[BACK]
Electricity Question For my Heat Pump

I have an old electric central heater that's consuming a LOT of electricity.
Seems to be a D15 (60 amps).
I have a 100 amps board for the house.
I am looking for a central heat pump system with exterior and interior units and most installers are telling me that even tough it'll consume a lot less electricity, I would need to change my electric installation to 200A for this.
Why do I need more if the new system needs less electricity?
Question from user reivned at heatpumps at reddit.
Answer:
The recommendation to upgrade your electrical service from 100 amps to 200 amps when installing a central heat pump system is related to several factors, primarily the electrical load and compatibility of your home's electrical system with the new equipment. Here's why this upgrade is often recommended:
Simultaneous Electrical Loads: While the new central heat pump system may indeed be more energy-efficient compared to your old electric heater, it can still require a substantial amount of electricity, especially when it operates in heating or cooling mode. The issue is that when your heat pump is running, it may coincide with other electrical appliances and systems in your home, such as lights, appliances, electronics, or even charging electric vehicles. These simultaneous electrical loads can strain a 100-amp electrical panel, potentially causing overloads or tripped circuit breakers.
Code Requirements: Building codes and electrical regulations often require that new installations, especially those involving significant electrical loads, comply with the latest standards. In many cases, installing a central heat pump system will necessitate compliance with modern code requirements, which may include a 200-amp electrical service to ensure safety and adequate capacity for your home.
Future-Proofing: Upgrading to a 200-amp electrical service provides you with additional electrical capacity for future needs. As technology advances and you potentially add more electrical devices or appliances to your home, having a 200-amp service panel can help prevent electrical overloads and the need for further upgrades down the road.
System Efficiency: While the central heat pump system itself may be more efficient, it may have a higher initial electrical draw when starting up or during peak operation. A 200-amp service panel can handle these spikes in electricity demand more effectively, reducing the likelihood of electrical issues.
Avoiding System Strain: Running a central heat pump system on a 100-amp service panel may cause the system to work less efficiently or result in frequent tripped circuit breakers due to overloading. This can lead to unnecessary wear and tear on the equipment and potentially affect its longevity.
Overall, the recommendation to upgrade to a 200-amp electrical service panel is intended to ensure that your electrical system can safely and effectively support your new central heat pump system and accommodate any future electrical demands. It's a measure taken to prevent electrical issues and ensure the reliable and efficient operation of your heating and cooling system. Consulting with a licensed electrician and adhering to local building codes and regulations is crucial when making such upgrades to your home's electrical system.
Reasonable price and the workmanship was prompt and timely and the employees were great to deal with.
The sales process was friendly, informative, and very consultative. They worked hard to earn our business by taking a careful look around our home to assess our needs, providing a lot of information about the product, and answering all our questions and finding the right solution for our home at a competitive price. They prepared us very well for what to expect on installation day, and the installation went very smoothly - no surprises, all very professional! They gave us a call after installation to ensure we were happy with the work. We're very happy that we chose to work with TwinTech to get our new furnace.
Twintech promptly responded to request for quotation. They were thorough and helpful in explaining options. The quote was very competitive. Installation of new furnace was very professionally completed. Excellent work.
When our old oil furnace finally broke down we decided it was time to finally convert to natural gas and finally install central air conditioning at the same time. Knowing it was going to be a significant investment for us, we wanted to make the right choice. Twintech came highly recommended by a friend and we were not disappointed. From the first contact with the salesperson, until the final touches on the installation, we were so pleased with their service. Everyone from the company was so friendly, efficient and a pleasure to deal with. Best of all, the cost was very competitive. We would certainly recommend Twintech to anyone requiring HVAC work in their home.
Mitch from Twintech came out for our annual furnace inspection. We found him to be friendly, conscientious & he left the work area clean. We were also very impressed with the thoroughness of the job he did. This is the 2nd job weve had Twintech do for us & have been very happy with the results for each. We highly recommend this company. Thank you, Mitch, Dave & Greg.
