Cost for rewiring.......

[minke]

A view from 2,000 miles away: insurance companies don't want to insure
anything in Florida. They'll look for any excuse.

 

[cybrdyke]

what's the point of one person changing to a new panel if everyone else in the condo complex still has the old Federal Pacific panel? The whole place is gonna burn down anyway.....

 

[danski0224]

Given that the panel is not in a common area, the condo association can't force a change.

The only opportunity to force change is during a change in ownership.

It would be interesting if the common area electrical panel(s) are Federal Pacific. If that is so, then how does the building have insurance?

 

[pconley]

As it turns out, only the panel box and some of the kitchen appliances have aluminum wiring. The rest of the residence is copper. I got a quote for $2012.00 to do the job, so I am going to go ahead and have it done. You gentlemen are truly good. Thanks for all of your replies. I appreciated them.

 

[pconley]

Given that the panel is not in a common area, the condo association can't force a change.

The only opportunity to force change is during a change in ownership.

It would be interesting if the common area electrical panel(s) are Federal Pacific. If that is so, then how does the building have insurance?

They can not force me to change the panel. The panel passed a four-point state safety inspection. It has more than likely been in there for 50 years. The inspection company passes them all the time and there are some insurance companies who will insure buildings that have them. I have no way of knowing how many other panels are in the complex. I have been thinking about calling the local fire department AFTER my condo has been sold and informing them of the situation. The HOA already knows. That is about all I can do. I am only changing mine out because some insurance companies in Florida are asking for the four-point inspection and my condo will not sell without insurance. I have someone right now in the process of buying my condo. Loan companies and the HOA are now demanding insurance. But thanks again for your replies.

 

[danski0224]

They can not force me to change the panel.

But, "they" are, because you can't get insurance unless the existing panel isn't there any more...

 

[pconley]

But, "they" are, because you can't get insurance unless the existing panel isn't there any more...

That isn't true. There are still insurance companies that don't even ask for a four point inspection, so they have no idea what kind of panel people have. Wells Fargo, who I have my loan with, found an insurance company for me who has been insuring my condo. But the companies are few and far between and I don't want to wait for this buyer to take the time to look and find one. But thanks for your reply.

 

[mm08822]

Too many variables as others have noted but here's what I did in July of '19. I replaced the pushamatic breaker panel with a modern panel. Along with a whole house surge suppressor ($300 extra) it was just over $1800.

Do yourself a favor and lift that panel from the wall and add painted standoffs and painted plywood. Re-attach the panel to the plywood.

 

[mm08822]

Given that the panel is not in a common area, the condo association can't force a change.

The only opportunity to force change is during a change in ownership.

It would be interesting if the common area electrical panel(s) are Federal Pacific. If that is so, then how does the building have insurance?

Until you read the by-laws, you don't know what can be enforced.

 

[BigGarage]

Do yourself a favor and lift that panel from the wall and add painted standoffs and painted plywood. Re-attach the panel to the plywood.

I put a dehumidifier down there after the new panel was installed and that's all the work or money I'm going to expend on it.

Dennis

 

[pconley]

Well, I got the panel put in and the condo is sold as of Tuesday. (Two days from now). The electrician came and put in a new panel. There is still aluminum wiring to the range and the air conditioner. I thought that was kind of strange. The rest of the condo has copper wiring so, only those two "appliances" have aluminum wiring. The insurance company accepted the upgrade and gave the buyer a policy. Thank you all so much for your comments and answers. Now I will just sit back and wait for the money to go into my bank account.

 

[75gmck25]

Main panel feeds still use AL SER all the time to save cost, but the connectors are designed and approved for aluminum. The range and A/C wiring was probably added during a time period where aluminum house wiring was also considered safe.

If they used (or upgraded to) the approved Co/AL connectors on both ends, a couple circuits with aluminum wiring should not be much of a risk.

 

[Norcal]

Main panel feeds still use AL SER all the time to save cost, but the connectors are designed and approved for aluminum. The range and A/C wiring was probably added during a time period where aluminum house wiring was also considered safe.

If they used (or upgraded to) the approved Co/AL connectors on both ends, a couple circuits with aluminum wiring should not be much of a risk.

While I don't care for appliance feeds to be aluminum, it is common & not unsafe.

 

[pconley]

FINALLY!! The money went into my bank account Wednesday, so the deal is done!! I ended up being very happy that it was all over. Thanks to all of you who came up with great advice. I really appreciated it.