Aluminum Wiring Replacement in Saco & Southern Maine

Homes built in the late 1960s and 1970s often used aluminum wiring instead of copper for branch circuits. At the time, copper prices were high and aluminum was the cheaper alternative. The problem is that aluminum wiring expands and contracts more than copper when it heats up, which loosens connections over time. Loose connections cause arcing, overheating, and house fires.

Bouchard’s Electric replaces aluminum wiring in homes across Saco, Biddeford, Old Orchard Beach, and Southern Maine. We’ve been doing this work since 2001.

Why Aluminum Wiring Is Dangerous

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has found that homes with aluminum wiring are 55 times more likely to have fire-hazard conditions at outlets and switches than homes wired with copper. That’s not a small number.

The main problems with aluminum wiring are oxidation (aluminum oxidizes when exposed to air, creating resistance at connections), thermal expansion (aluminum expands more than copper when current flows, loosening connections over time), and incompatibility with devices rated only for copper. Most outlets, switches, and fixtures sold today are designed for copper wire, not aluminum.

Replacement Options

There are two approaches to dealing with aluminum wiring. The first is a full rewire — we remove all the aluminum branch circuits and replace them with copper. This is the most thorough solution and what we recommend if you’re already planning renovations or if the wiring is in rough shape.

The second option is pigtailing — we add short copper connectors at every outlet, switch, and junction box using approved COPALUM or AlumiConn connectors. This is less invasive and less expensive, but every connection point in the house needs to be addressed.

We’ll inspect your system and recommend the right approach for your situation. Either way, we pull permits and get everything inspected.