Panel Swap and Heat Pump Hookup for an A/C Replacement in Vancouver, WA

Advantage Heating & Cooling was replacing an A/C and air handler with a Daikin heat pump and a new air handler at this east Vancouver home. The original panel was the weak spot, so we swapped it the morning of the install and had both new units hooked up the same day.

Why the panel came out first

The original panel still had the certificate of occupancy sticker from when the house was built. We didn’t want to hang a brand-new heat pump off it. So we put in a new 200-amp Siemens panel in the same spot, re-landed every circuit, and redid the grounding and bonding while everything was open. That’s the most common way a heat pump circuit turns into a panel job. Our heat pump and mini split electrical guide covers when that happens and when it doesn’t.

Protecting the new equipment

New heat pumps run on electronic control boards that don’t handle power surges well. This setup protects them twice:

• A whole-house surge protector at the new panel, right under the main breaker.
• A surge protector at the outdoor unit, supplied by Advantage, mounted next to the disconnect.

The outdoor disconnect is within sight of the unit, with flexible conduit down to the Daikin, like code requires.

The small stuff

A new high-efficiency system makes condensate water, and the pump that moves it needs power. We added a dedicated GFCI outlet for the condensate pump next to the air handler so it’s not on an extension cord.

The permit went through the City of Vancouver. If you’re replacing your heating or cooling and aren’t sure your panel can handle it, call 360-828-7143 or have us check the panel before the install.