| Answer:
Yes it is safe to use aluminum wire for
new installations and for upgrades.
Aluminum wire does have a questionable past
history and problems still occasionally
surface to this day from improper
installations that date back to 1960's and
1970's. However new types of wires,
wiring devices and equipment with an
aluminum wire approval have all been tested
to be safe. Click here to read "Aluminum
Building Wire" published by Southwire.
If you own a
house that was built in the 1960's or 1970's
and it was wired with aluminum wiring
throughout there is no need to
panic. However you will need to take
some steps to be sure that the wiring is
currently in good operating condition and is
properly installed. It is possible
that a previous owner took the necessary
precautionary measures, but you have no idea
if they were done correctly unless you
investigate.
The simplest
thing to do is to have a look at your
electrical switches and receptacles from
inside. This entails removing them from the
wall with the POWER TURNED OFF. This must be done very carefully
where aluminum wire is installed. The
old aluminum wire does not have the flexibility
of copper. Consequently it can break
very easily upon the removal of a wiring
device from the wall and make matters
worse. If you are not comfortable with
doing this, please call a licensed
electrical contractor to have a look.
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