Three Electrical Considerations When Installing A New HVAC System
When you install a new HVAC system, make sure that you think about the electrical considerations that come along with putting a new HVAC system in your home. You need to ensure that you have the right electrical support for a new HVAC system.
The State of Your Breaker Box
The first thing that you need to do is take a look at your breaker box. Are all or nearly all the spots on your breaker box already filled up? If your breaker box is already full or nearly full, you may need to upgrade to a larger breaker box or install a second breaker box before you put in your new air conditioner. You are going to want to make sure that your new air conditioning system is on its own breaker. Large appliances generally need their own dedicated circuit, as they use a lot of power all on their own. If you don't have room to do that with your current setup, you are going to need to upgrade.
Type of Outlet
Second, you need to make sure that you have the right type of outlet where you want to install your HVAC system. Most outlets in your home are set up for 120-volt circuit. Most HVAC systems use a 240- or 250-volt circuit, which means that you need a different type of outlet setup for your HVAC unit.
If you do not have an outlet setup for a 240-volt circuit, you are going to need to have a new outlet installed in the location where you want your HVAC system to go. Keep in mind that this new outlet needs to be connected to a dedicated outlet on your breaker box as well.
Location of Thermostat
Next, you need to think about where you want the thermostat installed in your home. The thermostat should go on an interior wall that is not hit by direct sunlight or near another heat source, such as right above a vent or near a stove. You also want your thermostat to be located near a light switch so that it is easy to set up the wiring for your thermostat. Your thermostat needs to be wired to your HVAC system and your electrical system.
When you install a thermostat, you are going to want to go with a smart programmable thermostat so that you can set the temperature for different times of the day. This will give you the greatest degree of control over the temperature in your home at all times.
When you install a new HVAC system, you may need to work with an electrician as well as an HVAC specialist in order to get everything set up. You can also work with professionals for your HVAC and AC maintenance in the future.
