ASL
From about the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s, many homes were built with aluminum branch wiring instead of copper. It was a reasonable choice when copper prices spiked, but decades of experience have shown that aluminum branch circuits, especially at outlets, switches and splices, are prone to overheating connections. ASL Electric repairs and replaces aluminum wiring in Orange County homes using the methods the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recognizes as permanent.
Many Orange County neighborhoods were built during exactly that window, from Laguna Hills and Laguna Woods Village to Mission Viejo, the El Toro area of Lake Forest and the early villages of Irvine. If your home was built then, it is worth knowing what is in your walls. We identify aluminum wiring, check the condition of connections, and give you clear options, from repairing every connection with approved connectors to a full copper rewire.
Aluminum wiring services
⚡Aluminum wiring inspection
We confirm whether your home has aluminum branch wiring, check the panel, outlets, switches and junction boxes for overheating or damage, and explain what we find.
⚡COPALUM crimp repair
A permanent repair method recognized by the CPSC in which a copper pigtail is attached to each aluminum wire with a special crimp connector, installed by trained electricians.
⚡AlumiConn connector repair
A listed connector that joins aluminum and copper wires with set screws, recognized by the CPSC as a repair alternative when COPALUM is not available.
⚡Full copper rewire
Replacing the aluminum branch circuits with new copper wiring, the most complete and permanent solution.
⚡Emergency repairs
Repairing failed connections, warm outlets and dead circuits caused by aluminum connection problems, often as an urgent call.
⚡Pre-sale and insurance documentation
Inspecting and remediating aluminum wiring before a sale or at an insurer's request, with documentation of the work.
Signs of aluminum wiring trouble
The CPSC lists these as warning signs. Problems can also develop with no warning at all.
- Outlet or switch faceplates that feel warm
- Lights that flicker or dim
- Circuits that stop working for no clear reason
- A burning plastic smell near outlets or switches
- Discolored or melted outlets or switches
- Sparks or arcing at connections
- Your home was built roughly 1965 to 1975
- "AL" or "ALUMINUM" printed on wire visible in the attic or panel
Why aluminum branch wiring matters
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's research, homes wired with aluminum were 55 times more likely to have one or more connections reach fire hazard conditions than homes wired with copper. The problem is at the connections, where aluminum expands, contracts and oxidizes differently than copper, loosening over time and generating heat. The CPSC notes that twist-on wire nuts and CO/ALR-rated devices are not permanent solutions. The good news is that approved repair methods exist, and they work.
How we repair aluminum wiring
Identify and assess
We confirm aluminum wiring at the panel and in the attic or boxes, and open outlets and switches to check for overheating and damage.
Recommend the right approach
Depending on the home, your plans and budget, we recommend pigtailing every connection with approved connectors or replacing the aluminum circuits with copper.
Repair every connection, not some
A partial repair leaves risk behind. When we pigtail, we address every outlet, switch, fixture and splice on the aluminum circuits, plus the panel connections.
Test and document
We test each circuit and provide a record of the work, useful for insurers and future buyers.
Your aluminum wiring options
COPALUM pigtailing
Permanent, CPSC-recognized repair at every connection, installed by trained electricians.
AlumiConn pigtailing
CPSC-recognized connector-based repair at every connection point.
Full copper rewire
Removes the aluminum branch wiring completely; the most comprehensive fix.
Rewire as you remodel
Replace aluminum circuits in areas you are remodeling, and repair connections elsewhere.
Pigtail repair or full rewire?
Pigtailing with COPALUM crimps or AlumiConn connectors attaches a short copper wire to each aluminum conductor at every connection point, so outlets, switches and fixtures connect to copper. It is less invasive than a rewire and addresses the connections, where the hazard lies. A full copper rewire removes the aluminum entirely, which is the most complete solution and often makes sense during a remodel.
We explain both options for your home, with honest pricing, so you can choose. Either way, the repair needs to be done correctly at every connection to be effective.
Aluminum wiring and Orange County homes
Orange County grew rapidly in the 1960s and 1970s, the same window when aluminum branch wiring was used. Laguna Hills was subdivided from the early 1960s; Laguna Woods Village, formerly Leisure World, was built starting in 1964; Mission Viejo, Lake Forest's El Toro area, Laguna Niguel and Irvine's first villages such as Turtle Rock and Westpark grew through the late 1960s and 1970s. Not every home from that era has aluminum wiring, but enough do that it is worth checking.
Homes built before about 1965 are unlikely to have aluminum branch wiring, according to the CPSC. Large aluminum feeders for services, ranges and dryers are common and are a different matter from the small branch circuits discussed here.
Living safely with aluminum wiring until repair
If you know or suspect your home has aluminum branch wiring and repairs are not done yet, avoid DIY outlet and switch replacements, which can make the problem worse. Pay attention to warm faceplates, flickering lights or a burning smell, and have them checked promptly.
Never plug heaters or other high-wattage appliances into questionable outlets, and do not ignore a circuit that stops working. Plan the repair sooner rather than later.
What affects the cost of aluminum wiring repair
Cost depends on the number of aluminum circuits and connection points (outlets, switches, fixtures and splices), the repair method chosen, attic and wall access, whether any wiring or devices are damaged, and whether you choose pigtailing or a copper rewire. We provide a free inspection and a clear quote for each option.
How it works with ASL Electric
We confirm the wiring type, check connections for damage and explain what we find.
You get clear pricing for pigtailing and for rewiring, so you can decide.
We repair every connection or rewire, test each circuit and document the work.
Aluminum Wiring Repair & Replacement across Orange County
We see aluminum branch wiring most often in Laguna Hills, Laguna Woods, Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, the older parts of Lake Forest and the early villages of Irvine. One Irvine customer called us when half of an older rental home with aluminum wiring suddenly lost power; we found the cause and resolved it without the expensive outcome they feared.
In Laguna Woods Village, electrical work inside a manor generally requires Mutual Consent and a City of Laguna Woods permit, and ceilings contain radiant heating elements, so careful planning matters. We have worked in the Village and can guide you through the process.