Nationwide · Licensed electricians in 48 states + DC
Call now to check electrician availability in your area
Aluminum Wiring Repair · California
Aluminum wiring repair makes 1960s and 1970s aluminum branch circuits safer by connecting copper pigtails at every outlet, switch and splice with connectors listed for aluminum-to-copper connections, or by replacing the wiring entirely.
Some San Jose homes and condos built between about 1965 and 1973, during the valley's rapid growth, have aluminum branch wiring. Loose aluminum connections at outlets and switches can overheat over time.
Tract homes often have 100 amp services that cannot carry an EV charger, a heat pump and an induction range together. Eichlers, with post-and-beam construction, exposed ceilings and radiant floor heat, leave little hidden space to run new wiring.
Some Fresno homes built between about 1965 and 1973 have aluminum branch wiring, and in the valley's summer heat, loose aluminum connections at outlets and switches can overheat. Repair usually means attaching copper pigtails to every aluminum wire with approved connectors, rather than a full rewire.
Older homes often have 60 or 100 amp services that were sized before central air, and adding a larger AC system, rooftop solar or an EV charger frequently requires an upgrade. Rooftop solar is common across the city.
A share of Anaheim homes and condos built between about 1965 and 1973, during Orange County's fastest growth, were wired with aluminum branch circuits, and loose aluminum connections at outlets, switches and light fixtures can overheat as the metal expands and contracts. Repair usually means attaching short copper pigtails to every aluminum conductor with connectors listed for the purpose, rather than pulling new wire through the whole house.
Many tract homes have original panels and wiring now 60 or more years old, and some have aluminum branch wiring. Owners adding solar, batteries, heat pumps and EV chargers often need more capacity.
Single-strand aluminum branch wiring was used in many homes built from about 1965 to 1973. Aluminum expands, contracts and oxidizes differently from copper, so connections at outlets and switches can loosen and overheat.
Accepted remediation methods use connectors specifically listed for joining aluminum and copper, installed at every termination. A full rewire is the other option. Standard twist-on wire connectors are not a proper fix for aluminum-to-copper joints.
Our local notes cover San Jose, Fresno, Anaheim. Some San Jose homes and condos built between about 1965 and 1973, during the valley's rapid growth, have aluminum branch wiring.
The city or county building department where the home is. San Jose: Electrical permits in San José come from the city's Planning, Building and Code Enforcement department; other cities in Santa Clara County run their own building departments. Fresno: Electrical permits in Fresno come from the city's Planning and Development Department; Clovis and unincorporated Fresno County issue their own. Anaheim: Electrical permits come from the City of Anaheim's building division.
Aluminum branch wiring is associated with a higher risk of overheated connections. Proper remediation or replacement addresses the risk.
Not necessarily. Pigtailing every connection with listed aluminum-to-copper connectors is an accepted alternative to a full rewire.
Stranded aluminum feeders for large appliances and service entrances are still widely used and are a different issue from small-gauge branch wiring.
Call now and we connect you with a licensed electrician who serves your ZIP code.
