Largo, FL · 1975 home · Residential Service · Completed in one day
A Largo homeowner needed home insurance, and her 4-point inspection came back with the electrical system marked unsatisfactory. Another company quoted her about $13,000 to replace every panel in the house, when all that really needed replacing was the outdoor panel. We read the report, fixed exactly what it flagged, and did it in one day for under $5,000, a savings of more than $8,000. We’d rather fix what’s actually needed than sell you more than you need.
Failed a 4-point inspection? Call (727) 476-7079 (24/7 for emergencies). Send us the report and we’ll tell you what it really needs.
The problem: a failed 4-point inspection
Florida insurers often ask for a 4-point inspection (roof, electrical, plumbing and HVAC) on older homes. If any system is marked unsatisfactory, many carriers won’t write the policy until it’s fixed.
This home was built in 1975, and its GE panels were original:
| Main panel | Second panel | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Circuit breaker | Circuit breaker |
| Size | 200 amps | 150 amps |
| Brand | GE | GE |
| Age | 51 years | 51 years |
| Amperage sufficient? | Yes | Yes |
The wiring was copper, with no aluminum branch wiring, cloth wiring or knob and tube.
What the inspection flagged
The inspector checked three electrical hazards and marked the system unsatisfactory:
- Corrosion: “Severe corrosion was visible at the exterior electric panel.”
- Empty sockets: open breaker spaces at the panels.
- Improper grounding: ungrounded outlets in the master suite and living room.
The report did not flag double taps, scorching, loose or exposed wiring, tripping breakers or undersized service. It noted that the panels had enough amperage for the home.
Two quotes: about $13,000 vs. under $5,000
The first quote the homeowner got was to replace every panel in the house, for about $13,000. Nothing in the report called for that.
We fixed what the report actually flagged, and nothing more:
- Corroded exterior panel: replaced the outside panel with a new NEMA 3R outdoor-rated four-space breaker box holding a 60-amp breaker for the AC, a 125-amp breaker that serves as the disconnecting means for the inside panel, and a whole-home surge protector.
- Ungrounded outlets: traced the problem to a wiring fault inside one of the boxes in the master bedroom and corrected it, which fixed the ungrounded outlets on the report.
- Earth grounding improved: the home already had an earth ground, and we drove two more ground rods with #4 bonding wire to make it stronger. Ground rods give lightning, power surges and utility faults a path into the earth and help keep the electrical system steady, which also helps the new whole-home surge protector do its job. Florida’s sandy soil doesn’t conduct electricity well, so more rods make a better connection to the earth than one rod alone. This doesn’t fix wiring or outlet problems inside the house, and no home is lightning-proof, but it’s a real safety improvement.
- Empty sockets: reconnected and sealed the conduit, sealed an open knockout in the laundry panel, and installed blank filler plates.
- Interior closet panel: left in place. It wasn’t flagged and didn’t need replacing. That’s the key difference from the replace-everything quote.
The result
- Every electrical item on the 4-point report was corrected in one day, so the homeowner could move forward with her insurance.
- All work was tested, voltages were acceptable, and no follow-up was needed.
- Total cost was under $5,000, a savings of more than $8,000 over the $13,000 replace-every-panel quote.
If you’re buying, refinancing or renewing your insurance
- Read the report before you get quotes. A 4-point inspection lists specific hazards. Fix those, and you may not need a whole new electrical system.
- An older panel doesn’t automatically need replacing. Insurers usually care about the hazards on the form, like corrosion, open breaker spaces, grounding and double taps, plus certain problem panel brands. See Federal Pacific & Zinsco panels.
- Use a licensed electrician. We’re a Florida-licensed electrical contractor (EC13014717).
Need help with a 4-point inspection?
Send us the electrical page of your report. We’ll tell you what has to be fixed and give you a price for just that work.
Call (727) 476-7079, 24/7 for emergencies · Request service online
Related: Panel Upgrades & Replacement · Residential Service · Electrician in Largo, FL · Member Care Plans