COPALUM Wiring | COPALUM Connectors
If Your Home is Wired with Aluminum, Here’s Important Safety Information You Don’t Want to Mis.
The mid-1960’s to early 1970’s was a time of dramatic social change. If you were part of that generation, you know exactly what we mean.
During that same time span, a big shift emerged in new home construction. To help keep costs down, contractors started using aluminum wiring to replace copper which, at that time, was soaring in price.
While it was well known that copper was (and remains) a safer conductor of electricity, aluminum wire manufacturers attempted to compensate their products’ deficiencies by employing a larger wire than had previously been used.
Still, problems quickly emerged following the switch from copper to aluminum. Aluminum, for example, is softer than copper so electricians had to use extreme care not to crush the aluminum when making connections. Otherwise, hot spots could occur, thus creating a higher risk of overheating.
Another cause of overheating is rust. When copper wire rusts, the copper oxide it forms is still a good and safe conductor of electricity. By contrast, aluminum wire forms white oxide as it rusts, seriously limiting its ability to safely conduct electricity.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), fires and casualties have resulted from aluminum wiring installation. According to their research, “homes built between 1965 and 1972 are 55 times more likely to have one or more connections reach ‘Fire Hazard Conditions’ than are homes wired with copper.”
To remove that threat from your everyday life, you have two basic options:
- Replace all aluminum wiring with copper…a good solution, but pricey
- Or, trust Schoolfield Electric to install COPALUM connectors. This involves “cold-welding” short lengths of copper wire to existing aluminum wires using specialized high-pressure tools to create a permanent bond. This process is considerably more affordable and will provide the added safety we know you want.
And yet, not just any electrician can install COPALUM connectors. In fact, Schoolfield Electric is one of a handful of electrical contractors with COPALUM certification.
Our expertise is so well known and respected, our services are in constant demand throughout the southeastern United States. That includes right here in Mebane, NC and surrounding communities.
So, if you have even a tint of doubt as to the safety of your electrical wiring, contact us today so we can devise the right solution for your home and budget.
After all, that’s what we’re here for.
