How much does aluminum wiring remediation cost?

Depends on the number of outlets, switches, fixtures, and junction boxes in your home. We inspect every connection first and quote it itemized so you know the cost before any work starts.

Will my insurance drop me for aluminum wiring?

Some carriers will. Others require documented remediation before they'll write or renew a policy. We provide remediation documentation that insurance companies accept — a signed letter detailing every connection that was addressed, the method used, and the license number.

Can I sell my house with aluminum wiring?

Yes, but expect it on the inspection report. Buyers and their agents will flag it, and it gives them negotiation leverage. Remediation before listing removes that line item and shows buyers the work was done by a licensed electrician with documentation.

Residential Electrical

Aluminum Wiring Remediation.

NC Licensed #27821-L

CPSC-Recognized Methods

40+ Years Experience

What aluminum wiring
remediation involves.

Full Inspection

Every outlet, switch, light fixture, and junction box gets opened and inspected. We count every aluminum connection in the house and document the scope before quoting.

Connector Install

COPALUM or AlumiConn connectors at every connection point. Copper pigtails get crimped or set-screw connected to the aluminum, then the copper tail lands on the device. No aluminum touches a terminal.

Panel Connections

We inspect every aluminum connection inside the electrical panel too. Loose lugs and oxidized connections in the panel are just as dangerous as the ones at your outlets.

Documentation

You get a signed letter listing every connection remediated, the method used, and the license number. Insurance companies accept this as proof of remediation.

Why aluminum wiring
is a fire hazard.

The wire itself conducts electricity fine. The problem is what happens at every connection point over decades.

Thermal Expansion

Aluminum expands and contracts more than copper when it heats up under load. Over years, this loosens connections at outlets, switches, and splices. Loose connections arc.

Oxidation Builds Resistance

When aluminum oxidizes, the oxide layer is resistive — unlike copper oxide. More resistance means more heat at the connection. More heat means more oxidation. It's a cycle that only gets worse.

Galvanic Corrosion

When aluminum touches copper or brass terminals (which most devices use), the dissimilar metals corrode at the junction. This is why you can't just land aluminum wire on a standard outlet — it'll fail over time.

55x More Likely to Cause Fire

The CPSC found that homes with aluminum wiring are 55 times more likely to have fire-hazard conditions at connections than homes wired with copper. That's not a scare tactic — it's federal data.

Hidden Behind Walls

The dangerous connections are inside junction boxes, behind outlets, and in the attic. You can't see the problem until you open every box. That's why a full inspection matters — partial fixes don't cut it.

Warm Outlets & Flickering Lights

If outlet cover plates feel warm, lights flicker when you plug something in, or you smell something burning near a switch — those are signs the connections are already failing. Don't wait on this one.

The full picture on
aluminum wiring.

Why It Was Used & What to Do About It

Copper prices spiked during the Vietnam era. From 1965 to 1973, builders switched to aluminum for branch circuit wiring. Millions of homes were built this way.
The CPSC identifies aluminum wiring as a fire hazard and recommends remediation at every connection point — not just the ones showing problems.
COPALUM crimp connectors are the CPSC's preferred method. AlumiConn set-screw connectors are also accepted. Purple wire nuts (Ideal 65) are a budget option but not equivalent — they rely on the installer torquing them correctly every time.
Not all methods are equal. We use COPALUM or AlumiConn because they create a permanent, maintenance-free connection. Purple wire nuts can loosen over time if not done perfectly.

Insurance & Home Sales

Some insurance carriers won't write a policy on a home with unremediated aluminum wiring. Others will insure it but charge higher premiums. Either way, they want documentation.
Home inspectors flag aluminum wiring every time. It shows up on the report, and buyers use it as a negotiating point. Remediation before listing removes that line item.
How to tell if you have aluminum wiring: check your panel for silver-colored wire on branch circuits. Or turn off power to an outlet, pull the cover, and look for silver wire. Homes built 1965–1973 are the most likely candidates.
We provide a signed remediation letter with every connection documented, the method used, and our NC license number. Insurance companies and real estate attorneys accept it.

Aluminum wiring questions
we hear most.

Yes. The CPSC reports that homes with aluminum wiring are 55 times more likely to have fire-hazard conditions at connections than homes with copper. The wire itself conducts fine — the connections are the problem. Every outlet, switch, fixture, and junction box where aluminum meets a terminal is a potential failure point. The metal expands under load, contracts when it cools, and the connections loosen over decades.

Usually not. Remediation with COPALUM or AlumiConn connectors at every connection point is the CPSC-approved fix. We pigtail copper to aluminum at every outlet, switch, fixture, and junction box. The aluminum stays in the wall — it's the connections that get addressed. A full rewire is an option but costs significantly more and involves opening walls. Most homes don't need it.

Depends on the number of outlets, switches, fixtures, and junction boxes in your home. A typical 3-bedroom house has 40–80 connection points. We inspect every connection first and quote it itemized — you see exactly what you're paying for before we start. The cost of not doing it is a fire or losing your insurance coverage.

Some carriers will. Others require documented remediation before they'll write or renew the policy. A few will insure it but charge higher premiums. We provide a signed remediation letter that insurance companies accept — it details every connection addressed, the method used, and our NC license number. If your carrier is asking questions about your wiring, call us first so you have the documentation ready.

Check your panel — look for silver-colored wire on the branch circuits (not the main service feed, which is often aluminum even in copper-wired homes). Or turn off power to an outlet, remove the cover plate, and look for silver wire. Some aluminum wire is also printed with "AL" or "ALUMINUM" on the jacket. If your home was built between 1965 and 1973, there's a good chance it has aluminum branch circuit wiring.

Yes, but expect it on the inspection report. Every home inspector in the Wilmington area flags it. Buyers and their agents use it as a negotiation point — they'll either ask you to fix it or knock the cost off the price. Remediation before listing removes that line item entirely and shows buyers the work was done by a licensed electrician with documentation. It's cheaper to fix it yourself than to negotiate it at closing.

1–3 days depending on house size and number of connections. A typical 3-bedroom ranch with 40–60 connection points takes about a day and a half. Larger homes with more circuits take longer. You keep power during most of the work — we turn off one circuit at a time as we go through the house.

Aluminum wiring remediation
across the Cape Fear region.

A lot of the aluminum wiring work we do is in Wilmington neighborhoods that were built in the late '60s and early '70s — Pine Valley, College Acres, parts of Winter Park, and the older sections of Greenville Loop. These were tract-built homes during the copper shortage, and most of them still have the original aluminum branch circuits. We also see it regularly in Myrtle Grove and Monkey Junction, where a lot of the housing stock is from that same era.

Pre-purchase inspections catch aluminum wiring constantly in this area. If you're buying a home built between 1965 and 1973 in Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Wrightsville Beach, or anywhere in New Hanover County, have us inspect it before closing. We also handle remediation work in Leland, Hampstead, Ogden / Porters Neck, and Figure Eight Island. If you need a panel upgrade or rewiring at the same time, we handle it all in one trip — one license, one permit, one inspection.