Aluminum Wiring - NewBie mistake

[Irfan Saeed]

Hi Guys - Would appreciate your help on this.

I am rehabbing a house and rehab work is done. While reading some of the biggerpocket blogs I noticed that I did not take care of aluminum wiring in my house.

Can you guys please suggest what options do I have

Thanks

[Luc Boiron]

@Irfan Saeed you don't need to rewire, but I would take care of it.

You can't connect copper wire to aluminium directly. Home depot sells a special paste and special wire connectors, which allow you to join the copper and aluminium. As for the plugs, at least where I am, you can "pigtail" - essentially, join the aluminium wire to a short piece of copper wire in each outlet box using the special wire connectors and paste, then connect that short copper wire to your plug.

You don't need to open any drywall or tear anything out to do this. Everything can be accessed by removing the light fixtures and opening up the plugs.

Also, an electrician can service your panel - essentially, they put some of the special paste on the ends of each aluminium wire in the panel. Aluminium can get brittle and crack with age, this extends the life.