What aluminum wiring is
In the 1960s and 70s, copper got expensive, so builders wired thousands of homes with aluminum instead. It conducts electricity fine. The problem is at the connections. Aluminum expands and contracts more than copper as it heats and cools. Over years, that movement loosens connections at outlets, switches, and breakers. Loose connections arc. Arcing starts fires.
West End homes
Alexandria's West End — the neighborhoods built out in the 60s and 70s — has the highest concentration of aluminum branch wiring in the city. If your home was built between about 1965 and 1975 and still has its original wiring, there's a good chance it's aluminum. A home inspector can confirm in minutes, or we can check during a free inspection.
The warning signs
Warm outlet or switch plates. Outlets that work sometimes and not others. Flickering lights. A faint burning smell. Scorch marks around outlets. Any of these means connections are loosening. Don't wait on this one — call right away.
Two ways to fix it
Option one is full replacement: pull out the aluminum and run new copper everywhere. It's the most complete fix and the best answer for a home you're keeping long-term. Option two is remediation at every connection: we pigtail short copper wires to the aluminum using special connectors rated for aluminum-to-copper (the industry standard is the COPALUM crimp or AlumiConn lug). Done right at every box, this stops the loosening problem. It's less invasive and costs less than a full rewire. We'll tell you honestly which your home needs.
What inspectors and insurers think
Home inspectors flag aluminum wiring on nearly every report. Some insurers surcharge it; a few decline it. After remediation, we document every connection we touched. That paperwork matters when you sell or renew your policy.
It's not just the outlets
When homeowners hear "aluminum wiring," they picture outlets. But every connection point in the house needs the same treatment: light switches, ceiling fixtures, the connections at the panel itself, and any junction boxes hidden in attics or crawl spaces. The panel lugs — where the big aluminum service cable lands — need anti-oxidant compound and proper torque, checked with a torque screwdriver, not just tightened by feel. A remediation that skips boxes isn't a remediation. Our free inspection covers every box in the house, and our quote lists the full count — so you know nothing was skipped.
Worried about aluminum wiring? Call (301) 679-9193 for a free inspection. We'll tell you exactly what's in your walls and what it needs.