Do I Have a Recalled or Dangerous Electrical Panel?
Most of you have heard about a certain few electrical panels that have been deemed “unfit” or “dangerous”. A lot of contractors like to use fear as a marketing point to push often unnecessary sales.
Here at Electrical Specialists it is a big part of our business model to be completely transparent with our customers and offer them what they would like and would best fit their ideal style and budget.
In the chance that during the estimate or project we will come across an item that draws concern for the safety of our client, we will absolutely bring these things to attention.
As far as trying to upsell on items that don’t pose risk, we stay focused on the task at hand and leave that for your digression as home or business owner(s). Here are some frequently asked questions we get from clients about the safety of their electrical panel or system.
My panel is very old.
Should I just replace it?
As you can imagine, towns with the history such as where we are located have many historic homes and thus very old electrical systems. I would first ask the client the brand of the panel in question as that will tell me the beginning of the story and what we may be in for.
There are a few brands that have had such a bad history they are an obvious danger and need replaced as soon as possible but we will cover that in the next few questions. Believe it or not, being old is not necessarily a sign of any danger at all.
There are some very old panels such as Bulldogs and early GE panels that work like a charm and pose no danger in their current state. Now if you are looking to add new circuits or update existing ones, parts can be elusive or not available as companies have gone out of business. But to be clear, age is not generally a reason for concern.
Are there certain brands I need to watch out for?
Absolutely. There are several brands that have been recalled and are not fit for use in any occupied or unoccupied building. The two brands I would place at the top of this list are Federal Pacific and Zinsco. These two brands have multiple issues that can cause shocking hazards and even electrical related fires.
These brands were very popular in the 70s and 80s and were a low budget alternative for contractors at the time. We run into them mainly in large older neighborhoods that have 20 to 30 houses with the same layout. The cost-effective pricing made them very attractive to builders and they were installed by the thousands.
Unfortunately over time, it was discovered that they had a recurring issue with non tripping breakers. Breakeres work by having a very fine piece of metal that acts as a kind of thermostat, and when that metal is heated to a certain degree, it springs forward, throwing the breaker to the off position. Most breakers trip at or near the 200 degree mark. As you can imagine, if your wiring reaches 200 degrees and does not have the ability to de energize, there is a good chance of the situation becoming worse. These types and brands are easy to avoid.
How do I know if my panel is safe?
This a general question we receive on a regular basis as we work closely with local realtors and homeowners moving in and out of houses that have an unknown history. The honest answer is, you don’t know until you look. The good news is its not as daunting as it sounds. Any knowledgeable company can tell you over the phone or with something as simple as a picture.
Just to be clear this article is for those who are curious about the safety of their electrical components or those who may have concern due to a warning from a contractor or a knowledgeable source. No reason to go digging into your panel at 2 AM and looking for a problem when there is none. If you have any concerns at all feel free to go to the contact us button and send a simple snap shot. We would be happy to share information or answer any questions you may have.
Thanks for reading! If you need more information, get in touch with our team.
