I finally had it out with a homeowner over aluminum wiring

Got called to a house in Concord last month to swap a dimmer switch. Found aluminum wiring behind the plate with no anti-oxidant paste and a loose connection that was already arcing. Homeowner said they've been living there 3 years and never had a problem, wanted me to just put the old switch back. I told them flat out that's a fire risk and walked away from the job. Who else has had to draw that line with someone who won't listen?

2 comments

2 Comments

finley9391mo ago

Man that drives me insane. Had almost the exact thing happen in Walnut Creek two years back. Found aluminum wire in a junction box with that crusty white oxidation all over the connections and the homeowner said "it worked fine for 20 years" like that made it safe. Tried to explain how aluminum expands and contracts different than copper and how that loosens things over time until they arc and start fires. They told me I was just trying to upsell them. Walked away from that job too because there's no way I'm putting my license and reputation on the line for someone who thinks their gut feeling beats decades of fire data.

stellafisher1mo ago

It worked fine for 20 years." Yeah, until it doesn't. That's the same logic as not wearing a seatbelt because you never crashed. You made the right call walking away.