WHAT ARE THE WARNING SIGNS OF AN ALUMINUM HAZARD?

The issues with aluminum wiring primarily stem from poor connections, in fact, the wiring in the walls is generally fine and safe.  The hazard is at the connection point.  

These indicators necessitate prompt action;

Symptoms include:

• Momentary dimming or brightening of lights when a motor starts.

• Recurring flickering of  lights or rapid light bulb burnouts.

• Sudden malfunctioning of electrical devices without tripped circuit breakers.

• Smell of burning plastic, sparks, flame, or smoke.

• Signs of overheating, such as soot or scorching around electrical outlets.

Additionally, many times there are no explicit signs of an imminent safety hazard.  An overheated connection, particularly at receptacle or switch terminals, may cause face plate screws to become excessively hot and the face plate itself to warm up. While some warmth is expected at dimmer switches and under heavy loads, such as from hair dryers or portable heaters, any parts becoming too hot to touch indicate a potential problem.