Many Austin neighborhoods developed in the 1960s and 1970s were built with aluminum wiring due to copper shortages of the time. What homeowners didn’t know then is that aluminum expands and contracts with heat much more than copper does. Over decades, that movement causes loose connections, overheating, and a higher chance of electrical fires.
Aluminum wiring itself isn’t inherently bad — commercial facilities still use it in specific applications — but it struggles in residential branch circuits where frequent switching, plug-ins, and small loads occur. Devices like outlets and switches often weren’t designed to accommodate aluminum’s properties. The result: slow degradation behind the walls.
Warning signs may include flickering lights, warm outlets, tripped breakers, or a faint burning smell. Still, issues can develop quietly without symptoms at all.
Modern building codes require copper wiring for standard household circuits because it’s more stable, conductive, and compatible with residential fixtures. If your home has aluminum wiring, you don’t always need a full rewire. In many cases, a repair method called “aluminum pig-tailing” is approved — connecting short sections of copper wire to the aluminum using special connectors and procedures performed only by trained electricians.
This brings your wiring back into harmony with modern devices while preventing hazardous loose connections from forming over time.
Whether you’re renovating, selling your home, or simply living in an older Austin neighborhood, an aluminum wiring inspection provides clarity — and safety. We help homeowners make the right choice between correction and replacement based on budget and condition.