Federal Pacific Panel Replacement in Denver
Is Your Home’s Circuit Breaker Panel Safe?
Electrical panels manufactured by Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) were commonly installed in local homes built in the 1950s to as late as the 1990s. The Stab-Lok circuit panels have been found to have a significantly higher risk of malfunctioning and causing electrical fires, especially as these panels age. While circuit breakers and electrical panels are meant to protect your home from surges, short circuits, and electrical overloads, many Stab-Lok breaks have been found to be defective because they do not trip properly.
If you’ve experienced outages or smoking from your circuit breaker panel, do not hesitate to contact our Denver electricians at Absolute Plumbing, Electrical, Heating & Air. We can act quickly to prevent serious damage to your property and your safety.
Investigations into the Dangers of Federal Pacific Panels
Starting in the 1980s, testing by local and federal authorities have revealed that 1-in-4 Stab-Lok style breakers were faulty. FPE covered up this fact by committing fraud. Many breakers labeled up to UL standards were later found to be defective, often after they had already caused electrical fires. While the Consumer Product Safety Commission closed their investigation in 1983, they did not recall the defective breakers and panels, allowing them to continue to be installed in millions of homes throughout the U.S.
This has led to approximately 2,800 electrical fires every year related directly to malfunctioning FPE breakers and panels. Their company’s negligent actions put thousands of homes at risk, which is why it is vital to replace Federal Pacific panels in your Denver home.
How Do You Know if You Have an FPE Panel?
An Absolute Plumbing, Electrical, Heating & Air technician can inspect your breaker box to learn if you have a Stab-Lok style breaker or panel manufactured by Federal Pacific Electric. Also, if you are installing a water heater in Denver, you will need to make sure that you have sufficient power from your existing electric panel.
We will discuss your property and look for the following:
- Age: If your home is 25 to 65 years old, you may have an FPE panel installed
- Look: An FPE manufactured panel generally has its logo and name embossed on the cover
- Mechanisms: “Stab-Lok” is usually printed on the panel and the mechanisms will be present in intact breakers
- Issues: You experience frequent outages, have smelled smoke coming from your electrical panel, or have other electrical issues in your home
Our certified electricians at Absolute Plumbing, Electrical, Heating & Air can replace your Federal Pacific panel throughout Metro Denver and the surrounding communities. We prioritize your safety and work hard to ensure your panels are up to date and functioning properly to prevent damage and harm to you and your family.
Call 720-669-4188 to schedule your electrical inspection today.
