Licensed electrician says this panel is safe. thoughts?
Did the electrician say it was good after you pointed out all of the defects?
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I marked it for corrosion and unsafe wiring on the 4point. The damage was done when a hurricane blew out the door and wind driven rain got to the panel. new door and walls have been added since but the panel still looks like this.
my 4pt comments:
Old rust, corrosion on several breakers found. Corrosion also seen on grounding wires by grounding bus bar.
Did he put it in writing with his license # 
If he did, there is nothing you can do but to recommend the client get second opinion.
homeowner called me to say the electrician approved it and thinks im an idiot. i told him to let the electrician put his own license on the line if he wants but i see a lotta arc potential here.
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Sorry, but I have to wonder why on earth you would even get involved in an argument with a licensed electrician? He/she is the trained expert.
That would be getting into an argument you can’t possibly win, unless you are a licensed electrician as well.
Cheers
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This is the seller’s electrician? If so have the buyer hire his own sparky.
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Where’s the safe statement on the electrician’s letterhead with his license number… … …
Talk is very, very cheap especially with electric. 
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that basically what i said to my client, the flipper. i told him his electrician should supersede my authority. so have his sparky argue with the insurance agent about why this is a safe panel. let him put it in writing and stick his license where his mouth is.
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That usually makes them not so quick to ok work that is clearly not correct.
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Tell your client to ask the seller for a letter from the 'licensed ’ electrician stating that the damage to the electrical system (panel) observed by the home inspector posses no threat to the structure or the occupants of the structure.
Stand your ground.
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Wow is all I can say to that mess.
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I would have said “OK” and hung up.
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OK if I have all the information here…(because it does not appear some of the others here understand you are not doing this for a potential buyer)
You are doing this inspection for The Flipper so he can get insurance. You called out correctly Defects that you saw (because you are not blind) and then The Flipper (also your Client) got A licensed Electrician from “Sgt. Schultz Electrical” to “say” “It was Safe”. He needs to put it in writing…
What sucks is that a buyer will (hopefully) hire a home inspector that will point out these same issues and then “The Flipper” will then show the Buyer something from his Electrician buddy that it “is Safe”…(is he really a Licenced Electrician??? could be the flippers handyman or even his brother in law. (I have seen where a “Flippers” handyman will try to pass crap like this off, up till the time they need to produce an actual Document with Lic. #)
It is sad that you have done all you can do because your client is The (lipstick on a pig) Flipper and your hands are tied. Let’s just hope that The Home Inspector that is hired by ** The actual Buyer** will catch this and that the buyer is informed enough to get their own Electrician and not trust anything that is produced by "A Flipper"
In the end if an insurance company sees this in an inspection report, they are going to require another electrician investigate, and the Buyer is most likely not going to be able to get insurance before repairs are made. So let us hope The Buyer does their Due Diligence.
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Read this from NEMA(National Electrical Manufacturer’s Association) of which Eaton is a member(owns cutler hammer which made this panel):
See the table on page 3. Clearly, water damaged molded-case circuit breakers must be replaced. If it could be reconditioned then the table would have indicated as so. I would consider corroded circuit breaker screws as water damage would you not? Who knows if there is corrosion at the contacts and inside the breaker? Tell that electrician to either get specific documentation from the electrical panel manufacturer that such corrosion is acceptable or the general NEMA guidelines must be followed. If you think about it, there is no way in hell any manufacturer would stick their neck out for liability and allow the corrosion at the breakers to stand.
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The Inspector can’t have the buyer do anything. He did his inspection and gave his report. Home inspectors aren’t babysitters.
Too many home inspectors take it personally and get defensive when someone disagrees with them. They make themselves look weak when they get defensive.
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Sorry I’m a little late to this one, but I’ll throw in my .02. I am a licensed master electrician in Colorado. Unfortunately I’ve seen worse. That being said as an electrician I would try my best to get the owner to replace.
Will it continue to work though, probably, until it doesn’t.
I would also never hire that sparky again.
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Rust on some screw heads only may indicate overheating, inasmuch as the rate of chemical reaction increases with increases in temperature, affecting only the overheating breakers. In any case, the rust itself is sufficient reason to recommend replacement.
these flippers were just pissed cause i wouldn’t jeopardize my license. they were trying to intimidate me. im always willing to listen and re-evaluate but geez this is pretty clearly screwed up
Welcome to our forum, Ryan Weed!
It will be nice having your comments. 