Home Insurance Forum

Jun. 1, 2007

I recently bought a 71-year-old home. Most insurance companies will not insure it because the electric service is 60 amps, and the home uses fuses (instead of 100 amps and circuit breakers).

I asked an electrician who inspected the service box and wiring throughout the house for an estimate to upgrade the service. He said there is no safety reason to upgrade the service because our electrical load is so low (most appliances are gas), and the wiring is solid.

While I would prefer to modernize the service, I can't afford to at this time. I cannot get a satisfactory answer from the insurance companies about why they will not cover a home based solely on the level of electric service. It is my understanding that circuit breakers are not inherently safer than fuses.

What is scaring the insurance companies?

Travis, Wisconsin

Dear Travis,

With fuses and low amperage, you might not be eligible for the best-priced insurance, but you should be able to get insurance, says Dan Sondles, a spokesperson for Westfield National Insurance Co., of Westfield Center, Ohio.

Westfield will sell you insurance as long as an electrician finds the wiring is safe and puts it in writing. If you upgrade to circuit breakers, Sondles says, you would be eligible for 10 to 12 percent savings on the cost of your insurance. Most homes operate with standard 100 amps, but Sondles says a lower amount would not lead to a cancellation of your policy.

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