The Hidden Risks Of Aluminum Wiring (And How To Inform If It's In Your House)

The largest drawback is with the retailers. The primary motive why aluminum is extra harmful than copper in residential homes is that it is much less malleable than copper, and it expands and contracts greater than copper does throughout load temperature modifications. This makes connection factors extra vulnerable to loosening, or wires changing into uncovered. As soon as wires are uncovered, they start to corrode and oxidize, usually inflicting overheating.

When the wires begin to overheat, it is the connection factors which might be most susceptible to break. Retailers, fixtures, and anyplace the wires have been spliced are notably susceptible to breaking, fraying, or arcing. This presents the best fireplace threat to householders with aluminum wiring. To make issues worse, these potential dangers intensify as time goes on, as a result of vicious cycle of overheating and enlargement that feeds on itself. Fortunately, although, probably harmful dangers are comparatively straightforward to establish.