Single strand aluminum wiring was used mostly in the late 70's and early 80's. The widespread use of single strand aluminum wiring was discontinued after there was a huge spike in house fires in homes that had aluminum wiring.
Today there are several methods used to make homes with aluminum wiring safer. The long term success of these methods has not yet been determined.
Most home inspectors will find aluminum wiring and report it to their clients as a concern. A few states such as New Jersey mandate inspectors disclose single strand aluminum wiring to their clients and the hazards posed by it.
While removing and replacing every wire in a home is seldom a viable option it is the only way to make sure a future transaction does not run into the same problem that is occurring during this transaction.
Green Realty Group (808) 388-1485 - Honolulu, HI
(S) RA SFR ePro MRP
I HEAR YOU MICHAEL! I had a transaction the went south just a couple of months ago because of aluminum wiring. I was shocked as there are thousands of homes in Hawaii that have it!
Mar 19, 2008 09:40 AM
Bank of England (NMLS#418481) - Raleigh, NC
Bob Mitchell (NMLS#1046286)
From what I understand, special consideration should be paid to homes that have a mixture of aluminum and copper....apparently when people add circuits over the years some mixed the two and the two metals cause corrosion, which can cause a spark.....am I right on this?
Bob Mitchell
ValueList Real Estate Services, Inc.
Mar 19, 2008 10:01 AM
New Jersey Home Inspection - Woodland Park, NJ
Since 1993 I've Been Working For NJ Home Buyers
Bob,
You are correct.
I have seen many homes where the home owner hid the aluminum wiring from the inspector by running new wires to the panel and hidding the junction boxes (where it changed over to aluminum) in the ceiling.
Good home inspectors do not take sellers representations for granted as we seldom get the truth!
Apr 24, 2009 07:35 AM
Anonymous
Regarding the quote, below, I recently purchased a New Jersey home. The inspector said NOTHING about aluminum wiring--I had no idea that such a thing even existed. I haven't even been in the house a year and discovered it when my husband needed to replace two overheating outlets, and a loose outlet. Now I'm stuck because I want to make my wiring safer, but can't afford to pay to have my house rewired. If the house inspector had told me that the house had aluminum wiring, I wouldn't have purchased it. I feel duped, and frankly don't know what to do.
"Most home inspectors will find aluminum wiring and report it to their clients as a concern. A few states such as New Jersey mandate inspectors disclose single strand aluminum wiring to their clients and the hazards posed by it."
Apr 21, 2010 02:35 AM
#4
Rainer
8,972
8,972
Michael Del Greco
Since 1993 I've Been Working For NJ Home Buyers
Recent Posts
Questions and answers about New Jersey Home Inspections.
Comments(4)