Replace with copper
Rewiring the affected circuits removes the aluminum branch wiring. It costs the most and involves opening walls and ceilings.
House Rewiring & Aluminum Wiring Repair in Lubbock
Aluminum branch wiring, ungrounded circuits, brittle old insulation or a home that has simply outgrown its wiring. Lubbock Electrician Pros is a free quote service that connects you with independent, licensed electricians in Lubbock, TX and nearby towns for written rewiring and repair quotes.
Get a Free Quote Call (806) 621-0160
Signs your wiring needs attention
- Warm outlet or switch plates, or a faint burning smell with no clear source.
- Lights that flicker or dim in several rooms.
- Outlets or switches that stop working, then come back.
- Mostly two-prong outlets, or three-prong outlets that test ungrounded.
- Cable jackets marked "AL" or "ALUMINUM" in the attic or at the panel.
- Cloth-covered or brittle insulation seen during a remodel.
- An insurer or home inspector asking about the wiring.
Do not open boxes or touch wires to check. Heat, smell or sparks are urgent; see emergency electrician help.
Aluminum branch wiring: what the CPSC says
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Publication 516 says homes built before 1965 are unlikely to have aluminum branch circuit wiring. Cables installed between 1965 and the mid-1970s, in new homes, additions, or rewired and new circuits, may contain it.
A survey done for the CPSC found that homes built before 1972 and wired with aluminum were "55 times more likely" to have one or more outlet connections reach "Fire Hazard Conditions" than homes wired with copper. The CPSC recognizes three repairs:
COPALUM crimp
A copper pigtail joined to the aluminum with a COPALUM crimp connector, installed by authorized installers with a special tool.
AlumiConn connector
The CPSC lists the AlumiConn connector as an acceptable alternative repair method for joining a copper pigtail to aluminum wire.
The CPSC warns that "repairs" made with ordinary twist-on connectors may be prone to even more failures. Ask any contractor which method they use, and get it in writing. More detail: aluminum wiring in Lubbock homes.
Lubbock specifics: when the homes were built
ACS 2020–24 5-year estimates show about 33,200 Lubbock homes, about 28% of the total, built in the 1960s and 1970s. That window overlaps the CPSC's 1965 to mid-1970s aluminum period. Much rebuilding after the May 11, 1970 tornado happened in those years too. None of that means a given home has aluminum wiring, and no data show how many Lubbock homes do. It is a reason to ask.
Older still: the ZIP area around Tech Terrace and Overton (79410) has a median build year of 1957, with about 27% of homes built before 1950 (same ACS series). The South Overton Residential Historic District, on the National Register since 1996, includes homes from the 1900s to the 1940s. In Slaton the median is 1963, and in Levelland 1976. Homes this age may have ungrounded circuits, older insulation and decades of add-ons.
Rewiring an older home often goes along with a panel upgrade, and in a rental it may follow a rental electrical inspection.
What a rewire typically involves
Evaluation
The electrician checks the panel, wiring type, grounding and the condition of devices and connections in each room.
Scope and quote
Full rewire, partial rewire, or connection repairs. The written quote should list circuits, the method and the number of connections.
Permit
Rewiring needs a City of Lubbock permit and inspections. Some walls stay open until the rough-in inspection passes.
The work
New cable is fished through attics and walls where possible, with small openings elsewhere. Brick, plaster and slab floors change how wire gets routed.
Final inspection and records
Keep the permit, final inspection and a written description of the work for your insurer and any future buyer.
Rewiring and aluminum repair costs
By the 2026 cost-guide range of $6–$10 per square foot, a 1,500-square-foot home works out to about $9,000–$15,000 for a full rewire. That is a computed estimate, not a quote. Aluminum wiring repairs have no reliable published price; they are priced per connection, so ask for a count and a written quote. See all jobs in the Lubbock electrician cost guide.
| Job | Typical range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Whole-house rewiring | about $6–$10 per sq ft | 2026 cost guides |
| Electrical inspection | $149–$312 (avg ≈ $214) | homeyou |
| Panel upgrade, 100 to 200 A | $1,300–$4,500 | HomeGuide · Fixr |
| City of Lubbock electrical permit | $50 minimum | City fee schedule, FY 2023–24 |
| Aluminum wiring repair (COPALUM, AlumiConn) | priced per connection; ask for a count and a written quote | no reliable published figure |
Published national cost-guide estimates (2025–2026), not quotes. Quotes come from independent contractors, not this site.
