Federal Pacific Electrical Panel: The Hidden Danger in Your Home

Federal Pacific Electrical Panel

With its charming streets lined with colonial-style homes, Washington Park in Providence, Rhode Island, is a coveted neighborhood for families seeking a peaceful and friendly community to raise their children. As a homeowner in this area, you take pride in maintaining your property and ensuring that your loved ones are safe and comfortable.

One aspect of home maintenance that often goes overlooked and underestimated is the electrical panel. As long as the lights turn on and appliances work, we tend to forget about the importance of this vital component in our homes. However, if you live in a home built before the 1990s, chances are your electrical panel may be a Federal Pacific (FPE) panel, which poses a significant safety hazard that every homeowner should be aware of.

As a licensed electrician, B&K Electric has been serving the residents of Washington Park and the greater Providence area for over seventeen years. In this article, we will dive into the details of FPE panels, their hidden dangers, and why it’s crucial to have them replaced by a professional electrician.

Understanding the Federal Pacific Electrical Panel

In the mid-1950s to the early 1980s, Federal Pacific Electric Company (FPE) was one of the most prominent manufacturers of electrical panels in the United States. Theirs were the most widely used panels in homes and businesses, with an estimated 28 million units installed nationwide.

FPE panels were the go-to choice for contractors and builders due to their low cost and quick installation. However, as years went by, numerous reports of faulty FPE panels causing electrical fires and explosions started surfacing, leading to investigations and lawsuits.

The root cause of these incidents was traced back to the design and manufacturing of FPE panels, which were found to be poorly constructed with substandard materials. The breakers in these panels were known to lose their ability to trip when overloaded, which can cause them to overheat and catch fire. Additionally, the circuit breakers would not always fit snugly into place, resulting in arcing and sparking.

Why Your FPE Panel Needs to Be Replaced

If you have an FPE panel in your home, it’s essential to understand that it poses a serious safety risk. A study conducted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) found that FPE panels had a failure rate of up to 80%, making them the most dangerous electrical panels in America.

Even more alarming is the fact that FPE panels are more likely to fail when they are old and worn out, which is often the case in homes built before the 1990s. As time goes by, the panel’s connections can loosen, creating a fire hazard.

Furthermore, FPE panels are not equipped to handle the energy demands of modern homes, which can lead to overheating and potentially cause appliances to malfunction or catch fire. This danger is compounded if you have added any new appliances or equipment to your home, which puts an additional strain on the panel.

The Importance of Hiring a Professional Electrician

Many homeowners may be tempted to save money by attempting to replace or repair their FPE panels themselves. However, this is not a project you should take on as a DIY project. In fact, most states prohibit homeowners from doing their own electrical work, as it requires the expertise and knowledge of a licensed electrician.

Replacing an FPE panel requires a skilled and experienced professional who knows the intricacies of electrical wiring and safety standards. A professional electrician can accurately assess the condition of your panel, identify any potential hazards, and recommend the best course of action to replace it.

Moreover, an experienced electrician will ensure that all wiring and connections are up to code and that your new panel is properly grounded and installed. They will also provide you with a certificate of completion to show that your electrical panel has been replaced by a licensed professional, which can come in handy if you ever decide to sell your home.

At B&K Electric, we are committed to providing the highest quality electrical services to our community. Our licensed electricians have the knowledge and expertise to replace your FPE panel safely and efficiently, giving you peace of mind and ensuring the safety of your loved ones.

Keep Your Home Safe with B&K Electric

If you own a home in Washington Park or the greater Providence area, it’s essential to have your FPE panel replaced by a licensed electrician as soon as possible. The safety of your family and home should be a top priority, and ignoring the potential hazards of an FPE panel can have catastrophic consequences.

At B&K Electric, we take pride in our community and strive to provide the best electrical services possible to our neighbors. Contact us today to schedule an inspection of your FPE panel and have it replaced by trusted professionals.

Topics:

Federal Pacific Electrical Panel,

Electrical Safety,

Licensed Electrician