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When it comes to protecting your home in Fort Myers, few things are as important as keeping your electrical system safe, up to code, and properly documented. Most homeowners don’t realize it until something goes wrong — a power surge, an electrical fire, or hurricane damage — and the insurance adjuster comes knocking.
As a master electrician here in Fort Myers, I’ve seen firsthand how an outdated or unpermitted electrical panel can cause major headaches during an insurance claim. In some cases, it can even lead to denied coverage.
If you’re a homeowner in Lee County, here’s what you need to know about how your electrical panel affects your insurance, what adjusters actually look for, and why upgrading your panel now can protect both your home and your policy.
Your electrical panel is the control center of your home’s power system. When it’s outdated or unsafe, it increases the risk of fires, shocks, and electrical failures — all costly claims for insurance companies.
That’s why insurers often require inspections or documentation when:
You’re buying a new home.
You’re renewing your policy.
You’ve filed an electrical or fire-related claim.
You’re upgrading your home’s electrical service.
Panels that are too old, damaged, or made by certain high-risk manufacturers are often flagged as a liability — and can lead to increased premiums or nonrenewal until they’re replaced.
If you’re unsure how your panel type or breaker size affects safety ratings, our Fort Myers guide — the panels FAQ — explains key terms and inspection points in plain language.
If your home was built before the 1990s, it might still have one of these panels — and if so, your insurance adjuster will notice.
1. Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Stab-Lok Panels
Common in homes from the 1960s to 1980s.
Known for breakers that fail to trip, even during overloads.
Proven fire hazard — many insurers now refuse to cover homes with these panels.
2. Zinsco Panels
Used in the 1960s–1970s.
Prone to loose bus bar connections, overheating, and melted breakers.
3. Challenger Panels
Installed widely in the 1980s and early 1990s.
Known for overheating and arcing issues inside breakers.
If your Fort Myers home has one of these brands, you’ll almost certainly face insurance issues — and your adjuster will recommend replacement.
When an adjuster or home inspector reviews your electrical system, here’s what they’re checking:
1. Panel Brand and Model
They’ll identify whether your panel is one of the recalled or high-risk brands listed above.
2. Panel Age
Anything over 25–30 years old is considered outdated. Even if it still functions, older panels may not meet today’s safety standards or load requirements.
3. Panel Condition
Rust, corrosion, burn marks, or melted wiring are all red flags. Fort Myers’ humidity and salt air accelerate corrosion, especially on outdoor or garage-mounted panels.
4. Capacity (Amperage Rating)
Homes with 100-amp panels often no longer meet the power needs of modern living — especially with EV chargers, pool heaters, or electric water heaters. Adjusters know overloaded systems are a top cause of electrical fires.
5. Permit & Inspection Records
Adjusters will check whether your panel upgrade (if you’ve had one) was properly permitted and inspected. Unpermitted work can delay or invalidate claims.
6. Proper Labeling & Code Compliance
Every breaker should be clearly labeled, and the panel should have no double-tapped breakers, missing knockouts, or loose wires.
Once your inspection is complete, it’s smart to confirm your permits are current — here’s a detailed guide to panel upgrade permits and what Fort Myers homeowners need before filing.
Even if your home hasn’t had an issue yet, an unsafe or outdated panel can impact your insurance in several ways:
1. Policy Denial or Nonrenewal
Some insurance carriers in Florida will simply refuse coverage for homes with known unsafe panels. Others will renew temporarily — but only if you agree to replace the panel within a set timeframe.
2. Higher Premiums
If your panel is considered a fire risk, you may pay more until it’s upgraded and inspected.
3. Claim Denials After a Fire or Surge
If a fire starts due to electrical failure — and your panel was outdated or unpermitted — your claim may be denied or reduced, especially if the issue was noted in previous inspections.
4. Home Resale Issues
Even if insurance isn’t an immediate issue, homebuyers (and their inspectors) will flag outdated panels, often requiring replacement before closing.
Our coastal climate takes a toll on electrical systems. Between humidity, salt exposure, and tropical storms, corrosion happens faster here than in most parts of the country.
