- EC13009848
- EC13010928
Electrical Questions
“You should replace it” isn’t the same as “you must replace it.”
I’ve worked as an electrician since 1988. Over those years, I’ve heard claims about older electrical panels repeated so often that people accept them without asking for documentation.
Homeowners deserve more than a frightening statement followed by a sales pitch from a private equity-owned electrical contractor that sent a salesperson disguised as an electrician to their home.
If someone tells you your panel was recalled, ask for the recall notice. If they say it lost its listing, ask for documentation covering your equipment. If they say replacement is mandatory, ask what requirement applies to your home. The panel in your home was code compliant at time of installation and most times has no active recalls, just a lot of rumored speculation.
Home insurance providers frequently tell homeowners to replace older, outdated panels, such as Federal Pacific (FPE) Stab-Lok, Zinsco, and Challenger panels. They do this because their loss runs demonstrate a propensity for these panels to fail. This means the ‘bean counters’ want to eliminate risk, and now you have to pay. You might find another insurance carrier that will allow the panel if it’s inspected by a licensed contractor and if the panel does not show any signs of degradation, improper installation methods or overheated connections.
A documented safety concern, an insurance condition, and a government recall are different things. Your electrician should explain which one supports the recommendation.
Click a photo to view it larger.
Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Stab-Lok equipment has been the subject of longstanding safety concerns. In 1983, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission closed its investigation into FPE Stab-Lok residential breakers. The agency later clarified that it had not determined whether the breakers were safe or unsafe. You can read the CPSC’s investigation announcement and clarification.
That history is a reason to ask informed questions about your equipment. The details of the panel, its condition, your insurance requirements, and any proposed work all matter.
Would I replace an older Federal Pacific Stab-Lok or Zinsco panel in my own home? Yes. But my recommendation is not, by itself, a legal requirement.
If replacement isn’t something you can undertake right now, we can evaluate the panel, explain our findings, and determine what work we can safely perform. We won’t promise that every panel can remain in service, and we won’t present an unsupported claim as a mandate.
Our job is to give you facts, explain your options, and help you make an informed decision. Fair prices and no fake upsell.
Please photograph the panel with its cover in place. Do not remove the cover. Send us your photo and contact information to request help identifying your panel and an evaluation or replacement estimate. Our office will review your information and follow up.
Send us a photo of your panel to request an evaluation or replacement estimate.