Panel UpgradesJune 2, 20265 min read

Federal Pacific & Zinsco Panels in Burleson: Why You Should Replace Them Now

We replace at least one Federal Pacific Stab-Lok or Zinsco panel every week in Burleson — and almost every time, the homeowner had no idea they were sitting on a documented fire hazard. If your home was built between roughly 1965 and 1985, here's what every Burleson homeowner needs to know.

Why These Panels Are Dangerous

The problem isn't age. Plenty of 50-year-old panels are still fine. The problem is specific:

Federal Pacific Stab-Lok breakers fail to trip under overload up to 25–35% of the time. A circuit that should cut out at 20 amps may just keep heating up until the wire insulation melts.

Zinsco (also branded GTE-Sylvania, Sylvania-Zinsco) panels develop aluminum-bus corrosion that creates arcing inside the panel itself. Breakers can also fuse to the bus and become impossible to remove.

Both have been linked to thousands of house fires. They were never officially recalled because the manufacturers went bankrupt before regulators could force it.

How to Tell if You Have One in Your Burleson Home

Open your panel door (don't touch anything inside) and look:

Federal Pacific — Look for the "FPE" or "Federal Pacific Electric" label. Breakers often have a thin red stripe across the toggle when ON.

Zinsco / Sylvania — Multicolor breakers (red, blue, green, yellow) are the giveaway. The cover usually says "Zinsco" or "Sylvania" near the top.

Take a picture and text it to us at (817) 447-7141 — we'll tell you for free in under 5 minutes.

What Replacement Costs in Burleson

A full replacement with a modern 200-amp Square D, Eaton, or Siemens panel runs $2,400 to $3,400 installed in Burleson, including permit, inspection, and Oncor reconnect. See our [full Burleson panel upgrade pricing guide](/blog/cost-to-upgrade-200-amp-panel-burleson-tx).

| Scope | Burleson Price (2026) |

|---|---|

| FPE/Zinsco swap, existing meter base OK | $2,400 – $2,900 |

| FPE/Zinsco swap + new meter base/mast | $2,900 – $3,400 |

| Add: arc-fault breakers (now required by code) | included |

Insurance Companies Are Cracking Down

In the last 18 months, we've had Burleson clients dropped by State Farm, Allstate, and USAA mid-policy because of FPE panels flagged during routine inspections. If you're refinancing, selling, or renewing homeowner's insurance — this issue will come up. Replacing the panel proactively is dramatically cheaper than scrambling under a policy deadline.

The Replacement Process

1. We pull the Burleson permit and schedule the Oncor disconnect

2. Power off around 8 AM

3. Full panel and (if needed) meter base swap — about 4–6 hours of work

4. City of Burleson inspector signs off mid-afternoon

5. Oncor reconnects power same evening

6. We test every circuit and walk you through your new panel before we leave

Get a Free Burleson Panel Inspection

If you suspect — or know — you have one of these panels, don't wait for it to fail. Call (817) 447-7141 or [request a free quote](/get-a-quote). We're based right on N Rudd Street in Burleson and most days we can be at your door within a few hours.