Expert: Bob Sponaugle - 11/4/2009

Question
The house is wired in aluminam the insurance company wants ether pigtail down to copper or install ark faults
  How would kitchen appliance response to this breakers should i or should i not?

Answer
Hi.

Arc fault breakers could trip when you don't want them to.  If the switch or relay arcs, it will trip. I have not heard to too many complaints about appliances, but then again AFCI breakers are usually not used with appliances.

Aluminum wiring can cause problems, so you should do something.  I don't know how far the kitchen is from the breaker box, but you always have the option of replacing the wire with copper, if the you get a lot of tripping. Many of the circuits in the house are in the kitchen, so you can get a lot of circuits taken care of by just rewiring the kitchen at some point.

I hope this helps.

Bob