When inspecting electrical systems during a home inspection. The home inspector spends some time reviewing the service entry and electrical meter, proper grounding, ground fault circuit interceptors (GFCI’s), electrical devices and the electrical panel.
There are typically two items during this portion of the inspection that the home inspector is aware of and that can be considered a “Substantial Defect,” potentially breaking the deal.
The first item that a home inspector never wants to see in your new prospective home is a Federal Pacific electrical panel with Stab-Lok breakers. The inspector can identify these types of panels and breakers by their red or orange breaker switch and sometimes the words “Stab-Lok.” These types of breakers cause 2000 fires in homes each year and are a major safety hazard. Some insurance companies may not insure properties with these types of panels and may require replacement. Replacement of a typical 200 AMP panel by a licensed electrician can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $3,000.
For more information regarding Federal Pacific panels please watch the following informational video:
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