Pushmatic electrical panels in older homes
If a home was built between the mid-1950s and the early 1980s, take a close look at the electrical panel. A Pushmatic electrical panel is easy to spot: instead of the flip switches you see on modern breakers, it has rows of rectangular push buttons. We still find these panels in older houses and commercial buildings around Fargo-Moorhead, sometimes still serving the whole home and sometimes left in place as a subpanel next to a newer one.
This guide explains how to identify a Pushmatic panel, why these panels are now considered obsolete, what the finding means in an inspection report, and what your options are.
How to tell if you have a Pushmatic panel
Pushmatic panels were made from the 1950s through 1980. The brand began with Bulldog Electric. ITE later took over the Pushmatic line, and Siemens later acquired ITE, so you may see any of those names on the panel.
Signs you are looking at a Pushmatic panel:
- Push-button breakers. Each circuit has a rectangular button that you push to turn it off and push again to turn it on.
- A small on/off window. Many Pushmatic breakers show “ON” or “OFF” in a little window or flag on the button.
- The label. The panel door or the label inside it often says Pushmatic, Bulldog or ITE.
- The age of the house. Homes built or last updated in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s are the most likely to have one.
Only look. Don’t remove the panel cover yourself. The parts behind it carry live electricity even when breakers are off.
Why Pushmatic panels are considered obsolete
A Pushmatic panel that has worked for decades can seem fine. The concern is not one dramatic defect but a combination of age, design and parts.
Breakers that stick or don’t trip. The breakers have internal springs and moving parts. As they age, those springs can rust, corrode and become brittle. Breakers that sit unused for years can become stiff and hard to reset. An insurer’s technical bulletin on these panels warns that they “don’t always trip when they should.” A breaker that does not trip during an overload is a fire risk, because the wiring can overheat before power is cut.
An on/off flag you can’t trust. The same bulletin notes that the on/off indicator can stick in one position. That means a breaker may show “OFF” while the circuit is still live, or the other way around. Anyone working on the wiring should confirm with a tester instead of trusting the flag.
Hard-to-find parts. Replacement Pushmatic breakers are difficult to find. Parts sold as “Pushmatic compatible” are not tested or approved for these panels, so they are not a reliable fix.
Not enough capacity for today’s homes. These panels were designed for the electrical loads of the 1950s through the 1970s. Today’s homes add air conditioning, larger kitchens, electric dryers, heat pumps, electric vehicle chargers and more. The demands of a modern home often exceed what a Pushmatic panel was designed to handle, and adding new circuits safely is difficult.
Age. Even the newest Pushmatic panels are now more than 40 years old. Electrical equipment does not last forever, and the bulletin recommends upgrading any electrical component that is close to 50 years old.
What a Pushmatic finding means in an inspection report
During a home inspection, we look at the electrical panel, its breakers and the wiring we can see inside it. When we find a Pushmatic panel, we note that the panel is obsolete, that replacement parts are hard to find, and that it may not have the capacity for today’s electrical demands. We recommend having the panel evaluated by a licensed electrician.
That recommendation is not the same as saying the home is unsafe today. It means the panel is past the point where a home inspector can tell you it will keep protecting the home, and an electrician should decide whether it can stay in service or should be replaced.
If you are buying the home, try to get that evaluation and a written estimate before your inspection contingency ends. It is also worth asking your insurance agent whether an older panel affects your coverage.
Repair or replace?
In most cases, the long-term answer is replacing the Pushmatic panel with a modern panel and new breakers. A licensed electrician can tell you:
- Whether the existing panel and breakers are in safe working order for now
- Whether the electrical service size is enough for the home, or should be increased at the same time
- Whether any branch wiring needs attention while the panel is open
- What permits and inspections the job needs in your city
Panel replacement is not a do-it-yourself project. It involves the service conductors from the utility, which stay live even with the main breaker off, and it usually requires an electrical permit and an inspection.
Some homes have a Pushmatic panel that now feeds only a few circuits as a subpanel. That is still worth an electrician’s review, since the breakers in that panel have the same age and parts issues.
Living with a Pushmatic panel until it’s replaced
If you have a Pushmatic panel and replacement is on your list but not done yet:
- Don’t add circuits or big new appliances to the panel without an electrician’s advice.
- Don’t spray lubricants into breakers or try to free a stuck breaker by force. Call an electrician instead.
- Pay attention to warning signs, such as a warm panel cover, a burning smell, buzzing or crackling sounds, or a breaker that will not reset. Turn off that circuit if you can do so safely and call an electrician right away.
- Keep working smoke detectors on every level and in sleeping areas, as you should in any home.
- Keep the area in front of the panel clear so it can be reached quickly in an emergency.
Pushmatic electrical panels: common questions
Are Pushmatic panels dangerous?
Many still work. The concern is that they are now old, parts are hard to find, and the breakers can become stiff or fail to trip as they age. That is why home inspection guidance and insurer bulletins recommend having them evaluated by an electrician and, in most cases, upgraded.
Is a Pushmatic panel the same as a Federal Pacific panel?
No. They are different brands with different issues. Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panels are known for breakers that may fail to trip under overload. Read more in our guide to Federal Pacific electrical panels.
Can I still buy replacement Pushmatic breakers?
Sometimes, but they are hard to find, and “compatible” breakers are not tested or approved for these panels. An electrician can tell you whether replacing the panel makes more sense than hunting for parts.
Should I buy a house with a Pushmatic panel?
Many buyers do. Plan on an electrician’s evaluation and a replacement estimate, and factor that cost into your offer or negotiations. For other things to look for in an older home, see what to expect when buying a home built before 1970.
Do older homes also have fuse panels?
Some do. Fuse panels are another older type of electrical service with their own concerns. See fuse panel vs. breaker panel.
Sources
- West Bend Insurance. Pushmatic Electric Panels, technical bulletin WB-2685 (11-19).
- InterNACHI (International Association of Certified Home Inspectors). How to Perform Residential Electrical Inspections, 4th edition, section on Pushmatic panels.
- Friedman, Daniel. Pushmatic & Bulldog Circuit Breakers & Electrical Panel Safety Warnings. InspectAPedia.