Home Insurance and Electrical Panels have had some changes in the last few years. Which raises the question:
Will my electrical panel affect homeowners insurance?
After the wildfires of January 2025, we started seeing a significant change in the relationship between insurance companies and home inspections. Previously, insurance companies rarely, if ever, concerned themselves with what was in the home inspection report. Since the fires, we have noticed insurance companies taking an interest in the inspection reports, and one area they tend to focus on is the electrical panel section. Some panels draw more interest than others.
Zinsco Electrical Panels
Zinsco panels have long since been identified as a potential red flag by home inspectors. We have written about Zinsco panels before here. The shift was that this was previously a recommendation to have the panels examined by an electrician and consider replacing them. As my electrician used to say, you’ll sleep better at night if you replace it. But after 2024, some insurance companies started making changing the panel a requirement to get insurance. By the end of 2025, it appeared that more and more insurance companies were now having this same requirement. The inspection did not change, but the insurance environment did
Another odd issue is that only the residential Zinsco panels were believed to have issues, while commercial grade panels have generally been considered OK. However, in some larger luxury homes, the panel may indeed be commercial grade. This becomes an issue because commercial-grade panels are not known for having the same issues as the residential model. But an insurance company may simply see the Zinsco name and apply its underwriting guidelines without making that distinction.
Federal Pacific
Federal Pacific Stab Lok Panels have long since been criticized for having a high rate of failure. You can read about the controversy here. The issue for homeowners has been that, despite the known issues, they have never been recalled. But like Zinsco panels, insurance companies now will likely deny coverage to homes with a Federal Pacific panel.
Challenger Electrical Panels
Now we get into a gray area. The issue is that some Zinsco panels were sold under the Challenger brand name in the early 1980s. Some early-model Challenger panels built in the early 1980s have had some issues with breakers coming loose. There was also a recall of GFCI breakers in 1988, but not the entire panel. However, there were no known issues with Challenger panels beyond these issues. Challenger brand was purchased by Eaton in 1994, and the brand name was stopped in 2005. Despite only certain years of Challenger having any known issues, and only a very small amount breakers were ever recalled, as of 2026, some insurance companies have started to deny coverage based simply on the name. Yes, even if the panel has no issues, no recalls, and is otherwise fine, some insurance companies might deny coverage simply because of the brand name.
Murray Electrical
Murray Electrical started in 1899. The brand name was phased out by 2020 by Siemens, who had purchased the brand in the 1990s. Over the years there were a handful of breakers recalled. However, the recalls were over limited batches of breakers, and the panels as a whole were never subject to recall. As of this writing, I do not know of any insurance companies denying coverage for simply having a Murray panel. However, this is an ever evolving topic.
Bulldog Pushmatic Panels
We previously covered Bulldog Pushmatic panels here. The issue with the panels is they are simply 50+ years old and not made to modern standards. That alone may or may not be a problem with some insurance companies.
Insurance Requirements Can Change
This is particularly important in California.
Insurance availability and underwriting requirements have changed significantly in recent years. Carriers may modify what they will accept based on their own loss experience, risk models, and underwriting policies. Home inspectors don’t determine those policies, and there is no single set of insurance requirements that applies to every carrier.
We do our best to keep clients informed; however, the requirements can and often do change without notice. Insurance companies DO NOT inform home inspectors what might be denied and what is OK. They do not tell us what they are thinking. In addition, every insurance company has different standards. That’s why we cannot tell you with any absolute certainty that a particular electrical panel will or will not be acceptable to your insurance company.
Your insurance company has to answer that question.
At IM Home Inspections, our job is to evaluate the visible and accessible condition of the property and help our clients understand what they’re buying. As insurance requirements continue to change, we also believe buyers should know when an issue may need to be discussed separately with their insurance professional.
We recommend discussing the electrical equipment identified in your inspection report during the insurance contingency period and clarify any potential issues. Keep in mind that insurance requirements vary between companies. An electrical panel that is acceptable to one carrier may not be acceptable to another.
Book your home inspection by calling 818-298-3405 or book online here.