Work was done on schedule, professionally, according to quote and with minimal inconvenience to building users. Very happy with the end result. The only area for improvement from my experience - need more timely quoting process.
The team was great! Very knowledgeable, professional and extremely helpful. A few days after install the unit didnt seem to be working, user error, but within minutes of contacting them..on a Saturday.. a tech was on the phone troubleshooting with us. I highly recommend Twintech for your cooling or heating needs. They stand by their products and a pleasure to deal with.
During the hottest week in the summer our old A/C decided to call it quits. I called Twintech Heating & Cooling after receiving a referral from a family member; came highly rated for being an honest, family-run business, who appreciates their customers. Dave was able to accommodate my hectic schedule and book a late evening appointment to walk through the specifics. Greg and Mitch arrived exactly on time a few days later, were very polite and friendly, and within a couple of hours had a new unit up and running. I also received a follow-up call to ensure we were happy with the Amana.
They were on time and very professional. I'm so glad I decided to go with Twintech, thanks!
Timely and appreciated - this was during the hottest days this year when our Air and Furnace way.
Efficient. Professional. No BS or overselling. What was promised, was delivered at a cost-effective price point.
Down to earth.
Related Links:
heat pump system cost, oshawa heating technician, 5 ton heat pump, whitby air and heating, whitby heating and air, ajax heating technician, heating technician, heating technician, heating and cooling, indoor heat pumps, heating repair company, heat pump technology, emergency heating service, residential heat pump system, oshawa heating and cooling, heat pump hvac system, heating system installation, heating contractors near me whitby, heating contractors near me, heat pump, heating services near me, heating and cooling services, commercial heating and cooling,
We are very happy to recommend this company to everyone. Our furnace broke down on Sunday morning. We phoned them and before noon Grant the owner showed up. He worked on the furnace for about a hour not wanting to give up to fix the problem. The furnace was 17 years old. I was the one talking about replacing it. End result was the next day it was all done. On the Sunday Bob came over with heaters to warm up the house. We decided to replace the water heater at the same time. Thanks Grant for the excellent work. Thumbs up.
Right on time. Explained how to work the HRV in a different way so the house would not be so dry. Changed my whole house water filter for me as well. Friendly, helpful, caring service!
Very pleased with the professional service that TwinTech Heating and Cooling provided in replacing my furnace. I got several quotes from different service providers. Their price was excellent and they explained the features very well. We are very glad we went with TwinTech and highly recommend their services.
We were new homeowners in need of a second opinion. TwinTech Heating & Cooling were Amazing and professional. Very knowledgeable and great service all around. Recommend to anyone looking for honest and reliable services. Treated with respect and care. Thank you Greg, Mitch and Bob!
TwinTech is an excellent and honest company! I called them for a second opinion after being told by another company that I needed to replace my furnace. Turns out this was not the case at all! I did not need a new furnace. TwinTech did not push to make an unnecessary sale and saved me from a huge expense. Bob and Mitch were extremely professional and above all honest! I definitely recommend TwinTech!
My Furnace has been giving me this issue for over 2 winters and Goodman cannot figure out the issue. This is a new system in a new house. The following is a history of work that has been done by contractors who have come out. There is a constant red
Read MoreThe lifespan of a Panasonic heat pump can vary depending on various factors, including usage, maintenance, and environmental conditions. On average, heat pumps typically last between 10 to 15 years. However, with proper care and regular maintenance,
Read MoreAir conditioning (AC) units can display error codes when something goes wrong. These codes are specific to the manufacturer and model of the AC unit, but here are some general explanations for common AC error codes: General AC Error Codes
Read MoreDetermining whether your heat pump is disconnected involves a few steps. Here's a guide to help you check the status of your heat pump: Check the Thermostat: Verify that your thermostat is set to a temperature that should trigger the hea
Read More