Aluminum Branch Circuit Wiring Creates Connection Failures That Start Fires.
There Are Three Ways to Fix It.

Aluminum wiring was used primarily in homes built between 1965 and 1973. Check visible wire runs in the attic, basement, or garage — aluminum wire is labeled AL, ALUM, or ALUMINUM printed on the plastic jacket every few feet. Aluminum is a dull silver-gray color; copper is a warm reddish-brown. Check behind an outlet cover with the power off — look for AL markings on the wire jacket, or devices stamped CO/ALR or AL-CU, which indicates aluminum-compatible terminations were previously installed. Symptom signs include outlet covers that are warm to the touch, flickering lights, burning plastic smell near outlets, or breakers that trip unexpectedly under modest loads. If you are unsure, call (408) 614-4451 — Cali Rollin Electric can identify aluminum wiring during a free estimate walkthrough.

Yes — pre-1972 single-strand aluminum branch circuit wiring is a recognized fire hazard. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission found that homes wired with pre-1972 aluminum wire are 55 times more likely to have one or more connections reach fire hazard conditions than copper-wired homes. The danger comes from aluminum's thermal expansion, oxidation at connection points, and tendency to creep out from under terminals over time — all of which create resistance, heat, and arcing at outlets, switches, and fixtures throughout the home. The CPSC documented a 1974 fatal house fire in Hampton Bays, NY traced directly to an overheating aluminum wire connection at a wall receptacle.

The CPSC recognizes three permanent repair approaches for aluminum branch-circuit wiring: CO/ALR device replacement, COPALUM crimp pigtailing, and full copper rewiring. CO/ALR devices replace standard outlets and switches with aluminum-rated hardware — lowest cost and disruption but only addresses the device terminal, not the rest of the circuit. COPALUM crimp connectors cold-weld a copper pigtail to the aluminum wire at every connection point — a permanent molecular bond that the CPSC specifically endorses. Full copper rewiring removes all aluminum wiring and replaces it with copper throughout — the most definitive solution and universally accepted by insurers. All three methods require a licensed electrician and must be applied comprehensively to every aluminum termination in the home to be effective.

It depends on the carrier — and this is the most important question to ask your insurance agent before choosing a remediation method. Full copper rewiring is universally accepted by all insurers. COPALUM or AlumiConn pigtailing throughout the home is generally accepted by most carriers when done comprehensively with documentation from a licensed electrician. CO/ALR devices alone are not accepted by most California insurers as a complete solution — they only address device terminals, not the rest of the circuit. Before spending money on remediation, call your insurance carrier and ask exactly what documentation and scope they require. Cali Rollin Electric provides written documentation of all remediation work for insurance purposes.

Cali Rollin Electric pricing for aluminum wiring remediation in Santa Clara County: CO/ALR device remediation for a full home up to 1,500 sq ft runs $3,500–$6,500, and for 2,500 sq ft or more runs $6,000–$10,000. COPALUM crimp connectors where accessible run $4,000–$9,000. Partial copper rewire covering high-risk circuits only runs $5,000–$12,000. Full copper replacement runs $12,000–$22,000 or more. Permits vary by city and typically add $500–$1,000. All pricing is provided in a written quote after a full assessment of your specific home.

Physically removing aluminum wire from the walls is not required. The CPSC explicitly endorses leaving aluminum wire in place when COPALUM or AlumiConn connectors are properly installed at every connection point — the copper pigtails mean that everything the aluminum wire connects to is copper, making the aluminum a safe, protected conductor inside the wall. What this requires to be safe and insurable: every accessible junction box, outlet, switch, light fixture, and appliance connection must be addressed — not just a selection. The panel connections must be inspected and treated with anti-oxidant compound. A licensed C-10 contractor must document the full scope in writing. During any permitted renovation, Cali Rollin Electric replaces aluminum wire in the affected area as a matter of course.