Replies

1. 
   IMERC | Mar 27, 2005 08:45pm | #1

   burn it down, build a new one or rewire it...

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

   WOW!!!   What a Ride!

   Forget the primal scream,  just ROAR!!!

2. 
   DANL | Mar 27, 2005 08:47pm | #2

   A real electrician will probably come along shortly, but until then....I've heard it's not so bad if it is all aluminum--not mixed with copper--and if the connections were made for aluminum. One problem is the aluminum expanding and contracting much more than copper so it works loose at the connections. I'm sure you'll get more knowledgable replies on how best to do things in a bit.

3. 
   VaTom | Mar 27, 2005 08:49pm | #3

   FOR SALE  sign?

   There's a nice guy in VaBeach who sometimes buys problem properties.  <G>

   PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!

4. 
   bosn | Mar 27, 2005 10:30pm | #4

   You can probably get by with replacing only the circuits that will carry high loads, like the kitchen and bath, laundry, garage, etc.  Some of those might be copper already. Sometimes they only wired the 15amp circuits in aluminum. 

   Make sure that none of the circuits are over-fused (20amp breaker on a 15amp rated circuit. 12gauge aluminum is 15amp rated)  Check any outlet boxes that you have any reason to suspect for loose joints and loose connections to devices and terminals.

   Be sure to use devices and wire conectors that are rated for use with Aluminum wire whenever working on the old circuits. Ideal makes wirenuts specifically for connecting Al to Al or Al to copper.  They are around a buck each depending on the quantity you buy.

   Consult a local electrician or inspector for advice.

5. 
   Don | Mar 27, 2005 11:50pm | #5

   Either do it yourself or get an electrician to come out & check the torque on all the connections in the service panel. I had a rental property w/ Al wiring that had a fire in the panel. Had an electrician check three other properties in same SD. Found loose connections in all three.

   Don

   The GlassMasterworks - If it scratches, I etch it!
6. 
   4Lorn1 | Mar 28, 2005 01:15am | #6

   Aluminum for feeders, not branch circuits, is fine if it is terminated on AL rated terminals correctly. The proper use of an anti-oxidant compound is pretty much required. This takes care and time to do right. Cleaning the aluminum conductor, applying the compound and working it in leaving enough to provide a barrier is the way to go.

   Rewiring is the best course. Everything short of this is only a stopgap measure. Too often I see such intermediate measures being substituted for a real solution. Temporary measures end up filling in for decades. No one can make you bite the bullet and go all the way. Insurance companies can slant things a bit toward real solutions but it still rides with the HO.

   Your best bet is to find a contractor that does a lot of rewiring and old work. The good ones will recommend doing the whole thing in one go. Some may spread the job and payments out a few months to make it fit into your budget.

   I know, used to work for, one contractor that got burned on a negotiated temporary solution that didn't lead to a complete rewire before the house caught fire. The HOs claimed they were told that the partial job made the house 'safe'. The contractor, as witnesses by me, claims that they told the HO that the partial job that was done, only the higher use and load circuits were replaced, was only a temporary measure that lowered but did eliminate the risk associated with the house being wired in aluminum.

   A partial rewire was completed with the tacit, if only partially documented, understanding that we would be called back in a month or two, when money was available, to finish the job. Something like five months later a circuit we had not worked on caused a fire that gutted a room and lead to smoke and water damage to about half of the structure.

   Insurance companies got involved. A good contractor spent a lot of time and money defending a situation in which he was entirely above board and professional. He went along. Tried to be nice and got screwed.

   Get the house rewired. A step at a time perhaps but get it done. There are all sorts of patches, special wirenuts and pigtails, but rewiring is the sure thing. Dollar for dollar the best deal.

7. 
   maverick | Mar 28, 2005 01:28am | #7

   My last house had aluminum wiring. I had 2 fires , luckily they were confined to the outlet boxes.

   My electrician tightened up everything possible and put some kind of anti-oxidant goo on the exposed connections. If my memory serves me it was called alumi-lux

8. 
   alwaysoverbudget | Mar 28, 2005 06:30am | #8

   be sure all of your current and future replacement switchs and recep. are rated for alum. wiring. hard to find ,a little expensive but at least you know that part is right.i know  lowes has both in ivory .larry

   hand me the chainsaw, i need to trim the casing just a hair.

1. 
   PatMcG | Mar 28, 2005 12:19pm | #9

   I browsed through Taunton's "Building an Affordable House" at Borders.

   There was an entry in the table of contents which said: "Consider Aluminum Wiring". I didn't read it. Has anyone?