Posted on 01/17/2013 9:38:22 AM PST by petercooper
Hello Freepers, I am seeking some insight from any electricians out there before I proceed. I have a house at the beach in Long Island, NY which was hit with 5 feet of water under the house. The electrical panel was under water, but is fairly new (maybe 6 years.) The question I have is, does the entire panel box have to be replaced, or would it just be the individual breakers? LI Power will require signoff from a licensed electrician before they restore power. Also, if you could provide some rough estimates of what it should cost out there for both scenarios. Thanks
You may not have to replace the actual wiring and the panel case and power/ground bars because they’re usually aluminum or coated or plated....however, you’ll likely have to replace all the breakers and the main breaker....
I’d strip down the panel and remove the breakers and mains and look at the distribution bars, ground lugs, etc...I’d inspect the power mains cables coming in...are they aluminum, or copper? Were they coated with No-Ox? etc.....
You’re best be is to have an electrician look at it; he’ll likely do what I’ve said, any way....depending on how bad, dirty and how long it was under water, he may recommend changing out the guts of the whole thing....
I’m not an electrician but as a general contractor for the past 33-years I do know a fair amount about the trade. Replace it and avoid headaches in the future.
Per the National Electrical Code, service equipment that has been immersed must be replaced.
Your local codes may vary, so check with your municipal inspector/engineer.
If it was me, I’d go ahead and replace it all, especially if it was immersed in salt water.
The damage was from salt water which is corrosive. You probably should replace the entire box.
replace it. You will have problems in the future from damage done now. Avoid the headache later.
Yup. Submersion adds a variable that the UL testing can’t account for. The corrosion and change in dielectric properties may be minute but it’s now considered a risk.
Sucks for the homeowner.
I think the cost estimate will depend on the size of the panel/number of breakers in it.
Hopefully, you had insurance. What did your adjuster say?
To replace a 200A service should not cost more than $2000; but all the Romex that is rated interior that was under water is suspect, all junction boxes,, switches, outlets, etc. should be replaced.
That was salt water, it’s toast!
I have never been an electrician nor played one on TV. Nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn last night. But just wanted to say I am sorry for your troubles with Sandy damage.
Agree. A good visual should tell you more. But if you do replace it, damage it beyond any future use by “recycling” scumbags.
since you say you need an electrician to sign off on it anyway, why not ask the electrician, and not a buncha political junkies 9myself included) who may or may not know what we’re talking about otherwise.
I am a also a general contractor , and I agree with south40. Replace it all. Sorry. As far as estimated cost . . . I am in the great costly to do business state of California - so out here, it would cost $100,000.00 dollars.
Good opportunity to update and improve the entire service.
I’d do as the guy in #2 said, and then turn it over to an electrician since you need one to have power restored anyway.
Good Lord that’s expensive!
I’m glad I’m competent enough to replace my 200 amp service myself. I had an old Fed Pacific panel that I replaced with a Siemens panel.
I started at dawn and was snapping in the last circuit at dusk. There were lots of circuits in my house and I eliminated baseboard heat in the process.
I’m not an electrician but was complemented by an electrician on the quality job. I’m slightly OCD so all of my wires are perfectly aligned and secured and everything is labeled. :)
I'm assuming that your flooded basement was full of salt water which is very conductive and could cause problems if it soaked into the insulation of an electric hot water heater. It is also corrosive and might cause problems that don't show up immediately. I would go for a new panel w/new breakers just to be on the safe side. If your local code says 200 amps by all means, use the 200 amp as it saves money down the road if you ever add more electric appliances like air conditioning, a heat pump, or electric heat.
As I said at the start my information is over ten years old, so unless you have a brother-in-law in the business expect to spend over $2,000.00...Flood insurance??
Regards,
GtG
Always keep in mind what the lawyers will say.
“You knew this was submerged, but you didn’t replace it? Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, wouldn’t you have replaced it? Look at my poor, toasty client.”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.