Warning: Aluminum Wiring Ahead

Not every house with aluminum wiring is an automatic time bomb waiting to burst into flames like a vampire caught outside at dawn. The warning signs used to check for overheating problems and loose connections include …

• Warm cover plates.
• Flickering lights.
• No power in a circuit.
• Sparks and arcing.

These signs are discounted by Dr. Aronstein, who states that they are not entirely reliable, do not always take place, or occur at a late stage in the failure of the wiring. He does, however, suggest turning the power off and examining individual devices and loads with a flashlight for the following:

• Charred or discolored plastic
• Back-wired devices
• Excessive tarnishing at the ends of the wires
• Damage to the thermoplastic sheathing including melting and bubbling Some wiring might not show any signs of deterioration because a particular circuit might never have had enough loads on it to cause overheating. If you plug a portable heater in, however, the status quo might change rapidly. The best defense is to monitor these circuits if their usage changes.

Any of these defects is cause for action. Are they enough of a reason for you to walk away from a potential property purchase? No, because even though technology caused the problems, it also can resolve them.