Residential Electrical Services
Heat Pump Wiring
in Vancouver, WA
Heat pumps need a dedicated 240-volt circuit from your electrical panel to the outdoor condenser unit, plus a disconnect switch mounted on the house within sight of the equipment. Most residential heat pumps draw between 15 and 40 amps depending on tonnage. Newman Electric wires heat pumps for homeowners across Vancouver, WA. Ryan and the crew handle the circuit, the disconnect, and the permit. We wire both central heat pump systems and ductless mini-splits.
Heat Pump Electrical
What Circuit Does Your Heat Pump Need?
Every heat pump has a data plate on the outdoor unit that lists its electrical requirements. The circuit size depends on the unit's tonnage and rated amps. Newman Electric sizes everything to match.
| Heat Pump Size | Typical Amps | Breaker Size | Wire Gauge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 - 2 Ton | 10 - 15A | 15 - 20A | 14 or 12 AWG |
| 2.5 - 3 Ton | 15 - 25A | 25 - 30A | 10 AWG |
| 3.5 - 4 Ton | 20 - 30A | 30 - 40A | 10 or 8 AWG |
| 5 Ton | 25 - 40A | 40 - 50A | 8 or 6 AWG |
These are typical ranges. Newman Electric always sizes the circuit to your specific unit's data plate, not a general chart.
Central Heat Pump
- - One outdoor condenser, one indoor air handler
- - Single 240V circuit to the outdoor unit
- - Thermostat wire (low-voltage) from unit to thermostat
- - Disconnect required at outdoor unit
Ductless Mini-Split
- - One outdoor unit, one or more indoor heads
- - 240V circuit to outdoor unit (most models)
- - Communication wire between outdoor and indoor units
- - Some single-zone units run on 120V / 20A
Panel capacity matters. A heat pump adds a significant load to your electrical panel. If your home has a 100-amp service or a panel that's already full, you might need a panel upgrade before the heat pump can go in. Newman Electric checks your panel load during the estimate so there are no surprises on installation day.
The Process
How Newman Electric Wires a Heat Pump
The electrical side of a heat pump installation is straightforward. Newman Electric coordinates with your HVAC installer so the circuit, disconnect, and thermostat wiring are ready when they need to set the equipment.
Review the equipment specs
We look at the data plate or spec sheet from the HVAC installer. That tells us the voltage, amperage, wire gauge, and breaker size. We check your panel to confirm there's space and capacity for the new circuit.
Pull the permit and run the circuit
Heat pump wiring requires an electrical permit in Vancouver, WA. Newman Electric pulls the permit, runs the dedicated 240V circuit from the panel to the outdoor unit location, and installs the disconnect switch on the exterior wall.
Connect, test, and get inspected
Once the HVAC crew sets the condenser, we make the final electrical connections, run thermostat wiring if needed, and test everything. The electrical inspection is scheduled through L&I or the City of Vancouver.
Code & Permits
Heat Pump Electrical Code in
Vancouver, WA
Heat pumps fall under NEC Article 440 (Air-Conditioning and Refrigerating Equipment). Washington state follows the 2023 NEC under WAC 296-46B. Newman Electric follows all heat pump electrical code requirements.
- Disconnect Location (NEC 440.14)
A disconnecting means must be within sight of the heat pump and readily accessible. Newman Electric mounts the disconnect on the exterior wall next to the outdoor unit, close enough to reach before servicing the equipment.
- Circuit Protection (NEC 440.22)
The branch circuit breaker must be sized based on the unit's rated-load current and locked-rotor current. Your heat pump's data plate lists both values. Newman Electric sizes the breaker exactly to what the manufacturer specifies, not to a generic chart.
- Conductor Sizing (NEC 440.32)
The wire running to the heat pump must be rated for at least 125% of the unit's rated-load current. For a typical 3-ton unit drawing 20 amps, that means the wire must handle at least 25 amps. Newman Electric runs the correct gauge wire based on the actual load.
