If your home in Aberdeen or Hoquiam was built between the mid-1960s and mid-1970s, there's a reasonable chance it has aluminum wiring. During that period copper prices spiked and aluminum became a common substitute. Millions of homes were wired with it. Most of those homes are still standing.
The wiring itself isn't the problem. The problem is how aluminum behaves at the connection points.
Why Aluminum Wiring Needs Attention
Aluminum and copper expand and contract at different rates when they heat up and cool down. Over years of normal use — every time you run the dishwasher, turn on the dryer, flip on the shop lights — the connections loosen slightly. Loose connections arc. Arcing generates heat. Heat in a wall is a fire hazard.
The other issue: aluminum oxidizes faster than copper. That oxidation increases resistance at connection points, which generates more heat. The cycle compounds over time.
This doesn't mean your house is about to burn down. Millions of homes with aluminum wiring have no incidents. But the connections need to be done correctly, and they need to be inspected periodically.
How to Know If You Have It
If your home was built between the mid-1960s and mid-1970s, assume it might. The only safe way to confirm is to have an electrician look — identifying aluminum wiring means opening the panel and pulling devices out of their boxes, and that's not homeowner work. Aluminum is dull silver and thicker than copper of the same gauge, often labelled “AL” on the jacket, but leave the verifying to someone qualified.
If your home was built before 1965 or after 1975, you're less likely to have it, though not impossible. When in doubt, have someone look.
What Can Be Done About It
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recognizes three permanent repairs for aluminum branch wiring — and only these three:
Replace the aluminum wiring with copper. The most complete fix. This is a real project — it involves opening walls, replacing wiring, and full inspection. It's the right call if you're doing a major renovation anyway, or if the aluminum wiring is in poor condition.
COPALUM crimp repair. A special crimp connector joins a short copper pigtail to each aluminum wire, done with a dedicated crimping tool. The connection is considered permanent.
AlumiConn connectors. A lug-style connector that joins aluminum to copper pigtails at each outlet, switch, and fixture.
What doesn't count as a permanent fix: replacing outlets and switches with CO/ALR-rated devices. The CPSC considers that an incomplete repair at best — it leaves the underlying connection problem in place. If a previous electrician or a DIY job “fixed” aluminum wiring with CO/ALR devices alone, that work needs a second look.
Which approach makes sense depends on the condition of your existing wiring, your plans for the house, and what your inspector and insurer require. (Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Publication 516.)
The Insurance Question
Some insurance carriers ask about aluminum wiring during underwriting. If you're in an older home and haven't disclosed it, it's worth checking your policy. Some carriers won't write or renew coverage on unmodified aluminum wiring. Others require documentation that the connections have been addressed.
If you're selling a home with aluminum wiring, Washington disclosure requirements mean buyers will find out. Getting the work done before listing — and having a permit and inspection record — is cleaner than negotiating it into the sale.
What We See in Grays Harbor
Aberdeen and Hoquiam have a lot of homes from the 1960s and 70s, and we see aluminum wiring regularly. Some of it is in good shape and just needs the connections addressed. Some has been partially modified by previous electricians or by DIY work — and that partial work can create its own problems if it wasn't done with the right connectors.
If you know or suspect you have aluminum wiring, a basic assessment will tell you what you're working with. We can look at the panel, check a sample of the outlets, and give you an honest read on what needs to happen, if anything.
Call Travis at (360) 470-3782
We serve Aberdeen, Hoquiam, Montesano, and all of Grays Harbor County.
Triple Tree Electric, Inc is licensed and bonded in Washington (TRIPLTE891QG). We handle residential rewiring, panel upgrades, and aluminum wiring remediation across Grays Harbor, Thurston, and Mason Counties.