What decade was aluminum wiring installed on the interior of the house and what does it look like on the outer shieth. Allso what are your thoughts on the stuff. My family and I
Are house shopping.


Concerned shopper

Here is some info on alum. Wiring:
The Hazards of Aluminum Wiring in a Home (http://www.heimer.com/information/aluminum_wiring.html)

Aluminum wiring was used between 1965 and 1973. It was thought to be a cheaper alternative to copper, but aluminum turned out to be junk. It's use had resulted in numerous house fires. From the outside the sheath looks like a normal insulated single wire, though the insulation doesn't appear as strong as the PVC insulation used today. My house had aluminum wire and I replaced
It with copper, including new switches/outlets. Other drawbacks with aluminum is that it breaks easily if it is bent more than two or three times, and it doesn't have the current carrying capacity of a copper wire of the same size. The only way to feel safe is to upgrade to copper or use an approved crimp method at the screw connections. If you find a house with aluminum wiring, I would definitely ask for a price reduction as you will most likely need some electrical work- the following is from a website:

Aluminum wiring expands when it warms up, and
Contracts then it cools down. Aluminum reacts differently
Than copper wire after several warm/cooling cycles. After
Each cycle aluminum tends to lose more of its tightness.
This process is often referred to as "cold creep".
Combined with aluminum's tendency to oxidize when in
Contact with certain metals, these factors can lead to
Dangerous problems. When aluminum oxidizes it heats
Up more to conduct the same amount of electricity, which
Then causes more oxidation. Due to this cycle, eventually
The wires may start to get very hot, melt the fixture that it
Attached to, and even possibly cause a fire.
If you are considering purchasing a home with aluminum
Wiring, or have discovered it later, it would be a good
Idea to hire a licensed electrician or inspector to check
Over the wiring for any potential problems.

Pulling off the main panel Cover should Reveal Aluminum. Heat causing expansion and
Contraction causes loose connections, Loose connections generate heat. Usually gets worse. Will also cause wire to be brittle.
If you had to have house(Flat out, had to have it) Consider Changing out switches and Recpticles, Maybe Decora Style, and use something like NO-Ox (for aluminum to copper) on connections and at panel connections. Hopefully The Big Drawing appliances used copper. I never use Aluminum, have repaired many when it was in use.

Aluminium wire was used on new installation, in some homes, from 1965 utnil 1973. Check out this site for info http://www.cpsc.gov/ (http://www.heimer.com/frameset/offsite.asp?url=http://www.cpsc.gov/) There are fixes for this wiring so maybe take this into consideration when making an offer.