Old Panels Pose Potential Hazard

From the 1950s to 1990s, the United States saw an amazing number of homes built. During the building, developers put in the most economical electrical panels they could find. They wanted to keep expenses to a minimum, so young families could afford a house.

Unfortunately, many of these homes were equipped with sub-par electrical panels that were poorly designed and caused fires that destroyed homes. Today, many of these older homes are unable to pass inspection or be insured because of these panels. The only way to know if you have one of these electrical panels in your home is to inspect your panel box and see who manufactured it. However, even this isn't enough because some panels were built by one company but sold under a different name. Re-branding doesn't change the fact they still pose significant fire risks.

What's in Your Panel?

Start by looking for the following brand names on your electrical panel. If you see any of the names listed below, you need to have a qualified professional electrician out to your home to do an inspection.

Federal Pacific

Federal Pacific Electric panels were installed in over 28 million homes. Originally thought to be safe, investigators sooned learned Federal Pacific had manipulated the circuits to pass Underwriters Laboratories testing. However, due to budgetary constraints a recall was never conducted.

Zinsco

Zinsco panels were installed in homes in the 1970s. They used circuit breakers that can melt and fail to trip if there is a surge in power, or a short in the circuit. This may cause the insulation around the wire to melt and start a fire.

GTE/Sylvania

GTE/Sylvania boxes are actually just re-branded Zinsco panels. Turns out that changing the name wasn't enough to solve the serious fire hazards these panels posed.

Sylvania

These panels are virtually identical to their predecessors, and they were the final attempt to try and cover up the problem with a simple re-branding.

Don't Doubt; Give Us a Shout

If you're uncomfortable inspecting your electrical panel, give us a call. We can accurately determine if your panel is hazardous and if you do need an upgrade, you can rest easy knowing you'll be getting the safest possible panel installed by professsionals.

Call (954) 371-5822 Today.

But Wait... There's More!

In the past 25 years, our demand for power in our home's has increased exponentially. Adding a treadmill or a powerful sound system might just be the straw that breaks the panel's back. Many of these "high energy" items are much more affordable, so people buy and install them without thinking about the strain they are putting on their electric system.

Look for fuses. The fuses themselves aren't dangerous. They were used for years in electrical boxes. However, they are no longer used in modern construction, so if you have fuses in your electrical box it means you're dealing with a very old box.
Overloaded breakers are another problem. Over the years homeowners, handymen, and other people will overload breakers with too many electrical appliances. This can cause continual tripping of a breaker, and if it's really overloaded, it may cause a fire.
If your panel is older than 25 years, then you might consider having a new panel installed
If there is unpermitted work on your home or if any work has been done by untrained or unskilled workers
A home that has a new addition or been remodeled should have the box tested to make sure it can safely meet any new demand for electricity.
If you have any flickering lights or unexpected interruptions to your electrical power in a room or outlet.

Additionally, you may have remodeled and built additions onto your home. Modifications can alter the demand for electricity and can lead to electrical issues, if you don't make sure your electrical box is brought up to date with the changes to your home.

We're Here For You

Caribbean Electrical is a professional and full service residential and commercial electrical service in South Florida. We've inspected thousands of electrical panels and replaced many of them, bringing better service and relief to homeowners. During an electrical panel safety inspection, we will do a full and complete inspection of your electrical panel. Based on our observations, we will give you recommendations for your situation. Often, many homeowners find they don't need to do anything. Should you choose to replace your electrical panel, we do the following:

We pull all permits
We handle all inspections
We work directly with the FPL
Show up on time completely equipped and stocked with the necessary materials to replace your panel
At the end of each day, we thoroughly clean up.
We do all of our own work. There are no subcontractors.
100% insured
Available 24/7 for work

We understand the apprehension of having technicians at your house. After all, we have families and budgets as well. However, we make things easy, and we are always mindful of family finances. We offer free estimates and will explain to you why the work should be done, and how we will do it. Furthermore, we will do the work with as little disruption to your daily life as possible.

Questions? We Have Answers!

At Caribbean Electrical, we are not looking to do a job. We want to earn your trust and respect and make you a lifelong customer. So, we do the best work possible and give you our honest opinions about what you should do.

Your electrical system is the lifeblood of your home. It is what delivers power to every appliance and entertainment system you have in your home. So, it's best if you have inspections done by trained and qualified people. If you have any questions please call us at (954) 371-5822 or send us an email; we would be happy to speak with you.