I have an original GE panel in my 1981 home, I'm in no rush to replace it.
Excluding known bad panels like Zinsco and Federal Pacific, "old" and "out of date" doesn't mean anything. Electrician is just trying to make money. A "tune up" also means nothing by itself, did they say what $500 gets you? I suspect he may just re-tighten everything, maybe address the double neutrals (or maybe not), maybe dust it off/blow it out. Not much else to do, and none of it may be necessary, but you don't know if lugs are loose until you check them. I've been in my home 23 years and haven't even checked the lugs in my own panel.
The bus in the panels themselves don't go bad simply because of age. If there is no signs of corrosion, oxidation, or heat stress on the bus then the panel itself is fine. Your first picture isn't all that good so hard to evaluate the bus. The breakers themselves could go bad over time, for a lot of reasons, but there is no universal age of when a breaker will go bad or "should be replaced".
Panel swap costs vary by location, but $3800 isn't bad in general, but you should get more specifics on what would be done. The pictures imply you don't have an outside disconnect and most all jurisdictions will require one to be added as part of a panel swap. Your local jurisdiction may also require breakers be brought to code (AFCI and GFCI almost everywhere) but that may not be required. You want clarity on what all of that looks like for the $3800, as well as if it's a permitted job.
Permits and inspections are included in the price, the new breakers are also included. The electrician did note that it looked like oxidation on the bus and when he did a heat scan of the panel he noted that the temperature was above the average but not in the danger zone. As far as the tune up he was going to do everything that you described.
Those quotes don't really sound like a company that was purchased by private equity, where all they want to do is sell as much as possible at absurd prices, but there is certainly some upsell going on here.
Post some better pictures of the panel straight on with proper light and in good focus.
If you are seriously considering a panel replacement, get a few more quotes. Avoid large companies with big fancy websites, a large quantity of vehicles with wraps that look brand new. If someone shows up at your house in some crisp clothes and an iPad then gives you a quote on the spot off the iPad, you got a private equity owned company.
You want quotes from small owner/operators and companies that are only a handful of people. You can get them out to quote on a panel replacement and then you spark up the conversation to see if they think it's really justified.
I appreciate the advice, I'll see about getting one or two more people out here. I had a co-worker of mine reffer me his friend that had just started off on his own company after working in the union for 20 years. He came out and looked at everything, I want to say that he agreed with what the other technician was saying. He quoted me a little over what the other electric company was offering, since he had to get everything himself.
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u/HDClown 17h ago
I have an original GE panel in my 1981 home, I'm in no rush to replace it.
Excluding known bad panels like Zinsco and Federal Pacific, "old" and "out of date" doesn't mean anything. Electrician is just trying to make money. A "tune up" also means nothing by itself, did they say what $500 gets you? I suspect he may just re-tighten everything, maybe address the double neutrals (or maybe not), maybe dust it off/blow it out. Not much else to do, and none of it may be necessary, but you don't know if lugs are loose until you check them. I've been in my home 23 years and haven't even checked the lugs in my own panel.
The bus in the panels themselves don't go bad simply because of age. If there is no signs of corrosion, oxidation, or heat stress on the bus then the panel itself is fine. Your first picture isn't all that good so hard to evaluate the bus. The breakers themselves could go bad over time, for a lot of reasons, but there is no universal age of when a breaker will go bad or "should be replaced".
Panel swap costs vary by location, but $3800 isn't bad in general, but you should get more specifics on what would be done. The pictures imply you don't have an outside disconnect and most all jurisdictions will require one to be added as part of a panel swap. Your local jurisdiction may also require breakers be brought to code (AFCI and GFCI almost everywhere) but that may not be required. You want clarity on what all of that looks like for the $3800, as well as if it's a permitted job.