Category Archives: Electrical Wiring

A copper shortage in the ‘60s caused many properties to be electrically wired with aluminum. Builders and electricians don’t use aluminum wiring today. Replacing aluminum wiring should be a priority for all property owners.

When Aaron and Jessica bought their circa-1970 home, they discovered it had aluminum electrical wiring. The owners said, “Not a problem; we’ve never had an issue.”

They were honest. And that’s the main problem with aluminum wiring. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says, “Unfortunately, failing aluminum-wired connections seldom provide easily detected warning signs. Aluminum-wired connections and splices have been reported to fail and overheat without any prior indications or problems.”

Six months later, they smelled a burning-electrical odor in their daughter’s bedroom. Her nightlight was melting! The electrician suggested fixing it by “pigtailing” it with copper wire.

Pigtailing vs. Replacing Aluminum Wiring

Today, pigtailing is seldom used as a solution to replacing aluminum wiring. It involves splicing a length of copper wire to the aluminum wire. The copper wire then connects to the electrical outlet or device.

Here’s what you should know about pigtailing aluminum wiring:

1. Approved copper-to-aluminum connections plus antioxidant compounds should be used.
2. Even after splicing to copper, aluminum wiring is a loose-connection risk.
3. Loose connections increase electrical resistance, which can melt fixtures and insulation.
4. Loose connections can “spark,” which can ignite wall insulation, wallpaper, and wiring itself.

It saves money. But most people aren’t willing to take the risk of losing their loved ones or property to fire.

Can Replacing Aluminum Wiring Wait?

Replacing aluminum wiring can cost more than $10,000 to replace. The price depends on square footage and how easy it is to access your wiring.

You need to work with your local electrician to find a cost-effective way to rewire. Replacing aluminum wiring will lower your energy bills and possibly your insurance premiums. That should be a financial factor, too.

If you have these issues, you can’t put it off:

• Burning smell, sometimes accompanied by a popping or sizzling sound
• Charred/discolored electrical outlets/switches
• Frequently tripped circuit breakers/blown fuses

Your Rewiring Project

Today’s homes use nonmetallic (NM) cable. Cables usually have a combination of “hot,” “neutral,” and “ground” wires inside a protective material.

Sometimes aluminum rewiring is replaced by tearing out walls. After the rewiring is complete, you must install new drywall. This is probably the most costly and time-consuming process.

If you have a historical home, you want to preserve its architectural integrity. Even if you don’t, you want to save time and money. When possible, electricians can feed wires through walls by making a small cut in the plaster/drywall.

Be sure to learn the cost of drywall repair and include it with your aluminum rewiring budget.

Older homes can have 60-100 amps of service. Today’s minimum electrical service is 200 amps. “In the process of rewiring,” says Angie’s List, “An electrician will almost always upgrade your service capacity.”

How Long Your Rewiring Project Should Take

A good electrician knows safely rewiring a home is time-consuming, painstaking work. You can usually live at home while the electricians are working.

The length of time can depend on if you have an attic, if the house is on a concrete slab, architecture intricacy, etc. You can likely allow 3-10 days for an uncomplicated rewiring project.

TIO’s Here for You

Turn It On Electric can save you money. Most importantly, we can save your loved ones from the risks of burns and fires. Contact us today.

Electrical outlets are designed to last for many years, but that still doesn\’t mean that they can last forever. Over time, you are likely to run into issues with your outlets. Rather than paying to fully replace them, it can be tempting to try electric outlet repair instead. However, this could expose you and your home to all kinds of risk. Keep reading to learn why it is never a good idea to repair electrical outlets.

Risk of Electrocution

Any time you work with electricity, including during electric outlet repair, you put yourself at risk of electrocution. Even if you cut the power to a particular area while you work, there is still the possibility of leftover charge in the wires. While not as severe as full electrocution, this can still deliver quite a shock.

You\’ll still be at risk of electrocution after you have finished the electric outlet repair as well. If you weren\’t fully sure what you were doing, even tiny mistakes could be disastrous. When you go to turn the power back on and use the outlet, you could electrocute yourself the first time you plug something in.

Greater Chance of Future Problems

If you are unfamiliar with electrical work, there is always the chance that your electric outlet repair won\’t be perfect. Even if you follow instructions carefully, there is always the risk that you have made a mistake. This could put you at an even greater risk of electrical problems in the future. The outlet you have repaired is already past its lifespan, so any work you did likely won\’t last long anyway.

It is amazing how many electrical fires are caused by shoddy workmanship. Electrical work is a highly specialized task, and it can be incredibly dangerous if you don\’t know exactly what you are doing. The last thing you want is to put your home at risk simply to save a few dollars by doing the work yourself. When it comes to electric outlet repair, it is best to leave it to the professionals. Better yet, don\’t do it at all and replace the outlet instead.

Missing Out on Modern Technology

One of the biggest reasons not to bother with electric outlet repair is that modern outlets incorporate much better features. Because electrical outlets last so long, any that require repair are likely to be quite old already. Electrical technology is much more advanced now than it was in the past, so newer outlets will be much safer than their predecessors.

If you stick with your old outlets, you\’ll be cutting yourself short in terms of safety. Do you really want to put your home and loved ones at risk just to save a few bucks? We didn\’t think so. It is definitely worth the added cost to replace your outlets properly rather than attempting to repair a broken one.

Trust the Experts at Turn It On Electric

For help with all your electric outlet repair and replacement needs, you can count on Turn It On Electric. We are proud to work with homeowners and businesses throughout Greater Phoenix. We\’ll be happy to help you identify any outlets on your property that are due for replacement. Replacing outlets vs. repairing them will be better for your safety and peace of mind in the long run.

We invite you to reach out to us at any time to learn more about our services. Get in touch today to schedule an appointment for an electrical inspection.