Patching and painting are often extra. Ask whether the quote includes them.
Texas rules in plain terms
Texas requires electrical contractors and electricians to be licensed by TDLR (Occupations Code Ch. 1305). Check any license at tdlr.texas.gov/LicenseSearch and look for the contractor's TECL number on the truck and the written proposal. TDLR lists a minimum of $300,000 per occurrence and $600,000 aggregate in liability insurance for electrical contractors, so ask for a certificate of insurance. Texas requires it; verify it.
The City of Lubbock enforces its adopted NEC with local amendments (the 2020 NEC per a 2024 ordinance); the state code moved to the 2026 NEC on Sept. 1, 2026. Confirm what applies to your job with the contractor and the city. Lubbock requires a homeowner permit and inspection for an owner-occupied homestead (check with City of Lubbock Building Safety). Landlords cannot use the owner-resident exemption on a rental.
Questions about a license? TDLR answers at (512) 463-6599 or (800) 803-9202 (Texas only). This is general information, not legal advice.
Questions to ask before you hire
- What is your TECL contractor number? (Then look it up on TDLR's license search.)
- Can you send a certificate of insurance before work starts?
- Will I get a written, itemized quote that lists parts, labor and the permit?
- Is there a trip or diagnostic fee, and does it come off the repair price?
- What is your after-hours or weekend rate, if I need that?
- Who pulls the permit, and is the permit fee in the quote?
- Who schedules the inspection, and will I get a copy of the final?
- Which aluminum repair method will you use, and are you authorized for COPALUM if that is the plan?
- How many connections or circuits are included, and what happens if you find more?
- Who patches walls and ceilings, and is it in the price?
Related pages
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my house has aluminum wiring?
The CPSC says homes built before 1965 are unlikely to have aluminum branch wiring, while cables installed between 1965 and the mid-1970s may contain it. Look at cable jackets in the attic or at the panel for "AL" or "ALUMINUM" printed on them, without touching any wires. A licensed electrician can confirm it safely and explain repair options.
Is aluminum wiring safe?
A survey done for the CPSC found that homes built before 1972 and wired with aluminum were 55 times more likely to have connections at outlets reach "Fire Hazard Conditions" than copper-wired homes. The CPSC recognizes three repairs: replacing with copper, COPALUM crimp connectors, and AlumiConn connectors. It warns that twist-on connector "repairs" may fail even more. Have an electrician evaluate it.
How much does it cost to rewire a house in Lubbock?
2026 cost guides put whole-house rewiring at about $6–$10 per square foot, so a 1,500-square-foot home would run about $9,000–$15,000 by that measure. Aluminum wiring repairs with COPALUM or AlumiConn have no reliable published price; they are priced per connection, so ask for a count and a written quote. These are estimates, not quotes.
Can I get homeowners insurance with aluminum wiring?
Some insurers ask about aluminum branch wiring, and some may want proof of a CPSC-recognized repair before writing or renewing a policy. Rules vary by company. Ask your agent what documentation they accept, and ask your electrician for a written description of the repair method and the number of connections treated.
Do I have to move out during a rewire?
Often not. Many rewires are done room by room, with power restored to finished areas at the end of each day, though some days may be without power in parts of the house. Ask the contractor for a schedule, how they handle plaster or drywall openings, and who patches and paints.
Get rewiring quotes
Say roughly when the home was built, its square footage, what you have seen (aluminum markings, two-prong outlets, flicker, warm plates), and whether an insurer or inspector raised it.
Lubbock Electrician Pros is a free quote service, not an electrical contractor. Independent contractors who serve Lubbock, TX and nearby towns reply on their own schedules, and the contractor you choose quotes, permits and does the work directly with you. Prefer to talk? Call (806) 621-0160
Calls are connected to an independent electrical contractor through a call-routing provider. Ask for the business name and TECL number on the call.
Request free quotes
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