Thread: Aluminum wiring pic

I've seen lots of the stuff but never any so near combustion.

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They only turn those breakers on in the cool mornings to heat the house. I don't see the problem

It looks like the insulation is burned back in the first picture but I really dont see anything wrong with the second picture. Can someone help me out?

Also, did the painter leave the box open while breaking out his paint sprayer? It looks like there is paint overspray all over the breakers

Did the buyer bolt due to the problem or did you let them know that the insulation on all wires with loose connections bubbles up like that?

"It looks like the insulation is burned back in the first picture but I really don't see anything wrong with the second picture. Can someone help me out?"

single strand aluminum wiring

Thank you. I just noticed the burns and bubbles in the first pic but nothing in the second.

Houses sell every day with aluminum wiring. It is your job as an inspector to make the buyer aware of a potential problem. How you do it is an individual preference. But you have to make it CLEAR!

The second picture was just there to show what it looked like not burned up.

I think the buyer was going to hang in there. I do just what James said... make it crystal clear that it's a problem and right it up as such. Other than that I don't jump up and down or get too excited. The old 'you can lead a horse to water' saying applies here for sure.

James,

What do you say to your clients to make it CLEAR?

Ken..

The NCHILB makes it easy. Here is their verbiage..

"Aluminum wire is evident on 120 VAC branch circuits in the subject house. This single strand, branch circuit aluminum wire was used widely during the 1960s and 1970s. As per the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, problems due to overheating at the connections between the wire and devices ( switches/outlets ) may have been responsible for fires. It is recommended that the electrical system be evaluated by a fully licensed electrician. For further information on Aluminum wiring go to http://cpsc.gov/"

Aluminum wiring is an oddball of sorts with my state SoP. Pretty much everything is very vague and general except for calling out 110-volt circuits with Aluminum wiring. It's pretty much the only thing specfic in the whole SoP. That alone should be enough to make a buyer worry.

"Aluminum wire is evident on 120 VAC branch circuits in the subject house."

James,

Is that how you speak to your client during the inspection..the subject house?

Darren give him a break; I think he said that is written by the NCHILB.

The CPSC material I've read doesn't say fires MAY have been caused by aluminum wiring. Seems more conclusive than that.

With the insulation melted on the Aluminum Conductors and the discoloring of the screw on the breaker in the first picture is a sign of heat damage to the conductors from a bad/loose connection at the termination point. Can not tell from the pictures if the Installer used an Aluminum Inhibitor Compound on the aluminum conductors at the time of installation, if not they may have more concerns in the future.
To solve the problem at hand, I would recommend that the circuit breaker be replaced, the heat damage conductors be cut back past the damaged area and reinstalled on the new breaker properly. Would recommend when the old heat damaged circuit breaker is taken out of the panel, that the bussbars be checked for heat damage also.

Originally Posted by Frank Mauck

With the insulation melted on the Aluminum Conductors and the discoloring of the screw on the breaker in the first picture is a sign of heat damage to the conductors from a bad/loose connection at the termination point. Can not tell from the pictures if the Installer used an Aluminum Inhibitor Compound on the aluminum conductors at the time of installation, if not they may have more concerns in the future.
To solve the problem at hand, I would recommend that the circuit breaker be replaced, the heat damage conductors be cut back past the damaged area and reinstalled on the new breaker properly. Would recommend when the old heat damaged circuit breaker is taken out of the panel, that the bussbars be checked for heat damage also.

Whoa Dude! You're an electrical wiring expert who is advising very specific repairs? Man, there are hungry lawyers out there just licking there lips and drooling. You've heard of ambulance chasers, these are truck and ladder chasers. - Ever hear of a phrase like, "I recommend a licensed professional electrical contractor repair as required"? Now, if your are a licensed master electrician or a EE with a PE certificate who has decided to be a home inspector (why?) then you can feel pretty safe about that type of specific recommendation within your field of expertise.

Originally Posted by Stuart Brooks

Whoa Dude! You're an electrical wiring expert who is advising very specific repairs? Man, there are hungry lawyers out there just licking there lips and drooling. You've heard of ambulance chasers, these are truck and ladder chasers. - Ever hear of a phrase like, "I recommend a licensed professional electrical contractor repair as required"? Now, if your are a licensed master electrician or a EE with a PE certificate who has decided to be a home inspector (why?) then you can feel pretty safe about that type of specific recommendation within your field of expertise.

I thought Frank's response was pretty good, the only unknown is whether or not it's intended to be 15 amp circuits but connected onto 20 amp breakers, which could also be a problem.

Single strand aluminum wiring noted in service panel (this wiring is known to be problematic with a history of failure associated with it) - evidence of overheating and scorching noted on single strand aluminum wiring (FIRE HAZARD - have entire service panel serviced by a professional electrician and all repairs made as needed)

Originally Posted by Stuart Brooks

Whoa Dude! You're an electrical wiring expert who is advising very specific repairs? Man, there are hungry lawyers out there just licking there lips and drooling. You've heard of ambulance chasers, these are truck and ladder chasers. - Ever hear of a phrase like, "I recommend a licensed professional electrical contractor repair as required"? Now, if your are a licensed master electrician or a EE with a PE certificate who has decided to be a home inspector (why?) then you can feel pretty safe about that type of specific recommendation within your field of expertise.

You are right Mr. Brooks, I should of said that I recommend that the repairs sould be done by an licensed electrician. My intent was to show that it may be a minor repair not that the whole building needs to be condemned. I think it would be ashame for a potential buyer to pass up a house (that might be his/her dream home) because they think it may not be safe.