- Working Clearance (NEC 110.26)
The disconnect and any electrical equipment must have adequate working clearance for safe access. That means at least 3 feet of clear space in front of the disconnect. Newman Electric positions the disconnect where it meets code and doesn't block walkways or landscaping.
Customer Reviews
What Customers Say About Newman Electric
"I have to shout out Ryan for going out of his way to come save us tonight. After having an HVAC tech out two days in a row, I was really hoping to have AC restored in my home. What we thought was an HVAC issue turned out to be a breaker issue and we thought we were going to be sweating through the night once again. Newman Electric was the first place I called and I'm super glad I did. Ryan was probably on his way home for the day but diverted over to our house to help us out. He charged a fair rate for emergency service and was in and out in less than 15 minutes."
"Roman and Anthony showed up on time, introduced themselves and got to work. Install turned out better than what I had in mind so that is great! Price was about the same as the other 2 quotes I received, but I liked that Ryan recommended a rebate as well."
"Ryan was able to come out the same day. He charged half of what another electrician quoted. Friendly and professional."
Common Questions
Heat Pump Wiring FAQs
The cost depends on the distance from your panel to the outdoor unit location, the size of the circuit, and whether your panel needs any work. A short run with an existing panel that has space is at the low end. Longer runs, panel upgrades, or difficult routing cost more. Newman Electric gives free estimates. We come look at your setup, review the heat pump specs, and give you a price.
Yes. A new 240-volt circuit for a heat pump requires an electrical permit in Vancouver, WA. The permit gets pulled through Washington L&I or the City of Vancouver, depending on your address. Newman Electric handles the permit and schedules the inspection.
It depends on your current panel capacity and how many circuits are already loaded. A heat pump can draw 15 to 40 amps at 240 volts. If you have a 200-amp panel with spare breaker spaces, you're probably fine. If your panel is a 100-amp service or already close to full, you might need a panel upgrade before the heat pump goes in. Newman Electric does a load calculation as part of the estimate.
The disconnect is a safety switch that lets an HVAC technician shut off power to the outdoor unit before servicing it. NEC 440.14 requires a disconnect within sight of the equipment. It's a small weatherproof box mounted on the exterior wall. Newman Electric installs the disconnect as part of every heat pump wiring job.
The basics are the same. Most mini-splits need a dedicated 240V circuit and a disconnect at the outdoor unit, just like a central system. Some small single-zone mini-splits can run on a 120V / 20-amp circuit. Multi-zone mini-splits with multiple indoor heads still use a single circuit to the outdoor unit. Newman Electric wires both types.
Yes. Ryan coordinates with HVAC companies on heat pump projects regularly. We schedule the electrical work so the circuit and disconnect are in place before the HVAC crew sets the condenser. That way there's no waiting around on installation day.
Related Services
Other Circuit and HVAC Electrical
Dedicated Circuits
Circuits for heavy-draw appliances
Electrical Panel Upgrade
More capacity for your heat pump
Hot Tub Wiring
Another outdoor 240V circuit
EV Charger Installation
Level 2 charger circuits
Smart Home Wiring
Smart thermostat wiring
Surge Protection
Protect your HVAC electronics
Electrical Repair
Fix existing circuit issues
Whole House Rewiring
Upgrade all your wiring
Service Area
Heat Pump Wiring Across
Vancouver & Clark County
Newman Electric wires heat pumps for homes across Vancouver, WA and Clark County. Central systems, ductless mini-splits, and hybrid heat pumps. We run the dedicated circuit, install the disconnect, coordinate with your HVAC installer, and handle the permit and inspection.
We also serve Cowlitz County for heat pump wiring. Longview, Kelso, Woodland, and Kalama.
Getting a Heat Pump
Installed?
Newman Electric handles the electrical side of heat pump installations across Vancouver, WA. Dedicated circuit, disconnect, thermostat wiring, and permit. The estimate is free.