Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Electrical Panel Replacement? (2023)

Homeowners insurance protects your house in case something damages the electrical panels. MoneyGeek shares when homeowners insurance covers electrical panels and shows the steps to protect this part of your home.

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By Mark Fitzpatrick, Content Director

Updated: Sep 17, 2023

1 Expert Contribution

Standard homeowners insurance covers electrical panel replacement if it gets damaged by unforeseen perils such as fires, tornadoes or even hailstorms. Buying home insurance protects your home and your family.

Your policy safeguards the electrical panels within your home. But, as a homeowner, you need to check if your circuit breakers are regularly maintained. If your panel is more than 20 years old, consult your electrician and check if it needs to be upgraded. As long as your electrical panel is up to the latest electric code, you’ll be covered by homeowners insurance.

Your homeowners insurance covers damages to the electrical panel on your property as long as it results from covered perils. But, this protection only applies only to electrical panels. Homeowners insurance policies may not cover intentional damage to the panels.

In this article:

When Electrical Panel Is Covered
When Electrical Panel Is Not Covered
How to Prevent Replacement
Where to Buy Homeowners Insurance

When Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Electrical Panel Replacement?

There might be noticeable signs when you need to replace your circuit breaker. When it trips too often, the electrical panel becomes more susceptible to power surges. As a result, you’ll need to replace it. If you fail to upgrade your panel, this may lead to damage.

Your homeowner's insurance may cover damages to the electrical panels caused by fire, windstorm damage or storm. You should be covered as long as these perils cause the damage.

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If a storm damages your electrical wiring, your homeowners insurance will cover the repair cost or replacement.
When theft happens in your home and causes damage to your panels, you’ll be covered for the expenses.
You might be covered if a lightning surge breaks your electrical panels.

Take note that these covered situations have limitations. For example, your homeowners insurance policy won’t cover damages to your electrical panels if they weren’t regularly maintained.

When Doesn’t Homeowners Insurance Cover Electrical Panel Replacement?

There are other instances wherein your electrical panel replacement won’t be covered by your homeowners insurance. These include predictable events, such as living in easily flooded areas, near fault lines and poor maintenance of your electrical panels. If you’re aware of the perils around you that may affect your panels, you can help avoid potential issues.

How to Prevent Electrical Panel Replacement

Buying insurance is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your home from unexpected expenses. However, maintaining your circuit breakers regularly is the best way to protect yourself from damage. MoneyGeek shares preventive measures that you can use to safeguard your property from any electrical issues.

Conduct Electrical Inspection
Maintaining your circuit breakers helps prevent any unforeseen events that may damage your home. Ensure that your panels are up to date and are not older than 20 years.
Unplug Your Devices
When you finish working, make sure that there’s no electricity running. This avoids overloading your circuit breakers.
Check Electricity Levels
Ensure that you’re using the right amount of power in your outlets. Avoid using high voltage equipment in low power outlets.
Use a Surge Protector
Refrain from using unprotected power strips, especially during storms or lightning strikes. Connect your sensitive electronic devices to surge protection devices to prevent intense bursts of electricity.

Where to Buy Homeowners Insurance

You can purchase homeowners insurance from most major insurance providers such as State Farm, GEICO or Progressive. Several smaller insurance companies, such as Lemonade or Hippo, also offer homeowners insurance. MoneyGeek recommends shopping around for home insurance to find the best option for your needs.

People in the U.S. usually pay $175 per month for homeowners insurance. But, your actual rate can vary. MoneyGeek’s personal property calculator to help you figure out how much you could pay for a policy.

Experts' Tips about Homeowners Insurance Coverage for Electrical Panel Replacement?

Are there any preventive measures or maintenance practices that homeowners can implement to reduce the risk of electrical panel damage?
What advice do you have for homeowners to ensure they are adequately protected against electrical panel replacement costs through their homeowner’s insurance?

Erik Meyerhoffer

Technical Support Coordinator at Lumin

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick is a senior content director at MoneyGeek with over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, conducting original research and creating content that can be personalized for every buyer. He has been quoted on insurance topics in several publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Mark earned a master’s degree in Economics and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his economics and insurance knowledge to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.