The handyman is often called upon to install a light fixture or change out a ceiling fan. But what if you run into Aluminum wiring?
Identify Aluminum Wiring
The color of aluminum wiring is easy to discern from copper and other metals.
Usually, the wiring plastic coating will be labeled or the initialed “AL” . Homes built or expanded between 1965 and 1973 are more likely to have aluminum wiring than houses built before or after those years.
Options for Correction
Aluminum wiring should be evaluated by a qualified electrician .
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), “Homes wired with aluminum wire manufactured before 1972 are 55 times more likely to have one or more connections reach “Fire Hazard Conditions” than is a home wired with copper.”
If you find aluminum wiring alert the homeowner and explain the possible dangers.