Aluminum Wiring in Older Homes: What Greater Boston Homeowners Need to Know

Walk into any home built between the mid-1960s and late 1970s in Greater Boston — Stoneham, Wakefield, Woburn, you name it — and there’s a chance it was wired with aluminum instead of copper. Back then, it was seen as a cost-saving solution. Today? It’s one of the most common red flags we find during electrical inspections.

At Castro Electric, we’ve helped dozens of homeowners identify and address aluminum wiring issues — often before they turn into something dangerous or expensive. If your home was built before 1980 and you’ve never had the wiring checked, this blog’s for you.

Here’s what every homeowner in Greater Boston needs to know about aluminum wiring, how to spot it, and what to do next.

What Is Aluminum Wiring and Why Was It Used?

In the late 60s and early 70s, copper prices skyrocketed — leading many homebuilders to switch to aluminum as a cheaper alternative for branch circuit wiring. On paper, it made sense: aluminum conducts electricity and was readily available.

But over time, a major issue became clear: aluminum wiring isn’t as durable or reliable in residential settings. It expands and contracts more than copper, which causes connections to loosen, leading to arcing, overheating, and even fires.

Today, aluminum is still used in some large-scale commercial and utility applications — but not in residential branch circuits. And if it is still in your walls? It’s something you should take seriously.

The Hidden Risks of Aluminum Wiring

We’re not here to scare you — just to keep you informed. Here’s what aluminum wiring can do if left unchecked:

• Loose connections: Repeated expansion and contraction causes terminals to loosen over time.

• Overheating: Poor connections create resistance, which leads to heat build-up at outlets, switches, and junction boxes.

• Fire hazard: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission found homes with aluminum wiring are 55x more likely to have “fire hazard conditions.”

• Insurance complications: Many insurers won’t underwrite homes with unremediated aluminum wiring — or they’ll raise your premium.

How to Know If Your Home Has Aluminum Wiring

Not sure what’s behind your walls? Here are some clues:

• Your home was built between 1965 and 1975

• Outlets or switches feel warm to the touch

• You’ve noticed flickering lights or tripped breakers

• You’ve had melting or discolored outlet covers

• You see “AL” or “ALUMINUM” stamped on visible wiring near the panel or in junction boxes

The only way to know for sure is to have a licensed electrician perform a wiring inspection — and that’s where we come in.

Can You Sell a Home With Aluminum Wiring in Massachusetts?

Technically, yes — but it can complicate things.

Buyers today are far more savvy (and so are home inspectors). If aluminum wiring is found during an inspection, you may be required to:

• Replace or repair the wiring

• Provide documentation of professional remediation

• Adjust your asking price or timeline
  

We’ve had clients call us mid-sale to urgently address aluminum wiring issues. Don’t let that be you. Knowing your wiring status before you list your home puts you in control — not the market.

What Are the Fixes? Full Rewire vs. Repair Options

If you do have aluminum wiring, don’t panic. There are two main options:

Full Rewire

• Safest, most permanent solution

• Replace aluminum with copper throughout the home

• Ideal if you're renovating or upgrading other systems

• Higher upfront cost but increases resale value

COPALUM or AlumiConn Retrofits

• Use specialized connectors to make aluminum-to-copper pigtails

• Installed at outlets, switches, fixtures

• Less invasive and more affordable

• Must be performed by a licensed electrician with the proper certification

We’ll help you determine which route makes sense based on your budget, timeline, and home layout.

Why Castro Electric?

We’ve been working in homes across Stoneham and Greater Boston for years — and aluminum wiring is something we see all the time. When you work with Castro Electric, you get:

• Honest assessments — no scare tactics

• Code-compliant solutions that meet or exceed Massachusetts electrical standards

• Fast, clean, licensed work from a local, insured crew

• 24/7 availability if you’ve got an urgent concern

We treat your home like it’s our own — and we’ll never upsell you on work you don’t need.

Final Word From the Field

If your home was built before 1980 and you’ve never had the wiring checked, make the call. Aluminum wiring might be hidden — but the risks aren’t. And the fix? It’s more doable than most people think.

Don’t wait for a warm outlet or a home inspection to find out. We offer affordable wiring assessments, clear recommendations, and smart solutions that keep your family safe and your home up to code.

Book Your Wiring Inspection Today

Serving Stoneham, Wakefield, Reading, Winchester & Greater Boston
Call us at (781) 782-2382
Request your aluminum wiring consultation with Castro Electric