Plain crazy?

[Nancy Darling]

I am thinking of buying a 880 sq. ft 1968 mobile on a small lot for my dad for $40,000. The mobile is in good shape with a nice new 500 sq. ft deck. The mobile is in a senior park on a beautiful lot with a view of the Puget Sound. I know I would just be paying for the view. Am I just plain crazy?

One concern is the aluminum wiring. I am told you can put the copper "pigtails" in at the outlets and plug-ins and that will help alot. Is that a reasonable fix?

Thanks!

[Roy Bonney]

Location, location, location. If the value is in the view, the view will probably still be there when you want to sell this home. The home, has apparently faired well, as it is 25 years old, and the electric has not been a problem. The problem with aluminum wiring in the small size, was two fold. If the wrong type of device, (switch or receptacle) was installed, it was not compatable with the aluminum. Devices are marked cu/al which means they will work with either. If the wrong device is used, it can create a loose connection, which can then lead to a heat build up from arcing. If there have been no problems, just make sure all connections are tight, and use the proper device if replacement is necessary.
If you feel like you want to rewire, hook the new romex to the old romex, and pull thru the walls. It is probably only stapled at the device box, and usually reachable from the hole in the paneling.

[Denise Brooks-Robertson]

Hello;

I have a simular problem. My house is 30 yrs old. The electrical wiring in the house is aluminum. I am told this is a serious problem especially since the
current switches and outlets are not compatable to aluminum wiring.

Do you have any suggestion on how to fix this problem other than the expense of rewiring the house? Also, do you know of any electrical supplier that I can order
outlet and switches that are compatible with aluminum wiring?

Thanks