An Alternative to Copper Wiring in Homes

History of Aluminum Wiring

• Many older homes contain aluminum wires due to historical copper prices and home building practices. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the U.S. experienced a shortage of copper in the mid-1960s, which led to high copper prices and led home builders to use aluminum wiring as an alternative in new homes and additions. As a result, many homes built during the 60's and early 70's contain aluminum wiring.

Dangers

• While aluminum wiring was once considered a viable alternative to copper wiring due to lower prices, aluminum wires present possible fire hazards. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that homes built before 1972 that are wired with aluminum are 55 times more likely to have wire connections or outlets that present fire hazards compared to copper wiring. Aluminum wires can have higher resistance to the flow of electric current than copper wires, which may result in deterioration and overheating over time.

Fixing Aluminum Wiring

• A home that contains aluminum wiring can be safeguarded against fire danger by replacing wires with copper wires or repairing aluminum wires. Repairs involve connecting small sections of copper wires to aluminum wires at connection points using a special connector called a COPALUM. The Consumer Product Safety Commission considers installing COPALUM connectors to be a safe and permanent repair solution for aluminum wiring.

Considerations

• Any metal that is able to conduct electricity can potentially be used as a material for wiring. Copper is the preferred material for home wiring because it is relatively inexpensive and is a good conductor. Silver and gold are excellent electrical conductors, but they are too expensive to be practical for wiring homes. Expensive conductors like silver and gold are sometimes used on a smaller-scale, such as in electronic devices like computers.