My heating and air guy says I need a service upgrade before they can install our unit.
2007-08-13 15:34:57 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
an upgreade is when you change your fuse box or circuit breaker box from one size to the next ...from 60 amp or 100 amp to 200 amp ...if you have a sixty amp box you definitely need to upgrade...if you are just getting central air and not a heat pump with electric heat for emergency heat then a 100 amp breaker box would be big enough if you have gas appliances and gas or oil heat...if you have all electrical appliances then you need a 200 amp box...sounds like he is doing his job correctly...if he doesnt think your box will not safely carry the load then he cannot install your unit...what kind of heat do you have now...what kind of ac unit are you installing? will it provide heat also....you do not have to rewire your home all you have to do is put a 200 amp breaker box in and all the wiring and fixtures to your weatherhead...you will have to get this inspected and you might depending on where you live get a permit to do this work...
2007-08-13 17:16:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Could be the capacity of the service. Unless you have electric heating you probably need at least a 100 amp service. You may have to go as high as a 200 amp service. The service upgrade means increasing the total amp capacity of your breaker panel and could require heavier lines from the panel to the street
2007-08-13 15:45:30 · answer #2 · answered by frozen 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The existing electric service entering your house will not provide enough extra energy to run an air conditioner. If the house is an older 100 amp one which is adequate for your existing appliance load you will need to go up to a 200 amp service to handle the added equipment.
That needs a new heavier-wire feed from the electric company, a new meter, a new service entrance panel, and a new permit from your town or city's building permit department.
2007-08-13 15:48:50 · answer #3 · answered by Rich Z 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
That is installing a new electric service. What does he want? A larger service? A new panel with circuit breakers? Why is the heating guy doing electrical work? Call an electrician and let him advise you. Reputable HVAC companies do not connect the electric circuit to the panel. They connect to the disconnect provided by the electrician.
2007-08-13 15:44:14 · answer #4 · answered by John himself 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It sounds like you now have 60 or 100 amp service, you need to probably go to 200 amp. It should run you about $2000
2007-08-13 15:51:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Electrical service upgrade is strengthening your home electrical network so that it can carry more loads. So if you have a 60 amp fuse or circuit breaker box, you have to definitely upgrade to at least 100 amps or maybe even 200 amps if you want to keep a margin for installing more heavy duty appliances in future. Heating units have a higher rating and the load factor depends on the size of the equipment you want to install. Get your wiring checked too and find out whether it has to be changed too. In most cases there will not be a need to do so. The main thing is to get a reputed electrical contractor who will inspect your premises and give you a considered opinion in this regard. Upgrade also means that you have to take necessary permission from the local council before you can carry it out.
2016-07-04 16:08:41 · answer #6 · answered by joel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For my house personally,that would mean going from 100amp, circuit breakers, to 200 amp circuit breakers.
It is a reasonable request, BUT I would get second and third opinions on the job.
2007-08-13 15:44:00 · answer #7 · answered by bugsie 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
it is needed to increase the available ampage for the new a.c to supply correct voltage and ampage to the new unit.
2007-08-13 15:46:13 · answer #8 · answered by anthony 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