Electrical · Built 1965–1973
Aluminum Branch Wiring in Homes Built 1965–1973
Homes built between 1965 and 1973 may have aluminum branch-circuit wiring instead of copper — a material with a documented higher fire risk at its connections.
What it is
Rising copper prices in the mid-1960s led many builders to switch to aluminum wiring for a several-year window. Aluminum isn't inherently unsafe, but it expands and contracts more than copper and can loosen at outlets and switches over time.
Why it matters
A loose connection creates resistance, which creates heat — that's where the fire risk comes from. CPSC data associates aluminum-wired connections with meaningfully higher fire risk than copper over time.
What's worth doing next
The fix isn't necessarily a full rewire — CO/ALR-rated outlets and switches, or a technique called COPALUM crimping, can address the connection points directly and often cost less than replacing all the wiring. Worth having an electrician assess which approach fits the home.
Code changes like these are prospective — they apply to new construction going forward, not retroactively to homes already built. A home that predates a given standard isn't out of compliance with anything; it just predates it. Tarn surfaces this as a consideration worth having evaluated, not a verdict on the home.
See if this applies to a specific address
Enter the year built alongside an address search, and Tarn checks it against this and every other code-era risk factor automatically.
Other code-era risk factors
- Lead Paint in Homes Built Before 1978
- Polybutylene Pipe in Homes Built 1978–1995
- Older Electrical Panels in Homes Built Before 1990
- Knob-and-Tube Wiring in Homes Built Before 1950
- Smoke Alarm Interconnection in Homes Built Before 1993
- Deck Lateral Load Anchoring in Decks Built Before 2015
- Water Heater Age Beyond Typical Lifespan