Is it Okay to Buy a House with Aluminum Wiring?

Is it Okay to Buy a House with Aluminum Wiring?

Aluminum wiring in homes you’re looking to buy is something you’ll need to have upgraded, but it shouldn’t stop you from completing a real estate transaction. There are many ways to deal with aluminum wiring in the home. Finding an experienced Toronto area electrician is the first step in learning more about your options.

Many people aren’t aware that aluminum wiring replacement is something they’ll likely have to deal with if a home was built in the late 1960s and early 1970s. At that time, aluminum was cheaper than using copper. Unfortunately, aluminum wiring expands when it gets hot and shrinks when it cools, resulting in loose wires that could lead to a fire. The good news is that aluminum wiring in homes can be fixed and shouldn’t be considered a deal-breaker.

What You Should Know About Buying a Home with Aluminum Wiring If you’ve found a house you love but have learned that it does have aluminum wiring, have an electrician (in addition to a home inspection) examine the entire electrical system to ensure that there are no immediate issues with the wiring right now.

Your electrician should also be able to provide you with an estimate on what it would cost to either pigtail the aluminum wire with copper or change all the wiring to copper completely.

You may be able to use this information when negotiating the selling price of the home you’re interested in.

One of the more significant issues for aluminum wiring in homes comes from the fact that the electrical panel carries too much load. This can cause aluminum wires to get too hot and begin to cause problems. Be sure to ask your electrician to review the electrical panel as well.

If you’re concerned about aluminum wiring insurance, call around and ask a few insurance companies what it would cost to insure a home with aluminum wiring. Doing research and planning before you purchase the home will go a long way in reducing unwanted surprises.

How to Make Your Home with Aluminum Wiring Safe Completing an aluminum wiring replacement needs to be done by a certified electrician.

They can provide the best expertise when choosing the right method to remove or replace the older wiring. Depending on the home, some of the solutions can include:  

Pig tailing an aluminum wire to a copper wire.

Installing new copper wiring throughout the entire home.

Once you choose a method and have the work completed, you won’t have to stress about aluminum wiring insurance. You can let your insurance company know about the upgrades that have been done, which will hopefully result in a reduced insurance rate.

Need an Aluminum Wiring Replacement in Toronto?

If you find a home you love with aluminum wiring, there are options available to you. One of the most critical factors for getting the replacement done correctly involves finding a professional, experienced, and licensed electrician to complete the work. Langstaff & Sloan has been performing high-quality electrical work in Toronto and Etobicoke for almost 20 years. We work with homeowners to ensure their electrical is safe, functional, and efficient. To find out more about working with us to replace your aluminum wiring, give us a call at 647 492-8193.

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