Safely Preparing Your Home's Electrical System for an AC Upgrade
Admin • July 2, 2020
Adding central air to your home can be a great way to enjoy cooler, more comfortable summers. Unfortunately, many older houses may not have electrical systems that can accommodate the demands of a powerful air conditioning unit. This fact can become especially apparent with Alabama's hot and humid summers.
If you're thinking about a summer HVAC upgrade, then your first step should be to contact an electrician to evaluate your home's electrical system. There are several crucial aspects of your home's wiring that you should consider and potentially upgrade to ensure that your new air conditioner can operate safely and efficiently.
Understanding Your Air Conditioner's Electrical Needs
When you install a new central air conditioning system, the outdoor condenser unit will require a direct connection of at least 220 volts
to your service panel. Because of its high power requirements, your condenser will run on a circuit by itself.
Because your condenser unit has the strictest requirements, it is likely to be the primary driver of any electrical upgrade. Your service panel must be able to support an additional circuit, and your electrical service must be able to handle the installation of a new 220- or 240-volt connection. This new connection may require as much as 60 amps on its own, depending on your air conditioner's capacity.
Note that modern homes typically have at least 100-amp service, while older homes may have electrical service of only 60 amps or less. As a general rule, anything less than 100 amps will require an upgrade to support a modern HVAC system. Most residences will need at least 200-amp service to provide adequate power for the condenser unit along with other major home appliances.
Performing an Evaluation
Before you begin to plan your air conditioning upgrade, you should schedule a thorough wiring evaluation from a skilled electrician. Your electrician will check the current level of service to your home and determine whether you can add another circuit to your service panel. If your level of service is adequate but your service panel is full, you will usually be able to add a new subpanel for the AC circuit.
Additionally, this is an excellent time for your electrician to conduct a more thorough inspection of your home's electrical wiring. In particular, checking for proper connections at the service panel can ensure that your AC compressor doesn't exacerbate existing faults. Loose connections can result in voltage drops when an AC compressor engages, dimming lights throughout your home.
Upgrading Your Electrical System
If your electrician discovers any faults or inadequacies in your electrical system, then you will need to perform upgrades as necessary before going forward with your new air conditioning install. For older homes, this often means upgrading your electrical meter and service panel to accommodate 200-amp service. If your home is small or has only a few other appliances, then 100-amp service may be sufficient.
In either case, you must have a qualified and trained electrician perform these upgrades. Your utility company will upgrade your meter, but an electrician will be required to run a larger gauge cable into your home and replace your existing service panel. Since you're installing a new service box, you will also have plenty of room to add a new AC circuit without requiring a separate subpanel.
If you plan to retrofit a central air system in an older home, then Presley & Son Electric Service can help you to get your electrical system up to par. Get in touch
with us to schedule your evaluation and service panel upgrade today. We look forward to working on your home's electrical system.
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