I recently discovered that my early 70s home has aluminum wiring, and it's been stressing me out a bit. I've replaced all the receptacles with Co/ALR types and added alumicon connections in the lights. Despite these precautions, I keep worrying—especially since I read up on it online. Do I need to be seriously concerned, or can I just check the receptacles occasionally? I'm really hoping to avoid a full rewiring of the house unless it's absolutely necessary. Any insights?
2 Answers
You're likely in a good spot! As long as you've ensured all connections are made properly, aluminum wiring can be safe. It isn't dangerous on its own, but it does require proper handling, which it sounds like you've already done. Just keep an eye on things and maybe do a checkup on the receptacles once a year or so — that should ease your mind!
From what I've learned, as long as you’ve done the necessary checks on your receptacles, you’re pretty much covered. Aluminum wiring is permitted in many places, including Ontario, provided it’s correctly wired. If you're really anxious, consider getting an infrared scan tool to monitor temperatures in your lighting boxes. A little extra peace of mind can go a long way!
Good idea! Those IR tools can help spot any hot spots before they become a real issue.