- Deadline-aware scheduling
- Permit + agency inspection included
- Licensed for your town or county
Why these panels get flagged
Federal Pacific Stab-Lok, Zinsco (including some Sylvania-branded models), Challenger and Pushmatic panels are widely treated by insurers and home inspectors as higher-risk equipment, and some carriers refuse to write or renew a policy until they're replaced. Fuse boxes raise similar questions, mainly because of capacity and the temptation to over-fuse a circuit. Many were installed during the post-war building boom that produced so much of Nassau and western Suffolk.
When replacement usually happens
- Buying or selling: the buyer's inspector flags the panel and it becomes a negotiation item or a lender condition.
- Insurance renewal or a new policy: the carrier asks about the panel brand or sends an inspector.
- A renovation: adding a kitchen, AC or an EV charger is the natural moment to replace it.
Replace like-for-like, or upgrade?
If the house only needs its existing capacity, a like-for-like replacement is faster and cheaper. If you're adding central air, a heat pump, an EV charger or a pool, doing the 200-amp upgrade in the same visit avoids paying for the panel twice. See the panel upgrade cost guide.
Getting it done before a deadline
- Send a photo of the panel label and your closing or renewal date with your quote request.
- The electrician files with an approved inspection agency and schedules PSEG Long Island if the service is changing.
- After the install, keep the agency's certificate. Your insurer, buyer or lender will usually want a copy.
Where we cover
Federal Pacific & Zinsco Panel Replacement quotes are available across Nassau and Suffolk. Who licenses the electrician and which inspection agencies are accepted differ by town. Start with yours:
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell if I have a Federal Pacific panel?
Look at the label inside the panel door for "Federal Pacific Electric" or "FPE," and at the breakers for "Stab-Lok" printed on them, often with red-orange trip handles. Zinsco panels often have multicolored breaker handles. Don't remove the panel cover yourself; a photo of the door label is enough for a quote.
Will my insurance drop me because of an FPE or Zinsco panel?
Many insurers decline or won't renew policies on homes with Federal Pacific, Zinsco, Challenger or Pushmatic panels, and inspectors routinely flag them during home sales. Ask your carrier directly; replacement usually resolves it.
Can I just replace the breakers?
Replacing the whole panel is the standard recommendation. It's usually done as a like-for-like replacement or combined with a 200-amp upgrade if the house needs more capacity.
How fast can it be done before a closing?
The install is typically one day, but the permit, agency inspection and PSEG Long Island scheduling add time. Start as soon as the inspection report flags it, and tell the electrician your closing date.
Related services
- Panel & Service Upgrades: 100A to 200A service upgrades and panel replacements, including the permit, the agency inspection and the PSEG Long Island meter cutover.
- EV Charger Installation: Level 2 home chargers on a dedicated circuit, with a load check first so a 100-amp house doesn't trip, and help with the PSEG LI charger rebate.
- Generator Installation: Whole-house standby generators with automatic transfer switches, or a code-compliant inlet and interlock for a portable generator.
- Electrical Repair & Troubleshooting: Breakers that keep tripping, dead outlets, flickering lights, half the house without power, warm or buzzing devices.
- Urgent & Emergency Electrical: Burning smells, sparking outlets, storm-damaged service masts and power problems that can't wait for next week.
- House Rewiring: Replacing knob-and-tube, cloth-insulated and ungrounded wiring, and remediating 1960s–70s aluminum branch wiring.
- Lighting & Ceiling Fans: Recessed lighting, fixture and fan installs, dimmers, outdoor and landscape lighting.
- Electrical Safety Inspections: A licensed electrician's evaluation for a home purchase or sale, an insurance carrier's request, or peace of mind in an older house.