 |
| www.wikipedia.org |
If your house was built prior to 1972, you may have an
elevated risk for electrical fires and other related problems. This is because homes
built during this period were wired with aluminum electrical systems, which can
be prone to oxidation. However, the problem is more complex than it sounds.
Aluminum wire is actually perfectly safe in most
applications. For instance, commercial jets utilize this lightweight conductor
in their electrical systems. The problem in older homes is that the aluminum
wire is exposed at points of connection throughout the house. Without the
insulation covering it, aluminum wire tends to rust. Rust resists conduction,
causing the wire to heat up when the power is switched on. This heat is what
causes electrical fires.
Changes in pressure or temperature can also affect aluminum
wire, leading to loose connections and sparks. If aluminum wire is connected to
other metals, chemical reactions can also affect the flow of power. And,
although aluminum wire was commonly used during the ‘60s and early ‘70s, electricians
back then rarely took care to avoid these complications. As a result, a
surprising number of homes still have faulty aluminum wiring. This is
especially prevalent in neighborhoods with older homes, such as certain parts of Burbank or Pasadena.
If your home contains aluminum wiring, or you suspect it
does due to its age, contacting a professional
electrician in Los Angeles for an inspection is your best move. They can
check for the presence of aluminum and recommend the appropriate solution. In most
cases, this means rewiring the entire home or replacing the contact points. Either
way, shoring up your older home’s electrical systems will help ensure that your
lights and appliances continue to work and that electrical fires don’t start.
