Commercial & Residential Electricians in Mesa AZ.
Commercial & Residential Electricians in Mesa AZ.
Do you have a question about pigtailing aluminum wiring? Dolce Electric Co staffs an in-office electrician Mesa AZ homeowners can consult with free of charge about aluminum wiring pigtailing services. Our in-office electrician in Mesa AZ has over 30 years of experience with the code approved way to pigtail aluminum wiring. He will answer all of your questions and provide you with the safe aluminum wiring fix that you are looking for. He is available Monday thru Friday, between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM.
Dolce Electric Co proudly boasts having the electricians Mesa AZ homeowners have voted best. We look forward to earning your business and your vote too.
During the late 1960’s and into the early 1970’s the price of copper wiring skyrocketed. As a result, aluminum electrical wiring was introduced by electricians and electrical contractors throughout the country as a means of easing the cost of residential electrical construction. Shortly after the introduction of aluminum wiring in homes, insurance companies started asking, “is aluminum wiring bad”? It was soon after discovered that, while being cheaper in price, it was an unsafe alternative for home wiring. The unforeseen dangers that eventually ended its use are numerous but the main problem was, and still is, that it is an extreme fire hazard. Estimates from the Federal Consumer Product Safety Commission state that old aluminum wiring in houses is a tremendous danger. It was installed in upwards of 2 million residences during this period.
If you think your home has this type of electrical wiring you can consult with our electricians in Mesa AZ free of charge. They have been trained and are certified with 30+ years of aluminum wiring repair and replacing the wiring inside of older home just like yours. Our Mesa AZ electricians have the safe solutions that you are looking for.
Aluminum is a soft metal that expands and contracts with changes in temperature. While it is still an excellent conductor of electricity that utility companies like APS and SRP still use today, its soft nature makes it a fire hazard for home construction. The problem is mostly at the connection points. Properly terminating it tightly around a screw on a switch or outlet is impossible. It will simply smash down and leave a loose connection. Similar problems arise when splicing these wires. When twisted together for tightness they crack or break off. These loose connections produce heat which causes the wire to expand and further loosen at the connections. As this process of expansion and contraction continues over time the connection gets weaker and weaker. This weakening can result in a break in the electrical circuit, overheating, sparking or a fire.
Consumer Products Safety Commission spokesman Scott Wolfson stated: “This is an area we feel very strongly about. Aluminum wiring in a house presents a very serious potential fire hazard.” Mr. Wolfson continued: “We feel that there are a significant number of homeowners who have not yet made the recommended wire repairs to make their homes safe.”
According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission your chances of having a wire connection reach “Fire Hazard Conditions” is 55 times greater when compared to homes with copper wires.
While doing a whole house rewire would certainly correct the unsafe wiring in your home, there is a comparatively inexpensive way to address the hazard. Inserting a piece of copper wire between the screw termination points and the existing wires, also known as “aluminum wiring pigtailing”, will provide a safe connection. When doing this wiring procedure, it is very important to correct every connection point in the structure. This will include all receptacles, switches, light fixtures and every termination in the main service panel. In many cases it will be necessary to cut heat damaged ends off of the existing wires to make a secure connection.
Note: Often overlooked are garbage disposal, refrigerator and garage door opener outlets. This wiring presents the same level of danger as every other outlet in your home. It should be corrected as well to insure a 100% complete job.
Our Mesa electricians have been trained and specialize in these copper wiring retrofits. This is a specialized area of electrical work that should be done only by an electrician trained in doing these aluminum to copper electrical retrofits.
If you suspect that aluminum wires were used in your home and don’t know if upgrades have been made to correct the fire hazard, feel free to call our in-office electricians in Mesa. They will answer all of your questions about how to make aluminum wiring safe and retrofits. They are available Monday thru Friday from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM and are happy to assist you in determining if your home’s electrical wires have any concerning issues.
Dolce Electric Co
625 W Southern Ave E239,
Mesa, AZ
85210
Mon – Fri 8:00AM to 5:00PM
Sat – Sun: 8:00AM to 3:00PM