CAUTION: Federal Pacific Breaker Replacement

You may have never thought about the type of circuit breaker you have in your home, but it is important, as a Federal Pacific breaker may put your home at risk of electrical issues and even fires.

Millions of homes built between 1950 and 1990 use the Federal Pacific Electrical (FPE) circuit breaker panel to distribute power throughout the structure, but modern electricians understand the hazards of this system. Professionals recommend replacing FPE panels with safer breaker boxes ASAP.

The Danger of a Federal Pacific Breaker Box

Now an out-of-business company, Federal Pacific Electrical was found guilty in 2002 of falsifying testing data and selling unsafe circuit breakers. A 1980s investigation by the Consumer Product Safety Commission discovered that Federal Pacific breakers failed to trip 51% of the time. A subsequent investigation by electrical engineer Jesse Aronstein determined that an estimated 2,800 fires start per year due to Federal Pacific circuit breakers, resulting in as many as 13 annual deaths.

A home with a Federal Pacific Stab-Lok circuit breaker faces significant fire risk because these breakers don’t have ground wires and may suddenly fail to trip at a critical moment. A properly functioning circuit breaker protects your home’s electrical system from power surges, wire overheating, and short-circuiting issues by disconnecting power to the circuit. When breakers fail to trip, the continuing flow of electricity can cause destructive and life-threatening fires.

How to Tell if You Have a Federal Pacific Circuit Breaker

If your home was built after 1960 and before 1990, it may have a Federal Pacific breaker box. To find out which company manufactured your breaker box, inspect the panel inside and out and look for a logo or company name. You may find the FPE name on the front of the panel door or the Stab-Lok name inside the box.

If you need assistance locating manufacturer details on your circuit breaker panel, contact a local electrician to help you determine if you have a Federal Pacific breaker.

Modern Breaker Box Replacement Benefits

The National Electrical Code no longer allows the legal installation of FPE breaker boxes because they fail to meet safety requirements. If you replace your FPE panel with a new circuit breaker box, you’ll benefit from the following:

• Safe ground wire: Modern electrical panels use ground wires to discharge excess electricity in the wiring system into the ground. Because FPE panels don’t have ground wires, any excess electricity from power surges enters the home, potentially causing appliance damage, shocks, and house fires.
• Decreased fire risk: Electrical fires present a significant danger with FPE panels because breakers may not trip during a power surge. A modern panel replacement will give you peace of mind knowing your breakers will trip before a fire threatens your home.
• Home insurance coverage: Many home insurance providers refuse to insure houses with these outdated, unsafe panels. A modern replacement ensures you qualify for the home insurance you need.

How Much Does Breaker Box Replacement Cost?

A breaker box replacement costs an average of around $1,850, but the exact price varies depending on the scope of the project. How much you’ll pay for a replacement breaker box depends on the size of your home, the number of circuits it needs, and the system’s amperage requirements. For example, you may pay more for a new breaker if you require a lot of power to run a woodworking or metalworking shop in your garage or if you own a large house.

Contact a master electrician to get an accurate estimate of what your breaker box replacement will cost. A professional electrician has the training, knowledge, and industry experience to assess the power needs at your home. They can help you select an appropriately sized breaker panel with all the safety features you need to keep you and everyone in your household safe from electrical issues.

Speak with a Master Electrician Today

If you need a licensed electrician to replace a Federal Pacific breaker at your home in Humble, TX, trust the experienced team at A Phase Electric. We’re a locally owned and operated electrician company with more than two decades of experience keeping electrical systems functioning properly. We specialize in breaker box repairs and replacements.

Call us today at 832-990-4248 for breaker box replacement or to address any other electrical needs you may have.