I just bought a house in New Jersey, built around 1969. The house is great but has a 200 amp electric service with a substatial number of circuits that are aluminum wiring.
How much of this should be replaced? Are there specific circuits or parts of circuits that can remain? Should I get an electrician to price a complete rewiring of the house?
Any knowledgeable thoughts would be appreciated.
Replies
The wiring itself is not the problem, it's the connections, because they can loosen and then begin arcing and heating up. Some switches and outlets are stamped 'for copper only'. You could start by paying the electrician to inspect all the connections and tighten as needed, and report on any found problems. Many new houses are fed by AL conductors from the utility company power pole.
Do it right, or do it twice.
Edited 8/14/2003 11:13:04 PM ET by ELCID72
Many new houses are fed by AL conductors from the utility company power pole.
But those are multistrand, with anti-oxident. Different beast from solid branch wring stuff.
One problem with the aluminum branch wiring stuff was that at least some of is very bruittle and breaks easily.
AL wiring was discussed here within the last year._______________________
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