If your home was built between 1965 and 1973, there's a good chance it has aluminum wiring running through the walls. That's not a reason to panic, but it is a reason to pay attention.

Aluminum wiring isn't inherently defective. It was a widely accepted material during a period when copper prices spiked, and builders needed an alternative. The problem is what happens at the connections. Over decades of use, aluminum wiring behaves differently than copper at the points where wires meet outlets, switches, and fixtures, and that difference is where fire risk enters the picture.

The fix doesn't always mean tearing out every wire in your house. For most homes, a process called pigtailing offers a code-compliant, electrician-approved solution. Here's what you need to know.