Rewiring & Older Homes

Aluminum branch circuits

Homes built roughly between 1965 and 1974 often have aluminum branch wiring. Aluminum expands, contracts and oxidizes differently than copper, and the failure happens at the connections — at outlets, switches and splices — where it heats up over years.

Full rewiring is one answer. A properly executed remediation is another, and usually far less invasive. CPSC recognizes two permanent repairs — COPALUM crimping and AlumiConn connectors — and warns specifically against twist-on wire connectors and CO/ALR devices, both of which overheated in lab testing. Ask any contractor which method they intend to use. COPALUM requires manufacturer training and proprietary tooling, so confirm certification before anyone quotes it.

Knob-and-tube

If your house predates about 1950, there may still be knob-and-tube in the attic or walls. It has no ground and its insulation embrittles with age. The NEC prohibits burying it in insulation, though California has adopted an amendment conditionally permitting insulation over existing knob-and-tube that has passed inspection — so the answer depends on your situation. Many insurers ask about it, and some will not write over active knob-and-tube.

Two-prong outlets and no ground

Ungrounded outlets are not just an inconvenience for your electronics — they mean surge protection cannot do its job. There are code-compliant ways to address this short of rewiring the whole house, and there are situations where rewiring is the honest answer. We will show you the difference.

How we work in an occupied house

• Phased by circuit or by room so you are not without power for days
• Fish walls and use existing cavities wherever possible
• Permitted and inspected — an unpermitted rewire is a problem at resale
• Patch coordination arranged up front so you know who is closing the walls