Restoration Companies in Kansas City asks, “Is Your Home Electrical Panel Dangerous?”–We recently posted about some dangerous electrical wiring that we have seen in houses where we have helped restore fire damage. Today we want talk more about keeping your house safe with electrical panels and breakers. Read on to learn how to find out if your home electrical panel is dangerous.
The home electrical panel is the heartbeat of your home’s power. It plays an important part of powering your lights and appliances and is the control panel board to keep your home safe from wiring and fire hazards. As the circuit breaker panel ages and more high power appliances are created, older electrical breaker box brands become less effective at handling electric loads.
There are many older home electrical panel brands that can no longer keep up with today’s electrical demands and are now outlawed due to the fire and safety hazard they present. It is time to check your residential electrical panel to see if the characteristics match any of the following panels and call a residential electrician to perform a panel upgrade.
Restoration Companies in Kansas City–Zinsco or Zinsco-Sylvania Home Electrical Panel
The Zinsco panel, a panel board prevalent in the 1970s, gained immense popularity for its innovative design. However, as concerns arose due to design flaws, the installation of this type of home electrical panel dwindled. Despite the known issues, existing stocks were still utilized. Subsequently, as time progressed, the inherent risks of extreme fire hazards and electrical shocks associated with this panel became increasingly evident, raising concerns among homeowners and electricians alike.
You can identify this panel because it is the only electrical service panel that has thin breakers instead of thicker, push, or round ones. Another defining feature of this panel are the bright colors the breakers contain, including pink, yellow, blue, green, and red. You can learn more about this panel on US Inspect.
Restoration Companies in Kansas City–Federal Pacific Panel Board
Homes that were built between 1950 and 1990 commonly have a Federal Pacific circuit breaker panel with Stab-Lok breakers, as outlined in this excellent advice article from Angie’s List. After mass reports of electrical fires starting from Federal Pacific breaker panel boxes, there was investigation performed throughout the 1980s that showed one in four of the Stab-Lok breakers were defective and could not trip to prevent electrical dangers.
Federal Pacific Panel Boards with the fire issues will say Stab-Lok on the panel in between the breakers. The breakers themselves will contain red tips as well. While the company is out of business, the panels are incredibly dangerous and need to be changed immediately by a professional residential electrician.
Restoration Companies in Kansas City–Edison “Type” Electric Panel Box
While the Edison home electrical panel may appear visually appealing, it poses a significant safety risk due to its notably high failure rate. This particular panel type has stood the test of time, remaining in use as one of the oldest box types due to various manufacturers continuing production since its inception a century ago. Identifying an Edison type panel is relatively straightforward – look for fuses made of round, glass components. These distinctive features characterize a panel design that, despite its historical significance, may present potential hazards if not addressed effectively. To see more examples of the Edison panel, visit the McGarry and Madsen Home Inspection blog.
Restoration Companies in Kansas City–Pushmatic Home Electrical Panel
The Pushmatic panel board, prevalent in homes constructed from 1950 to 1980, stands out due to its unique design feature. Unlike traditional panels with left-right switches, Pushmatic breakers are distinctive rectangular buttons that require a “push” to activate or deactivate. Despite not posing a significant fire hazard, these panels are considered outdated as the company is no longer in operation. Obtaining replacement parts for Pushmatic panels can be both costly and challenging, while expanding your home’s electrical system with new circuits is virtually impossible. For a comprehensive understanding of Pushmatic panels and their implications, feel free to explore further details in the provided blog post.
Restoration Companies in Kansas City
It is very important to upgrade your electrical service panel as soon as possible if your panel board is on this list. Each of these electrical panels has been outlawed due to the extreme fire and electrical shock risk they present. If your home electrical panel is not on this list but you want to check your panel for safety, please visit Is My Panel Safe? to see an up-to-date list of outdated panels.
AT MIDWEST COMFORT HOMES. We are your Restoration Contractors in Kansas City
Call us, and we can get your home back together again. We are a fully licensed restoration company offering fire damage restoration in Kansas City with years of experience helping people like you.
Contact us today. MIDWEST COMFORT HOMES • 1100 SW 24th Street Court • Blue Springs, MO 64015
(816) 988-8297 • service@mchrestore.com
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The driving force behind Midwest Comfort Homes is to be among the most trusted and respected home restoration companies in Kansas City. We will communicate with you throughout the entire restoration process to make sure you’re well informed each step of the way. Our Kansas City restoration contractors will make sure you know what comes next and give you a clear timeline for project completion. Home Restoration Companies Kansas City will also be in close contact with your insurance company to ensure each step of the restoration is handled properly.