Pro tip: My sibling's kitchen reno mistake taught me to verify existing wiring

We were putting in new under-cabinet lights last month. My sibling assumed the old wiring was up to code. I checked and saw it was aluminum, not copper. That could have been a fire risk. Now I double-check every time before adding loads.

3 comments

3 Comments

angelapalmer1mo agoProlific Poster

Oh wow, that is seriously smart to double check. I remember reading something a while back about how a lot of older homes still have that aluminum wiring. It was super common like decades ago but it can get loose over time and cause bad connections. I mean, that's honestly pretty scary to think about. It's wild that stuff is just still sitting in walls causing a risk. Good on you for catching it, that could have been really bad.

aaronallen1mo ago

Found a live knob and tube wire tucked behind some blown-in insulation when we redid our attic. It was just hanging there, not connected to anything but still hot. My dad's place is full of those old-timey fixes where they just buried the old system instead of removing it. Makes you wonder what else is hiding in the walls.

aarona961mo ago

Back when I had knob and tube issues, I used a voltage tester to find all the live wires. Had a pro come in and rip everything out, no shortcuts. Isn't it crazy how often old wiring gets left behind? Took a weekend but now there's no hidden dangers.