Need some help - I have a friend that lives in Braeburn Valley West in a house that was built in 1969. It has aluminum wiring and thus she can't get any of the major insurers (Geico, Amica, State Farm) to cover her. She even tried saying she would pigtail the aluminum wiring at the receptacles with copper but they won't cover her. Consequently she has a policy through some local broker that is ultimately provided by Sycamore General. Today she got a letter saying she was being dropped and her policy would be through Texas Fair Plan. Re-wiring the house is cost prohibitive for her right now as she just lost her job. Are there any insurance folks out here that can offer some advice on who will write a policy?

When did she buy the house? My home inspector checked off the electrical system as "all good" without noting that most of the house was still running on knob and tube. I had an electrician out running some new wire for light fixtures not too long after I moved in and he pointed out that my insurance company might drop me or refuse coverage due to the wiring. I called the home inspector (owner) and he ended up sending two of his guys out to rewrire the house at his cost.

Is it that funny?

By brother got me insured without issue. I have aluminum wiring that is pig-tailed. Happy to pass along info.

SweaterusVestus said:

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When did she buy the house? My home inspector checked off the electrical system as "all good" without noting that most of the house was still running on knob and tube. I had an electrician out running some new wire for light fixtures not too long after I moved in and he pointed out that my insurance company might drop me or refuse coverage due to the wiring. I called the home inspector (owner) and he ended up sending two of his guys out to rewrire the house at his cost.

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She bought the house maybe three-four years ago? I'm guessing the inspector wouldn't cover rewriting by now but may be worth a try.

Aluminum wire isn't the boogie man everyone thinks it is. Proper installation with the correct hardware, there should be zero issues. I have a house that was built in 2004 and gasp, there is some aluminum wiring in my system!!!!

I would get an electrician out to inspect all points of her system and figure what needs to be replaced so everything is up to code. Then have same electrician draft a letter containing all said info and certifying that the house is to code.

Texaggie7nine said:

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Is it that funny?

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Damn, don't know what happened there, I didn't select that emoticon.

What specifically is wrong? Aluminum conductors are to code. They are in the NEC. You just have to make sure the receptacles, etc. have a Al rating. It will say "CO/ALR".

drwong said:

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Need some help - I have a friend that lives in Braeburn Valley West in a house that was built in 1969. It has aluminum wiring and thus she can't get any of the major insurers (Geico, Amica, State Farm) to cover her. She even tried saying she would pigtail the aluminum wiring at the receptacles with copper but they won't cover her. Consequently she has a policy through some local broker that is ultimately provided by Sycamore General. Today she got a letter saying she was being dropped and her policy would be through Texas Fair Plan. Re-wiring the house is cost prohibitive for her right now as she just lost her job. Are there any insurance folks out here that can offer some advice on who will write a policy?

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I work for Goosehead Insurance in the corporate office off of 290. I am also a broker and have about 5-6 products that are fine with the aluminum wiring. Please feel free to email me, I am more than happy to help.

casey.woodfin@goosehead.com

case04 said:

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drwong said:

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Need some help - I have a friend that lives in Braeburn Valley West in a house that was built in 1969. It has aluminum wiring and thus she can't get any of the major insurers (Geico, Amica, State Farm) to cover her. She even tried saying she would pigtail the aluminum wiring at the receptacles with copper but they won't cover her. Consequently she has a policy through some local broker that is ultimately provided by Sycamore General. Today she got a letter saying she was being dropped and her policy would be through Texas Fair Plan. Re-wiring the house is cost prohibitive for her right now as she just lost her job. Are there any insurance folks out here that can offer some advice on who will write a policy?

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I work for Goosehead Insurance in the corporate office off of 290. I am also a broker and have about 5-6 products that are fine with the aluminum wiring. Please feel free to email me, I am more than happy to help.

casey.woodfin@goosehead.com

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Thanks Casey, I'll pass along your information.

Dr. Venkman said:

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What specifically is wrong? Aluminum conductors are to code. They are in the NEC. You just have to make sure the receptacles, etc. have a Al rating. It will say "CO/ALR".

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The issue with Aluminum wiring is that it doesn't last as long as copper. So, that's why it's fine in a 2004 built house, but not one built the 60's.

Alluminum wiring has been against code since the late 70's. How do you have a home from the 2000's with aluminum?

Not really the problem. Alluminum expands and contracts, which can loosen the connections at the outlets and cause sparking.

Diggity said:

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Not really the problem. Alluminum expands and contracts, which can loosen the connections at the outlets and cause sparking.

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Right, and that makes it more brittle. Which makes it not last as long.

but that's not the point. They had issues with that stuff sparking after a few years.

Aluminum is fine if it's done correctly. Most insurance companies don't want to risk it though.

Diggity said:

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Alluminum wiring has been against code since the late 70's. How do you have a home from the 2000's with aluminum?

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It isn't against code. They still manufacture and sell all the proper equipment for aluminum wires. As long as the parts that are wired with Al/Cu rated equipment it is legal. It's a $$$ question. Half the weight of copper, cheaper, but not as conductive. Now I bet Al wiring of today is a much different quality than the 50s and 60s.

Are you talking alluminum service wiring or in the branch circuits?

I have not heard of any builder doing the latter.

Diggity said:

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Are you talking alluminum service wiring or in the branch circuits?

I have not heard of any builder doing the latter.

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I am unaware of any code that prohibits aluminum on branch circuits. Table 310.15(B)(16) shows allowable ampacities of both copper and aluminum conductors.

While there might not be any code prohibiting it, I still haven't seen any builder using aluminum wiring in new construction in the past 30 years or so. Seems like a silly place to try to save a few bucks.

Diggity said:

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While there might not be any code prohibiting it, I still haven't seen any builder using aluminum wiring in new construction in the past 30 years or so. Seems like a silly place to try to save a few bucks.

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Not when copper was prohibitively expensive in the late 60's. Earlier you said it's against code. It is not.

Well excuse me for misspeaking. It's the same damn difference if companies won't insure it. Talking about modern construction.