Panels installed in garages or exterior walls near the Gulf are particularly prone to:
Rusted breaker terminals
Moisture inside the enclosure
Loose connections from expansion and contraction
Even a panel that “looks fine” from the outside might be unsafe inside.
That’s why it’s important to have your panel inspected regularly — especially before hurricane season or when renewing your insurance policy.
A modern, code-compliant electrical panel doesn’t just keep your home safer — it can make your insurance experience smoother and potentially lower your premiums.
✅ Meets current code and safety standards
✅ Reduces risk of electrical fire or failure
✅ Demonstrates proactive maintenance to insurers
✅ Prepares your home for higher electrical loads (EV chargers, solar, generators)
✅ May qualify you for insurance discounts
Many insurers will request proof of the upgrade — including the permit, inspection approval, and electrician’s license information — so it’s important to hire a reputable, licensed contractor like Coharbor Electric.
To reduce claim risk from lightning and power spikes, consider adding whole-home surge protection alongside your upgrade for better long-term coverage.
A homeowner in the Whiskey Creek area contacted us after their insurer flagged their Federal Pacific panel during a policy renewal inspection.
They were told their coverage would be dropped unless the panel was replaced within 30 days.
We quickly:
Conducted a load calculation to confirm their power needs.
Filed a permit with the City of Fort Myers.
Installed a new 200-amp Square D QO panel with surge protection.
Scheduled and passed inspection within one week.
Once the homeowner submitted our permit and inspection documentation to their insurance company, their policy was renewed without penalty — and they even received a small discount for the electrical upgrade.
When we upgrade a panel in Fort Myers, here’s how the process works:
Assessment & Estimate – We inspect your system, calculate your load, and recommend the right panel size (typically 150A or 200A).
Permitting – We handle all paperwork through the City of Fort Myers or Lee County.
Utility Coordination – We work directly with Florida Power & Light (FPL) to schedule safe disconnection and reconnection.
Installation – We replace your old panel with a modern, corrosion-resistant one, label circuits, and install surge protection.
Inspection & Documentation – We provide copies of permits and inspection approvals for your records or insurance provider.
After the inspector signs off, check your carrier’s paperwork list here: insurance requirements after inspection — what to submit, and when.
At Coharbor Electric, we specialize in panel upgrades and electrical safety inspections throughout Fort Myers and Lee County.
Our team helps homeowners:
Replace outdated or recalled panels
Prepare documentation for insurance adjusters
Ensure all upgrades are properly permitted and inspected
Add surge protection for Florida’s lightning-heavy climate
We use top-quality, corrosion-resistant panels built for coastal environments — ensuring your investment lasts and keeps your insurance company satisfied.
If your Fort Myers home still has an old, rusted, or recalled electrical panel, it’s not just a safety issue — it’s an insurance liability.
Insurance adjusters look for panels that are:
Safe
Permitted
Code-compliant
Properly documented
Upgrading your panel now can protect your home, your family, and your coverage — long before a storm or inspection catches you off guard.
Contact Coharbor Electric today to schedule an electrical inspection or panel upgrade. We’ll make sure your system meets code, satisfies insurance requirements, and keeps your Fort Myers home powered safely for years to come.
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Serving Southwest Florida including: Fort Myers, Naples, Cape Coral, and more...
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At Coharbor Electric, this is what to expect when entrusting us with fixing your electrical issues.
The first step is to get all the information we will need so that we can correctly assess the problem or situation. The photos or videos you send will be sent directly to the electrician.
Once our electrician has the info he needs, we will dispatch one in the next available spot–armed with expertise, equipment, and the parts he’ll most likely need.
Our Promise is to to You is to perform the job completely, efficiently, and to the Florida electrical code standards. We are committed to fair and honest pricing.
We offer flat rate pricing for service calls, so you always know the price up front. Simple to understand. Flat-rate fixed price so you can be confident you’ll get what paid for.
As a Florida homeowner, you have an endless list of choices for electrical contractors to hire…some great, some good, some bad.
At Coharbor Electric, our benchmark is to be “great”. If you decide to hire us for your electrical service, here’s what you can expect from our electricians: