Residential Electrical Services
Aluminum Wiring Replacement
in Vancouver, WA
Between 1965 and 1973, builders across Clark County wired thousands of homes with aluminum instead of copper. It was cheaper. It also causes problems. Aluminum expands and contracts more than copper, and over time the connections loosen, oxidize, and overheat. Newman Electric does aluminum wiring replacement and remediation for homes all over Vancouver, WA. Ryan has been working on these houses for over a decade.
Warning Signs
How to Tell if Your Home Has Aluminum Wiring
If your house was built between 1965 and 1973 in Vancouver or anywhere in Clark County, there's a real chance it was wired with aluminum. Some of the signs are obvious. Others show up slowly over years.
Warm Switch Plates
The cover plate on a light switch or outlet feels warm to the touch, even when nothing heavy is plugged in. That's heat building up at the connection point.
Flickering Lights
Lights flicker or dim when you plug something in or turn on a switch. Loose aluminum connections lose contact for a split second under load.
Burning Smell
A faint plastic or burning smell near outlets or switches. The insulation around the aluminum wire is breaking down from repeated overheating at the connection.
Discolored Outlets
Brown or black scorch marks on the face of outlets or switches. This means the connection behind the plate has been arcing.
Not Sure? Check Your Panel.
Open your breaker panel and look at the wires entering the breakers. Copper wire is orange or reddish. Aluminum wire is silver-gray and slightly duller. If you see silver wires on 15-amp and 20-amp branch circuits (not just the main feed, which is always aluminum), your home has aluminum branch wiring. That's the stuff that needs attention. Newman Electric will come look at it for free and tell you exactly what's going on.
Your Options
How Newman Electric Fixes
Aluminum Wiring
There are two ways to deal with aluminum wiring. Which one makes sense depends on the condition of the wiring, the scope of the job, and your budget. We'll tell you what we recommend after we look at it.
Copper Pigtailing
We add a short copper wire (a pigtail) at every connection point in your home: every outlet, every switch, every junction box, and the panel. The pigtail connects to the aluminum wire using a connector rated specifically for aluminum-to-copper transitions, like a COPALUM crimp or an AlumiConn lug. The copper pigtail then connects to the device. This is the CPSC-recommended fix and it works. Newman Electric uses it on most aluminum wiring jobs in Vancouver, WA.
Full Copper Rewire
If the aluminum wiring is badly degraded, or if you're already opening walls for a remodel, it makes more sense to pull new copper wire. We remove the aluminum and replace it with copper on every circuit. It costs more than pigtailing, but it's a permanent fix and it adds real value to the house. Newman Electric has done full rewires on dozens of 1960s and 1970s homes across Clark County.
Code & Safety
Aluminum Wiring Code Requirements
in Washington State
Washington state follows the 2023 NEC, adopted under WAC 296-46B. Aluminum wiring itself isn't illegal, but the code has strict rules about how aluminum connects to devices and other wires. Newman Electric follows all of them.
- Listed Connectors Only (NEC 110.14)
Every connection between aluminum and copper must use a connector specifically listed for that combination. Wire nuts rated for copper only are not acceptable. Newman Electric uses COPALUM crimps and AlumiConn lugs, both of which are listed for aluminum-to-copper connections.
- CO/ALR-Rated Devices (NEC 406.3(C))
Receptacles and switches connected to aluminum wire must be rated CO/ALR (copper-aluminum revised). Standard devices rated for copper only will loosen over time on aluminum conductors. When we pigtail, the copper pigtail connects to a standard device. When we don't pigtail, the device itself must be CO/ALR.
- AFCI on Modified Circuits (NEC 210.12)
If we modify or extend any branch circuit in a bedroom, living room, family room, or hallway, that circuit must have arc-fault protection. We install AFCI breakers as part of any aluminum wiring remediation that touches those rooms.
- Permit and Inspection
Aluminum wiring replacement and remediation in Vancouver, WA requires an electrical permit. Newman Electric pulls the permit, does the work, and schedules the inspection. The inspector verifies that every connection meets code before we close it up.
Customer Reviews
What Customers Say About Newman Electric
"Ryan and the team were very helpful. They were punctual and got after the work quickly. I purchased an older home that needed to be updated and rewired. Ryan and Garrett worked out a schedule and were able to get all the work done in a few days time. They were open and answered all questions throughout the process. They also worked with my schedule."
"Roman and Mike were tremendous. Pleasant, knowledgeable, hard-working and amazingly efficient. Both projects were completed quickly and at the estimated amount. Also, the original estimate was considerably less than those of competing bids. I would highly recommend Newman Electric."
"We continue to be super happy and impressed with Newman Electric! We are thrilled that we found such a reputable company to work with as we continue to upgrade the electrical needs of our home. Highly recommend!"
Common Questions
Aluminum Wiring FAQs
Look at the wires going into your breaker panel. Aluminum is silver-gray. Copper is orange or reddish. If the branch circuit wires (the smaller ones, not the main feed) are silver, you have aluminum wiring. Your home's age is another clue. Most aluminum wiring in Vancouver WA went into homes built between 1965 and 1973. Newman Electric will check for free.
The wire itself is fine for carrying electricity. The problem is at connection points. Aluminum expands and contracts more than copper when it heats and cools. Over decades, this loosens connections at outlets, switches, and junction boxes. Loose connections cause arcing, and arcing causes heat. That's where the risk is.
Copper pigtailing is less expensive than a full rewire. The cost depends on the size of the house and how many connection points there are. A typical 3-bedroom home in Clark County has 40 to 80 connection points. Newman Electric gives free estimates so you'll know the real number before any work starts.
Pigtailing is the CPSC-recommended fix and it works for most homes. It replaces the aluminum-to-device connection with a rated aluminum-to-copper connector and a copper pigtail. A full rewire makes more sense when the aluminum insulation is degraded or when walls are already open for a remodel.
Some insurance companies in Washington will not insure homes with aluminum branch wiring, or they'll charge higher premiums. Others require a licensed electrician to inspect and certify the connections. Newman Electric provides documentation of all work for your insurance company.
Yes. Any work modifying or replacing aluminum wiring connections in Vancouver WA requires an electrical permit. Newman Electric handles the permit, the work, and the inspection.
Related Services
Other Electrical Work for Older Homes
Whole House Rewiring
Complete copper rewire for older homes
Electrical Panel Upgrade
200-amp panels for modern electrical loads
Electrical Repair
Fix outlets, switches, and wiring issues
Outlet Installation
Grounded outlets to replace two-prong
Smoke Detectors
Hardwired smoke and CO detectors
Surge Protection
Whole-house surge protection at the panel
Knob & Tube Replacement
Remove pre-1950 wiring
Dedicated Circuits
New circuits for appliances and equipment
Service Area
Aluminum Wiring Replacement Across
Vancouver & Clark County
Clark County had a major building boom in the late 1960s and early 1970s. That's exactly when aluminum wiring was most common. Neighborhoods in Hazel Dell, Orchards, east Vancouver, and parts of Salmon Creek are full of homes from that era. Newman Electric has worked on aluminum wiring in every one of those areas.
We also handle aluminum wiring jobs in Cowlitz County. Longview and Kelso have their share of 1960s and 1970s homes too.
Got Aluminum Wiring?
Get It Checked.
Newman Electric inspects and remediates aluminum wiring in homes across Vancouver, WA and Clark County. The estimate is free. We'll tell you what's there, what needs to happen, and what it'll cost. No surprises.