Was your house built before 1972?
Some older homes may contain aluminum wiring - a potential fire hazard. In fact, the federal government has determined that homes with aluminum wire manufactured before 1972 are 55 times more likely to have one or more connections reach fire hazard conditions than a home wired with copper.
Most often, the potential danger lurks at connections, such as outlets or switches or at major appliances such as dishwashers, furnaces, etc. Signs of trouble in aluminum wire systems include warm-to-the-touch face plates on outlets or switches, flickering lights, circuits that don't work or the smell of burning plastic at outlets or switches. Unfortunately, not all potential hazards have such early warning signs.
Houses can be retrofitted with special connections that make outlets and switches safe. If your home was built before 1972 have Hawkins Electric conduct a home inspection. Click here to learn more about home inspections, or click here to contact us.
David Almy
