# Is aluminum wiring dangerous? > Aluminum branch wiring from the late 1960s to mid 1970s loosens and heats at connections. Why AlumiConn copper pigtails are often the right fix. Canonical page: https://hotshotelectrical.com/answers/is-aluminum-wiring-dangerous/ Hot Shot Electric Service Co. is a family-owned electrical contractor in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, founded August 1, 1995. Oklahoma Electrical Contractor License #26574, bonded and insured. BBB A+ accredited. Rated 4.9 stars across 246 Google reviews. Address 9203 S 241st E Ave, Broken Arrow, OK 74014. Phone (918) 261-8024. Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Closed Saturday and Sunday. Urgent problems (no power, a burning smell, a hot panel, storm damage) are worked the same day during business hours. Calls after hours go to voicemail and are returned first thing the next business morning. **Short answer:** Aluminum branch wiring is not automatically dangerous, but its connections loosen and can overheat over time, especially at outlets and switches not rated for aluminum. Homes in this area wired roughly 1968 to 1975 are the ones to check. The common fix is copper pigtails joined with AlumiConn connectors, torqued to spec. Aluminum was used for branch circuits in many homes built from about the late 1960s to the mid 1970s. Our crew has seen plenty of it in Tulsa-area houses from that period. ## Why aluminum connections fail Aluminum expands and contracts more than copper as it heats and cools. Over years of that, the connection at a screw terminal loosens. A loose connection resists current, which makes heat, which loosens it further. The wire in the wall is usually fine. The trouble is at the ends. ## Warning signs - Cover plates on outlets or switches that feel warm - Flickering lights - Outlets that stop working and start again - A hot-plastic smell near an outlet or switch - Discoloration around a receptacle ## The fix: repair the connections, not necessarily the house A full rewire is one answer, but it means opening walls and bringing the whole house up to current code, which costs many times more. For most homes, Hot Shot Electric Service Co. recommends pigtailing instead: every aluminum connection at an outlet, switch and fixture is joined to a short copper lead with an AlumiConn connector, then the device connects to copper. **Why AlumiConn** AlumiConn connectors are UL listed for joining aluminum to copper, and they are the connection insurers recognize. They are tightened with a torque screwdriver to the manufacturer's specification, which is how the crew installs them. ## How to know if you have it Look at exposed cable in the attic or basement for printing that says AL or ALUMINUM, or have a journeyman check during any service visit. Aluminum is one of the items on the safety inspection that comes with every diagnostic. One reviewer had their breaker box replaced along with every outlet and switch, including new aluminum-to-copper connectors. That combination is common when a panel is also near the end of its life. [See aluminum wiring repair](https://hotshotelectrical.com/aluminum-wiring-repair/). ## What a pigtail repair looks like 1. The power to each circuit is shut off and verified dead. 2. Each outlet, switch and fixture is opened. 3. Each aluminum conductor is joined to a short copper lead with an AlumiConn connector, torqued to specification. 4. The device is connected to the copper lead, or replaced if it is worn or not rated for the job. 5. Every circuit is tested before the crew leaves. The repair is done room by room, and most homes stay livable throughout. ## When a rewire is the better answer Pigtailing fixes connections. If the wiring itself is damaged, or you are remodeling and the walls are already open, rewiring those circuits can make more sense. A rewire also has to meet today's code, which means arc fault protection and tamper-resistant outlets, and that is a big part of why it costs more. We lay out both options so you can choose with the real numbers in front of you. ## Frequently asked questions ### Do I have to rewire the whole house? Usually not. Pigtailing every connection with AlumiConn connectors is the common, insurer-recognized repair and costs far less than a rewire. ### Is the big aluminum wire to my range or panel a problem? Larger aluminum feeders and service conductors are common and acceptable when installed correctly. The concern is the small branch circuits to outlets and switches. ### Will my insurance company ask? Some do. Documented repairs with listed connectors help answer the question. ## Related services - [Aluminum Wiring Repair Broken Arrow OK](https://hotshotelectrical.com/aluminum-wiring-repair.md) - [Electrical Rewiring and Wiring Repair in Tulsa, OK](https://hotshotelectrical.com/services/whole-home-rewiring.md) - [Electrical Safety Inspection Tulsa OK](https://hotshotelectrical.com/services/electrical-safety-inspection.md) ## Contact - Hot Shot Electric Service Co., 9203 S 241st E Ave, Broken Arrow, OK 74014 - Phone: (918) 261-8024 - Email: johnbrown@hotshotelectrical.com - Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Closed Saturday and Sunday. - Request service: https://hotshotelectrical.com/contact-us/