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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.”
Yes, you must replace the entire panel AND you have to replace all wiring fro 18” above water line on down.
Not only does the entire panel and all the breakers need to be replaced, so should the meter enclosure if it was underwater. If your service entrance cable was also underwater replace that too, with copper conductors since you’re located on the ocean. Use No OX on the copper just as one would do with aluminum connections.
If you’re in a flood zone you might be required to relocate the panel above anticipated flood levels, you might consider having the main breaker installed outside in a combo meter / disconnect enclosure with a second one inside at the panel.
Make sure the service entrance cable equals the rating of the main CB. Do not install a 200 amp panel onto a 100 amp cable.
You may be required to upgrade to arc fault (AFCI) breakers for some of the circuits.
Make sure your grounding is updated - either tied into the foundation steel or two copper ground rods six feet apart, or a copper water pipe. Bond all you interior piping.
You might consider throwing in a generator transfer switch or upgrading to a panel like a Reliant that has them built in.
Replace it. Saving a few hundred and leaving the chance for problems down the road don’t compute. The new breakers will probably cost as much as the new box itself.
The price of the panel is minor relative to the price of the set of replacement breakers and the cost of the electrician’s time. I would do like the others have suggested and just replace the whole thing.
Saltwater takes forever to evaporate, if its in the wires it will eventually corrode them. Replace the wiring etc.etc..