Aluminum Wiring in St. Louis

Aluminum Wiring Replacement & Remediation Professionals Serving St. Charles & St. Louis Counties

Between the mid-1960s and early 1970s, a spike in copper prices led homebuilders across the country to wire new construction with aluminum instead of the standard copper. It was a practical decision at the time, but it created a long-term safety problem that tens of thousands of St. Louis area homeowners are still living with today. 

Aluminum expands and contracts with temperature changes at a different rate than the copper terminals it connects to, causing connections to loosen over time. Those loose connections create resistance, resistance generates heat, and heat at an electrical connection is a fire hazard. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has estimated that homes with aluminum branch-circuit wiring are significantly more likely to develop fire-hazard conditions than those with copper wiring.

Potts Electric offers free aluminum wiring safety estimates to homeowners throughout the St. Louis metro area. Our licensed team has extensive experience assessing and remediating aluminum wiring systems and can give you an honest evaluation of your home's risk level and your options for addressing it.

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Aluminum Wiring Replacement & Remediation: Understanding Your Options

There are two approaches to addressing aluminum branch circuit wiring, and the right one depends on your home's specific situation, budget, and long-term plans.

• Full replacement involves rewiring the affected circuits with copper, which is the most thorough solution available. Our team works room by room to keep your home powered throughout the process, minimizing disruption while systematically replacing the aluminum runs with copper wiring properly terminated at every connection point.
• Remediation (sometimes called pigtailing) is a more cost-effective alternative that involves connecting a short length of copper wire to the end of each aluminum run using specially rated connectors before terminating at the device. When performed correctly using approved connectors, this method addresses the most dangerous part of the system: the connection point itself. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recognizes it as an acceptable repair method, though it requires that every connection in the home be addressed, not just a few.

Choosing between these approaches is a decision worth making carefully and with accurate information. Our team can walk you through both options in detail and help you understand the tradeoffs before any work begins.

Aluminum Wiring in St. Louis Area Homes

The neighborhoods and communities most affected by aluminum wiring in the St. Louis metro are those that saw significant residential development during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Older subdivisions in St. Louis County, parts of St. Charles County that grew rapidly during that era, and communities throughout Franklin County all have meaningful concentrations of homes from this period. If your home was built during this period and has never been evaluated by a licensed electrician, there is a reasonable chance that aluminum branch-circuit wiring is present.

• One complication worth understanding is that aluminum wiring is not always obvious to identify. A home may have a copper-wired panel with aluminum branch circuits running through the walls, or specific circuits may have been partially updated while others were not. The only reliable way to know what you're dealing with is a thorough inspection by a licensed electrician who knows what to look for.
• Insurance is another consideration. Some homeowners' insurers in Missouri require disclosure of aluminum branch circuit wiring and may limit coverage or charge higher premiums for homes where it hasn't been addressed. If you're planning to buy or sell a home in the St. Louis area, knowing the wiring status upfront can help you avoid complications during the transaction.

If your home was built between 1965 and 1973, a free safety estimate is a smart first step. Schedule your St. Louis aluminum wiring inspection by calling (636) 322-2006 or by reaching out online.