Outdated Wiring Systems We Recommend Changing

If your home was built before 1980, you could be exposed to electrical wiring risks. Two older types of home wiring should now be considered outdated. Aluminum wiring was popular in the 1960s thanks to its affordability. However, this wiring is susceptible to overheating and corrosion. Knob-and-tube wiring was used in homes in the first half of the 20th century. It uses cloth insulation and porcelain knobs. Over time, the cloth can decay and knobs can crack, causing the wires to sag and touch wooden surfaces. If you have either type of wiring, we recommend an electrical inspection.

Key Takeaways:

Aluminum was substituted in the place of the reliable copper material for wiring due to its lower cost.
Another older type of wiring is called knob and tube which uses porcelain components to guide wiring and keep it from flammable surfaces.
While aluminum wiring, found mainly homes from the 1960s and 1970s is adequate for electrical loads, it does not hold up the way copper wiring will.

“Aluminum overheats faster than copper, and this was a serious problem when using larger gauge wires.”