aluminum wiring is found to corrode easily, which is why it should not be used in high humid regions. Basically, for those who live in Florida you should not have aluminum wiring in your home. Unfortunately, there is a chance your home has aluminum wiring anyway. Burley Electrical Services will share how you can determine if your home has aluminum wiring and when to seek rewiring services.
Why Should Aluminum Wiring Be Avoided?
There are a number of reasons why aluminum wiring is not widely used anymore. One of the major problems with aluminum wiring, as previously mentioned, is that they are corrosive. Copper doesn’t corrode nearly as bad. Another major problem is that aluminum wiring can get very hot, and when the wiring becomes hot, it will soften and warp over time. When the aluminum wire warps or corrodes, it can become potentially dangerous and can stop the flow of electricity. For those areas with humidity, aluminum wiring will be prone to corroding on top or overheat. Therefore, aluminum is not a good wiring option. This is why for those who live in Florida and live in an older home, you will want to make sure you do not have aluminum in your home.
How Can You Tell if a Wire is Aluminum?
For those who don’t know whether or not that they have aluminum wiring, you will want to determine if you home has this type of wiring. For those who have a home that was built in the early 60’s through the 70’s, you may have more concern than others. Before you begin ripping wiring out of your walls, there are other clues that you may have aluminum wiring in your home.
Aluminum Wiring Gets Hot – As aluminum gets hot, this can result in a number of problems. One of the first symptoms of hot wiring is that the surface of light switches and outlets will feel warm to the touch. An outlet may spark up and develop burn marks on the outside of the outlet. When the wiring gets way too hot, it may even melt the plastic where you may even notice a burning smell.
Poor Electrical Currents – Aging aluminum wiring is not as conductive as copper wiring is. It may result in flickering or the dimming of lights. Another symptom of poor connection is that there may be arcing or shocks. When you use outlets you may notice sparks.
Check for Aluminum Labeling – If you are having symptoms of aluminum wiring, your outlet cover should be labeled. You may see ALUMINUM, ALUM, or AL. If you discover your outlet has been labeled with aluminum wiring, you may want to consider having your home’s wiring replaced.
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If you have concerns that your home has aluminum wiring, contact Burley Electrical Services today.