Zinsco panel replacement cost, and is it dangerous?

How much does it cost to replace a Zinsco panel?

Replacing a Zinsco panel runs $1,500 to $4,000, including some wiring upgrades, according to HomeAdvisor's national cost guide. Local contractors in Dallas-Fort Worth and San Diego quote more (table below). The gap comes from scope and metro: a move up to 200 amps, repairs to old wiring, permits, and labor rates, which one San Diego contractor says run higher in San Diego, Los Angeles and the Bay Area. Ask for the scope your electrician writes up, not the low end. The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) names Zinsco, with two other brands, as panels whose breakers "fail to trip with over-current, shorts, or ground faults at rates far higher than industry standards." Have a licensed electrician open the panel and write a bid before your deadline, then ask the seller for that number.

Key takeaways

• New breakers in the old panel are not a fix. InterNACHI says other-brand breakers that fit the old bus are not an approved repair.
• InterNACHI says "there are no recalls on these panelboards," a list that includes Zinsco, and Kin Insurance says a policy won't pay to replace one "due to age, wear and tear, or upgrade requirements." The cost falls to you or the seller.
• Some insurers may refuse or drop a home with a Zinsco panel. Call your insurance agent before your deadline, not after.

Are Zinsco panels dangerous?

InterNACHI names Zinsco among the problem panels inspectors find most often. An insurer's loss-control page, from Great American Insurance Group, explains what goes wrong.

Each breaker hangs on the bus bar by an aluminum clip. Heat makes the clip expand and contract, and it "may fail to keep good contact with the bus bar," which causes arcing. The arcing "melts the metal and plastic construction of the individual breaker."

Great American also warns: "Although the breaker appears to be off, internally, the panel may still be conducting power." Failing Zinsco breakers "are not obvious by sight," which is why the electrician's visit matters.

Don't open the panel or pull breakers yourself. If anyone sees sparks or smells burning at the panel, leave and call 911, then an electrician.

To confirm the brand, InterNACHI says to look for a blue and silver "Zinsco" label inside the panel and "Magnetrip" embossed at the top. Great American adds three more labels: Sylvania, Sylvania-Zinsco and GTE-Sylvania.

Should all Zinsco panels be replaced?

InterNACHI and Great American both say to replace Zinsco panels. InterNACHI's recommendation for these panels is "to replace the electrical panelboard." Great American goes further: "all Zinsco breakers/panels should be replaced with current, UL listed equipment." UL is Underwriters Laboratories, the safety testing lab.

If the seller offers new breakers instead, InterNACHI says "most, if not all, aftermarket replacement breakers are not UL-approved." Other brands' breakers that fit the bus are "not an approved repair or considered safe." Its best recommendation is still a complete panel replacement.

What does the replacement cost by scope?

Match the row to what your electrician says the job is.

Epic Electrical says most Zinsco replacements in its area end up at 200 amps. It says its prices run higher mainly because of a newer electrical code rule that calls for an emergency disconnect outside the home.

Who prices it before your deadline? A licensed electrician. Ask them to open the panel, confirm the brand, and put the bid in writing with the amperage, the permit and any meter or service work listed. The guide to getting repair estimates during the inspection period covers how to get a visit fast.

Are Zinsco panels uninsurable?

Not always, but some insurers may refuse to insure a home with one. Kin Insurance lists Zinsco, including some Sylvania models, among panels that risk "policy denial if you're shopping for a policy." Give your agent the brand from your report and ask whether they will write the policy as is.

Kin says a policy may pay for a new panel only after sudden damage from a covered event, such as a fire, lightning strike or power surge.

What do I ask the seller for?

Attach the electrician's bid to your request. A credit lets you choose the electrician and the panel. If your lender or insurer wants the panel replaced before closing, ask for the repair instead.

If the seller does the work, ask for a licensed electrician, a permit and the paperwork before closing. The buyer repair request letter template has the wording, and what to ask for after a home inspection covers the rest of your list. Your contract sets the exact deadline and terms, so confirm them with your agent.

What if the seller says no?

Once an electrician prices it, this finding has a number, so it is a line to negotiate. It can become a reason to leave if your insurer won't write the policy with this panel in place and the seller won't replace it. Otherwise the bid becomes your cost after closing. Weigh it against your budget with when to walk away after a home inspection.

How long does a Zinsco panel replacement take?

Ask the electrician when they could do the work, so you know whether the seller can finish before closing. HomeAdvisor says a panel swap alone takes four to eight hours. When wiring and other parts have to come out and go back in, it takes 20 to 30 hours.

How do I know what the rest of my list is worth?

The electrician's bid covers the panel, but your report has other lines. Kept prices every line of an inspection report for $79, usually under 4 hours, so the rest of your request carries numbers beside the bid.

If the panel is one line of many, upload your inspection report to Kept and spend your remaining days getting the electrician in.

Sources

• InterNACHI, Inspecting the Main Electrical Panelboard During a Home Inspection
• InterNACHI, Electrical Service Panels
• Great American Insurance Group, Is Your Electric Panel a Fire Risk?
• HomeAdvisor, How Much Does It Cost to Upgrade or Replace an Electrical Panel
• Epic Electrical, Zinsco Panel in Your Home? Why It's Dangerous, What Replacement Costs, and What DFW Homeowners Should Do Next
• Point Loma Home Pros, Zinsco Panel Replacement in California: Cost, Permits and Rebates
• Kin Insurance, Does Home Insurance Cover Electrical Panels?