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Is aluminum wire a fire hazard and what should I do about it?

From the mid-'60s to the early '70s, electricians in many new or remodeled homes installed aluminum wiring to feed branch circuits from the main panel to outlets and lighting fixtures. Is aluminum wire a fire hazard? What was later discovered is that while continuous runs of aluminum wire didn't present problems, when those wires were connected to light switches, outlets and other wires in junction boxes, the connections deteriorated and became fire hazards.

In 2019, it is often tempting to believe homes with aluminum wiring are safe since the wiring hasn't been a problem for 30 to 40 years, but that is now a dangerous misconception. The more time these old connections have had to deteriorate, the worse the problem is.

The safest way to find out if your home has aluminum wiring is to hire a professional. But, you may be able to identify aluminum wires in your home by looking to see if any cables are labeled "AL" (Aluminum).

If your home does indeed have aluminum wiring, several options are available, but usually, one of the following two are recommended:

Option 1: Complete replacement of the home's electrical wiring system. This option is typically far too expensive for most homeowners, sometimes costing upwards of $8,000 or more.

Option 2: Replace every single connection in every single outlet, junction box, and switch with copper pigtail using a Copalum connection. Only certified electricians trained in Tyco Electronics (the Copalum manufacturer) are allowed to rent the tool required for installation.

If you have old wiring in your home that needs updating John's Electric is ready for the job. Contact us today. 

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Welcome to the Neighborhood!

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

John's Electric Service strives to give the best possible service through:

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New homeowners should never ignore these electrical responsibilities.

Monday, August 9, 2021

Whether the issue is large or small, problems with electricity are often ignored until they become apparent.  It's easy to avoid thinking about problems that can occur in our appliances, circuit breakers, wall outlets, and even light bulbs. But often, ignoring issues while they are small leads to more significant problems and the necessity for the help of an electrician.

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About John's Electric

Linn Park Fountain, Birmingham, AL

John's Electric Inc. is a family owned and operated electrical contractor business that proudly provides electrician services in Birmingham, AL and the surrounding areas such as Hoover, Homewood, Chelsea, Vestavia Hills, Pelham, Alabaster, Trussville, and Mountain Brook. John's Electric provides residential and commercial electrical solutions at competitive rates. We have been in this line of work for 30 years, giving us not only experience but expertise as well. You can depend on us. We are a state licensed electrician (#03875) for your protection.

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What others say about John's Electric Service

My Mother recently came to live with me, and I needed a fan installed in her west-facing room, to keep it cool in the guest room. I had to wait a little bit, but it was worth it. The price was reasonable, I could tell he was conscientious and he made an extra effort to do as much as he could while he was here - including going down through a difficult attic to install, so the wires would not show. Highly recommend. He came with his grandson and they worked a few hours. Hoping to get him back soon for some more work. Thank you, John!

dpiroch

Yellow Pages

Aubrey, the owner, came out and explained everything clearly. He had honest prices and great work.

Rachael Anne Lee

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John’s Electric save’s the day.

I called for help and Aubrey came to my home when it was convenient for me. He was on time and very professional. All issues I needed to be fixed were. I am very happy with the service and the prices. I will use Aubrey again and I would recommend him to my family. Thanks so much. mvb

Venus B.

Yellow Pages

Aubrey upgraded our electrical fuse panel, put in an updated outside service panel, replaced the main service line from the outside panel to the inside fuse box, and installed several outlets. His original estimate was complete and accurate. He brought our electrical system up to code and made several recommendations for changes and upgrades that we had not thought of. He worked with our schedule, was on time and very professional, and left our home as clean as when he arrived. He was extremely conscientious and reliable. We very highly recommend John's Electric and will definitely use them again.

Debbie S. Dumas

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