Does Home Insurance Cover Electrical Panel Replacement?

If a covered event damages your home’s electric panel, your homeowners insurance might pay to repair or replace it.

John Egan
Written byJohn Egan
John Egan
John Egan
  • 20+ years in insurance and personal finance content creation

  • Contributor to top brands like USA Today

John specializes in insurance, personal finance, real estate, and health and wellness. In 2022, he authored a guide on content marketing for beginners.

Featured in

media logomedia logomedia logo
Courtney Mikulski
Courtney MikulskiSenior Editor, Auto
  • 3+ years producing insurance and personal finance content

  • Main architect of the Insurify Quality Score

Courtney’s deep personal finance knowledge extends beyond insurance to credit cards, consumer lending, and banking. She thrives on creating actionable content.

Featured in

media logomedia logo

Updated March 9, 2023

Advertiser Disclosure

At Insurify, our goal is to help customers compare insurance products and find the best policy for them. We strive to provide open, honest, and unbiased information about the insurance products and services we review. Our hard-working team of data analysts, insurance experts, insurance agents, editors and writers, has put in thousands of hours of research to create the content found on our site.

We do receive compensation when a sale or referral occurs from many of the insurance providers and marketing partners on our site. That may impact which products we display and where they appear on our site. But it does not influence our meticulously researched editorial content, what we write about, or any reviews or recommendations we may make. We do not guarantee favorable reviews or any coverage at all in exchange for compensation.

Why you can trust Insurify: Comparing accurate insurance quotes should never put you at risk of spam. We earn an agent commission only if you buy a policy based on our quotes. Our editorial team follows a rigorous set of editorial standards and operates independently from our insurance partners. Learn more.

The electrical panel, also known as a breaker box, controls the power that runs your appliances, electronic devices, and anything else in your home that relies on electricity. Typically contained in a metal box, the electrical panel holds circuit breakers. Circuit breakers protect your home from the damage that an overload or short circuit can cause.[1]

Your home’s electrical panel generally lasts 20 to 40 years. However, you may need to replace the electrical panel sooner than that if a catastrophe damages it. Your homeowners insurance might pay for a new electrical panel, depending on the cause of the damage and your coverage.

Compare Home Insurance Quotes

Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
Based on 3,806+ reviews
4.8/5
Shopper Approved
ProgressiveLiberty MutualAllstate

How do you know your electrical panel needs replacement?

A number of things may signal the need to replace your electrical panel, including:

  • Your home is old. If your home is old (generally at least 40 years old) and the electrical panel is original to the home, it may be worn out and need replacement.

  • There’s rust and corrosion. If you spot rust or corrosion on circuit breakers, cables, wires, and other components, contact an electrician as soon as possible.

  • The panel smells. Overheating inside the electrical panel may cause an odor like the kind you notice when there’s a fire.

  • Your electric bills increase. This may be happening because malfunctioning wires are sending more power to appliances and other items that use electricity.

  • Your circuit breakers are tripping. If you’re regularly resetting the breakers after they’ve tripped, it might be time for a new electrical panel. A breaker trips when the panel detects an electrical issue and automatically shuts off the breaker to prevent the circuit from overheating.

  • Your lights frequently dim. Dimming lights could be a sign that something’s wrong with the electrical panel.

  • You hear strange noises. Loose wiring may create crackling, popping, or sizzling sounds.[2]

When homeowners insurance will cover electrical panel replacement

The part of your homeowners insurance policy that covers your home’s structure (and not the belongings inside) may cover the replacement of your electrical panel. This coverage, known as dwelling coverage, normally kicks in if there’s been a “sudden and accidental” loss that a covered event causes, such as a fire or a lightning strike.

The cost of installing a new electrical panel varies. Estimates range from about $500 to more than $2,000.[3]

Commonly covered home insurance perils

Most home insurance policies cover some common events that can damage your home and belongings, called “perils.” Here are the most commonly covered perils for home insurance policies:

When homeowners insurance won’t cover electrical panel replacement

In some situations, a homeowners insurance policy might not cover an electrical panel replacement.

For instance, an insurer may reject your claim if the panel is old or you haven’t properly maintained it.

In addition, the insurer might not pay for a new electrical panel if your home is equipped with knob-and-tube wiring or aluminum wiring. An insurer might even refuse to cover your home at all if these types of wiring are present, or at the very least might charge more for coverage.

Knob-and-tube wiring was common in homes and other buildings in North America from roughly the 1880s to the 1940s. This type of wiring is considered obsolete and could be a safety hazard.[4]

Insurers also consider aluminum wiring in homes a hazard. In some homes, aluminum wiring was substituted for copper wiring from about 1965 to 1973. The main problem with aluminum wiring is that it deteriorates faster than copper wiring does, creating a possible fire hazard.[5]

Important Information

Homes built before 1972 and wired with aluminum were 55 times more likely to have electrical outlets with fire hazards than homes wired with copper, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.[6]

Are electrical systems covered under your home warranty?

A home warranty generally covers problems with electrical systems arising from regular wear and tear. This includes coverage of components like the electrical panel, circuit breakers, and electric wiring.

However, a home warranty usually doesn’t cover issues related to power surges, power failures, lightning strikes, circuit overloads, and similar incidents.

Home Warranty vs. Home Insurance: How Do They Differ?

Home Warranty vs. Home Insurance: How Do They Differ?

