Heat Pump Electrical Services
in Essex County, MA

Most heat pump installations require: (1) An electrical panel upgrade — if your home has 100-amp service, you'll likely need to upgrade to 200 amps to handle the heat pump load on top of your existing appliances. (2) A dedicated 240V circuit for the outdoor unit. (3) A code-required disconnect switch near the outdoor unit. (4) Wiring from the panel to the heat pump location. Greg Zolotas will assess your current electrical system during a free consultation and give you a clear scope of what your home needs.

In most cases, yes. Heat pumps draw significant power — a typical ductless mini-split outdoor unit needs a 20–30 amp 240V circuit, and a whole-home heat pump can require 40–60 amps. If your panel is 100 amps and you already have an electric stove, dryer, or EV charger, there's a good chance you'll exceed capacity. Zolotas Electric will do a load calculation during your estimate and recommend the right panel size. Mass Save may cover up to $2,500 of your panel upgrade cost.

Mass Save (through your gas/electric utility) offers substantial rebates on heat pump installation. For the electrical work specifically, the panel upgrade is eligible for up to $2,500 in Mass Save incentives. Your heat pump installer typically applies for these rebates on your behalf, but it's worth confirming with your electrician that they're familiar with Mass Save requirements — the work must meet certain specs to qualify. Greg Zolotas has installed heat pump electrical work under Mass Save rebates for years.

Possibly, but it depends on the panel's condition and amperage. Older panels (fuse-based or below 100 amps) almost always need replacement before a heat pump can be safely installed. Even a 100-amp circuit breaker panel may be at or near capacity depending on your other loads. Zolotas Electric will do a load calculation to determine if your existing panel can handle a heat pump, or if an upgrade is needed before installation proceeds.

A dedicated circuit for a heat pump involves: running a 240V line (typically 10/2 or 8/2 wire) from your electrical panel to the outdoor unit location, installing a properly sized circuit breaker in the panel, and mounting a disconnect switch within sight of the outdoor unit (code requirement). For multi-zone ductless systems, you may need multiple circuits. Zolotas Electric handles the full run — from panel to disconnect — as a single package.

A typical panel upgrade takes 1 day. Running a dedicated circuit takes 4–8 hours depending on the home's construction (basement vs. finished basement vs. slab). Disconnect switch installation is usually done in conjunction with the circuit run. If your heat pump installer needs electrical work done before they can install the unit, plan for at least 1–2 weeks lead time for Zolotas Electric to schedule your job.

Yes — regularly. Many homeowners hire Zolotas Electric to handle the electrical side of their heat pump project while their HVAC contractor handles the equipment and mechanicals. Greg coordinates with HVAC companies to make sure electrical work is ready when the installer arrives. If you're going through a Mass Save program, the electrical work must often be completed by a licensed electrician before the heat pump rebate is approved — Zolotas Electric has experience with these requirements.