Is your electrical panel safe? Outdated electrical panels considered unsafe are still found in residential homes across the nation, including the Tampa Bay area. Federal Pacific, Zinsco, and Zinsco-Sylvania electric panels have been known to be hazardous, in some cases causing circuit breakers to overload resulting in fires. An estimated 2-3% of residential fires in the U.S. are caused by faulty Federal Pacific panels,” says Luis Espel, electrician and Owner of LEE Electric, Inc., in Tampa.

History has shown that in some cases the circuit breakers for the Federal Pacific or Zinsco electrical panels don’t trip under an overload or a short circuit condition. In other cases, the breakers on the bus bars got loose, in turn, generating an arcing condition that transfers a great amount of heat and accelerates the potential failure of the breakers, wiring and bus bars.

Luis says, “If the Federal Pacific or Zinsco electrical breakers don’t trip under an overload condition, the insulation of the electrical wire can overheat, melting the insulation and exposing the bare hot wire to flammable materials such as wood, drywall or insulation increasing the possibility of an electrical fire.”

Identify Your Electrical Panel

The most important thing for any homeowner is to take action and simply do a quick evaluation of your electrical panel. Verify if you own a Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel by looking at the labels or viewing the pictures below to find the characteristics of the breakers. If you are not sure or don’t know how to identify the panel, call a professional electrician to fully evaluate the electrical conditions in your home.

Cost of Panel Replacement

The cost to replace an electrical panel can vary depending on the size of the panel and the type of upgrade. A good measure range could be between $800 to $2,500. Luis says, “No matter the cost, it is a lot less than the replacement of your home and no comparison to the lives of your love ones.”

LEE Electric Experiences With Faulty Panels

LEE Electric still finds unsafe panels. Luis shares these occurrences where a faulty panel may have been of great hazard to its clients:

LEE Electric received a call from a general contractor who was working on a bedroom remodel and by accident cut the electrical wire to a receptacle with a reciprocating saw and the breaker did not trip, urging the general contractor to shut the main power off. “After we inspected the entire circuit, our electrician discovered that a Zinsco panel was present and from prior experience with these panels, it was obvious that the panel needed to be replaced for the owner’s safety and peace of mind,” says Luis.

During a separate remodel (for a bathroom), a LEE electrician discovered that the customer’s panel was a Zinsco-Sylvania. The LEE electrician explained to the homeowner the seriousness of the possible hazard the electrical panel which resulting in approval to replace the panel. Luis says, “After our evaluation of the buss bar, we discovered burn marks on one of the breaker slots. Our homeowner was extremely fortunate there was no further damage.”

Get Yearly Electrical Inspections

Residential electrical systems should be inspected at least once a year to avoid future repairs that could be prevented. “Many homeowners are not aware of the seriousness of these panels failing and that is due, in part, to lack of electrical inspections performed at their homes by a qualified electrician or properly trained building inspector,” says Luis.

Take Action Today

If you are concerned about your home electrical panel, LEE Electric will send a highly qualified, skilled technician to assess your home electrical status. Call LEE Electric for a complimentary panel inspection today!

Call: 813-908-0035 or
Text: 813-263-4432