How to prevent future electrical panel replacement concerns

Making sure your electrical panel is running smoothly offers benefits like boosting safety and perhaps even preventing a homeowners insurance claim.

How an up-to-date electrical system benefits you

The benefits of having an up-to-date electrical system include:

  • Cutting down on the risk of an electrical fire; faulty electrical systems are among the leading causes of house fires[7]

  • Ensuring your electrical system meets current electrical codes

  • Enabling appliances and other electricity-dependent items to run more efficiently

  • Making it cheaper to insure your home

  • Reducing the likelihood of filing an electricity-related insurance claim

  • Potentially boosting the resale value of your home

Things you can do to keep your electrical system up to code

Keeping your electrical system up to code generally means making sure it complies with the National Fire Protection Association’s National Electrical Code. You may also consider including state and local electrical codes when updating your electrical system.

Bringing your home’s electrical system up to code may involve:

  • Having a qualified electrician inspect your home

  • Replacing potentially hazardous wiring, such as knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring

  • Upgrading the electrical panel

  • Installing new electrical outlets

  • Putting in new electrical switches

  • Installing modern lighting, such as LED lights

How to spot issues before they become major problems

Rather than waiting for something bad to happen, you can proactively spot and fix electrical issues before they become major problems:

  • Get the electrical system inspected each year by a qualified electrician.

  • Address issues with the electrical panel that need to be fixed but don’t necessarily call for replacing the panel. This may include hiring a professional to disconnect wires and terminals, clean the panel’s components, and freshen up the electrical connections.

  • Use a multimeter to diagnose potential problems. When plugged into an outlet, this tool measures electrical voltage, currents, and resistance.

  • Convert to energy-saving appliances and devices. These will put less strain on the electrical system.

  • Switch to power-conserving LED light bulbs.

  • Add a whole-house surge protector. This is designed to protect appliances and electronics from damage when a power surge occurs.

  • Install ground-fault circuit interrupters. These circuit breakers turn off electricity when a ground fault occurs. A ground fault is an unplanned, potentially dangerous electrical path between a power source and a grounded surface.[8]

    Compare Home Insurance Quotes

    Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
    Based on 3,806+ reviews
    4.8/5
    Shopper Approved
    ProgressiveLiberty MutualAllstate

Home electrical system safety tips

Here’s how you can better manage your home’s electrical system:

  • Don’t overload electrical outlets.

  • Unplug unused appliances to minimize fire risks.

  • Inspect electrical cords and extension cords to look for damage. Replace any that are beyond repair.

  • Use the correct wattage for lamps and light fixtures.

  • Plug major appliances directly into electrical outlets rather than into power strips or extension cords.

  • Keep electric-powered appliances and devices away from water to prevent shocking.

  • Store combustible items away from furnaces and space heaters.

  • Hire a qualified electrician to do electrical work.[9]

Electrical panel replacement FAQs

Keeping your home’s electrical systems in good repair can make your home safer and help you avoid costly home insurance claims for electrical panel damage. Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about electrical panels, how they work, and when you should consider replacing one.

  • What electrical problems does homeowners insurance cover?

    A homeowners insurance policy typically covers electrical problems caused by a “sudden and accidental” loss that’s cited in the policy, such as a fire or lightning strike.

  • How often should you replace your home’s electrical panel?

    Generally, an electric panel lasts 20 to 40 years. But it should be replaced before then if there are problems, such as excessive rust or corrosion.

  • Will homeowners insurance pay to upgrade your electrical system?

    Your insurer may pay for an upgrade of your home’s electrical system if it was damaged in an incident your policy covers. However, you typically need to pay for a normal upgrade on your own. An electrical upgrade may let you score a home insurance discount, depending on the insurer.

  • Does homeowners insurance cover rewiring a home?

    Most homeowners insurance policies pay to replace wiring damaged in an incident mentioned in your policy, such as a fire or lightning strike.

  • Does homeowners insurance cover faulty wiring?

    Homeowners insurance generally doesn’t cover faulty wiring. It also might not cover outdated wiring, such as knob-and-tube wiring or aluminum wiring.

Sources

  1. Eaton. "What is a circuit breaker."
  2. Milton Electric Company. "7 Warning Signs You Need to Replace Your Electrical Panel."
  3. Angi. "How Much Does Electrical Panel Replacement Cost?."
  4. International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. "Knob-and-Tube Wiring."
  5. International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. "Inspecting Aluminum Wiring."
  6. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. "Repairing Aluminum Wiring."
  7. Eastern Kentucky University. "The 10 Most Common Causes of House Fires."
  8. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. "Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI)."
  9. Electrical Safety Foundation International. "Electrical Safety While Working From Home."
John Egan
John Egan

John Egan is a freelance writer and content marketing strategist in Austin, Texas. His specialties include personal finance, real estate, and health and wellness. John’s work has been published by outlets such as CreditCard.com, Bankrate, Forbes Advisor, Experian, Capital One, The Balance and U.S. News & World Report. He is the author of The Stripped-Down Guide to Content Marketing.

Courtney Mikulski
Edited byCourtney MikulskiSenior Editor, Auto
Courtney Mikulski
Courtney MikulskiSenior Editor, Auto
  • 3+ years producing insurance and personal finance content

  • Main architect of the Insurify Quality Score

Courtney’s deep personal finance knowledge extends beyond insurance to credit cards, consumer lending, and banking. She thrives on creating actionable content.

Featured in

media logomedia logo