Aluminum to Copper: Pigtailing vs. Full Rewire in Fort Myers

We run into this a lot around Fort Myers — homes from the late ’60s or early ’70s wired with aluminum instead of copper. It made sense back then. Copper was expensive, aluminum was cheaper, and builders were trying to keep costs down.

Fast-forward fifty years. What looked good on paper hasn’t aged well. We see flickering lights, warm outlets, melted switches, and tripped breakers — all signs the wiring’s not handling modern loads like it should.

If your home’s from that era, you might have aluminum wiring hiding behind your walls. And at some point, you’ll have to decide: pigtail or rewire?

We’ve done both — a lot. Let’s talk about how we figure out which route makes sense.

Why Aluminum Wiring Causes Trouble

Aluminum expands and contracts more than copper when it heats up. That movement loosens screws and connections over time. Once they loosen, the electricity meets resistance, and resistance means heat.

We’ve opened up outlets and found the screws half backed out, wires darkened or even charred. Sometimes it’s fine for years, then one hot summer day it starts flickering out of nowhere.

Add in Florida’s humidity, and things get worse. Moist air plus aluminum equals oxidation — that dull gray coating that builds up on the metal. It doesn’t conduct well, so the wire heats up even faster.

It’s not about panic, but it is about prevention. Once those connections start slipping, they won’t fix themselves.

Option 1: Pigtailing Aluminum to Copper

Pigtailing’s a repair method that lets us keep the existing aluminum wiring in the walls but makes every connection safer.

Here’s how it works: we attach a short piece of copper wire (the “pigtail”) to each aluminum wire using a special connector. That copper then connects to your outlets, switches, and fixtures.

Done right, it’s safe and reliable.

There are two types of connectors we trust for this work:

• COPALUM crimp connectors: Crimped under pressure with a special tool that bonds the metals together. It’s permanent, tight, and stable.

• AlumiConn connectors: A newer option that uses set screws instead of crimps. UL-approved and easier to maintain.

We use both, depending on the job.

Pigtailing has its upsides:

• No need to tear into walls.

• Usually done in a day or two.

• Costs less than a full rewire.

But it’s not a shortcut — every connection has to be found and treated. Miss one, and you’ve still got risk in the system. We’ve seen homes where someone tried to “DIY” pigtails using standard wire nuts and no anti-oxidant paste. Doesn’t work. Those jobs end up costing more to fix later.

Option 2: Full Copper Rewire

A full rewire means starting over — removing or bypassing all aluminum wiring and running new copper through the home.

It’s the gold standard. It’s also a bigger job.

We open parts of walls and ceilings to access wiring paths. We run new copper wire to every outlet, light, and switch. We replace boxes, breakers, and devices while we’re there.

It’s not a weekend project. But when it’s done, you’ve got wiring that’ll last decades, and you never have to worry about aluminum again.

We did one not long ago near McGregor Boulevard. 1971 build, beautiful home, but the wiring was original aluminum. The owners had been dealing with random flickering and a warm smell near the laundry area. We rewired the entire house with copper, updated the panel, and replaced all the outlets. No more flickering, and the lights are rock steady now.

That’s the peace of mind you get with a full rewire.

Which One’s Right for You

We don’t push either way. It depends on your home, your wiring’s condition, and what you want long-term.

If your aluminum wiring’s still in good shape — no cracks, no corrosion — pigtailing can absolutely be a safe fix. It’s fast, reliable, and approved by the Consumer Product Safety Commission when done properly.

If the wiring’s brittle, discolored, or you’re already opening walls for remodeling, it’s smarter to rewire. No sense spending money twice.

Here’s how we usually frame it for homeowners:

No two homes are the same, but that table’s a pretty good guide.

Florida’s Extra Challenge

Fort Myers isn’t the Midwest. We deal with salt air, humidity, and storms that roll through half the year. That combo wears out electrical systems faster than it would inland.

We’ve seen aluminum hold up fine in dry areas like Lehigh, then corrode like crazy just five miles closer to the coast. The metal itself reacts to the moisture and salt in the air.

That’s why, when we pigtail, we always use corrosion-resistant connectors and torque every screw properly. A tiny bit too loose or too tight makes a difference.

Real Example from the Field

We had a call out near Whiskey Creek last summer. The homeowner said the kitchen lights flickered when the dishwasher ran. House was built in ’72, still had aluminum wiring.

We found light oxidation and some loose terminals. Instead of a full rewire, we pigtailed everything with AlumiConn connectors and replaced all outlets with modern, CO/ALR-rated ones.

Took us two days. Zero flickering since.

Sometimes it’s that simple. Sometimes it’s not. That’s why inspection matters — you can’t tell from looking at the outside of an outlet if it’s safe.

What We Do at CoHarbor Electric

When we handle aluminum wiring, we start with a full visual and thermal check. We use infrared cameras to spot hot connections before they turn into problems.

If pigtailing makes sense, we do it the right way — every connection, properly torqued, anti-oxidant paste applied where needed, everything logged.

If it’s past the point of repair, we’ll tell you that too. We’d rather lose a job than leave someone with a system we wouldn’t trust in our own homes.

Our job’s simple: make your wiring safe, reliable, and built to last in Fort Myers weather.

Wrapping It Up

If your Fort Myers home was built between 1965 and 1975, chances are good it has aluminum wiring somewhere in the walls. Don’t ignore it, but don’t panic either.

Whether pigtailing or a full copper rewire makes sense depends on your home’s condition and what you plan for the future. Both can be done safely — it just has to be done right.

👉 Call CoHarbor Electric today to schedule a wiring inspection. We’ll take a look, show you what’s really going on, and walk you through your options. No pressure, no guesswork — just honest advice and solid work.