Home > Blogs > Donald Hester > Wenatchee and Chelan Home Inspection Blog

Melt Down in My Zinsco

By Donald Hester

Home Inspector with NCW Home Inspections, LLC

July 21, 2015 12:00 AM

Melt Down in My Zinsco Wenatchee Home Inspections

Zinsco dates back to the 1930’s as the Zinsmeyer Company which officially became Zinsco in the early 1940’s then was sold to GTE-Sylvania in 1973.

GTE-Sylvania Sticker on Zinsco style panel

This is a panel that I seem to see more issues with during a home inspection than any other panel.

Zinsco Split bus Panel

This example is an older split bus panel dating back to the mid 1950’s. Typically you will have in the upper section some of the larger 240v circuits such as ranges and furnaces, and then one or two “double pole” breakers feeding the branch and lighting circuits on the busses below.

In this example we can one of the feeders to the lighting circuit bus is starting to melt. This panel is on its way to failure and possible fire.

Melting feeders to lighting bus

Here are two examples that are fairly common when the Zinsco panel has an aluminum bus. Pitting of the bus where the breaker clips onto the bus. Again this can lead to failure, arcing and potential fire.

Pitting on Zinsco Bus

Though as a home inspector I cannot make anyone really do anything, I strongly suggest that these panels are replaced when found on a home. The main service panel is the heart of the electrical system and when you have a failed heart it needs to be replaced.

Panel replacement in my area ranges from $1500 to $2500. I urge everyone who is the Real Estate industry suggest replacement of these panels, the sooner they all go away the safer these homes will be. In my world a home would not be allowed to change hands without these panels being replaced, but that is in my world.

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”

Benjamin Franklin

NCW Home Inspections, LLC is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…

Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Real Estate, Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service

Instructor- Fundamentals of Home Inspection- Bellingham Technical College

www.ncwhomeinspections.com 509-670-9572

You can follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and on my website Blog.

Re-Blog

Featured

Comments(10)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Jay Markanich

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA

Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Meltdown seems to be a bad word no matter the context! I RARELY see these panels. But, as always, the info is great!

Jul 21, 2015 01:02 AM

Donald Hester

Wenatchee, WA

Fred Hernden, CMI

Superior Home Inspections - Greater Albuquerque Area - Albuquerque, NM

Albuquerque area Master Inspector

I had a run of Federal Pacific panels for a while, never seen one of these.

Meltdown = No Good!

Jul 21, 2015 01:10 AM

Gary L. Waters Broker Associate, Bucci Realty

Bucci Realty, Inc. - Melbourne, FL

Eighteen Years Experience in Brevard County

I have never seen one of these although the FPE seems pretty common. Thanks for the information.

Jul 21, 2015 02:05 AM

Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker

Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA

Put 40 years of experience to work for you

I have nothing but problems with Zinsco panels in Sacramento. It's a certain type, too. I almost took a listing in Curtis Park last year but when I told the seller his electrical panel would probably be called out and it would cost about $1800 to replace, instead of listening to me, he got all testy and I decided not to work with him.

Jul 21, 2015 11:26 AM

Chris and Dick Dovorany

Homes for Sale in Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero, Florida - Naples, FL

Broker/Associate at Premiere Plus Realty

People do not realize how important it is to replace panels that have been updated and used and abused for many many years. Just because the lights still go on does not mean it's safe.

Jul 21, 2015 11:11 PM

Donald Hester

NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA

NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Jay, Yeah I see this on fairly regular basis in certain age homes.

Fred, I see FPE in certain areas but Zinscos more often.

Gary, I actually see more issues with the Zinsco than FPE but neither were good designs.

Elizabeth, Good for you.

Chris and Dick, So true. Most everything in a home has a functional life.Things needs to be replaced when the time comes.

Jul 21, 2015 11:23 PM

Gene Allen

Fathom Realty - Cary, NC

Realty Consultant for Cary Real Estate

Unfortunately it seems to be a place where homeowners don't like to go.

Jul 27, 2015 07:37 AM

Rene Fabre

ARFCO Media - Renton, WA

Practicing Philosophical Eclectic of the Arts

Thanks for the reminder Donald Hester ! I have an old panel, dates back to 1980. And, I'd like to get 2 dedicated circuits for internet / computer / audio ...

Aug 05, 2015 03:16 PM

Gene, this is true but we need to change that mindset.

Rene Fabre Glad I could be a reminder ;)

Aug 05, 2015 11:20 PM

Anonymous

Maria A

Donald, what is the chance that this type of breaker box has knob and tube connected to it?

Oct 07, 2018 10:38 PM

#10

Melt Down in My Zinsco

Comments(10)

Donald Hester

Service Areas

Real Estate Resources

Recent Posts

Additional Information