Normally when you have HVAC equipment replaced, the HVAC company sends out an HVAC technician. This is someone who is specifically trained to work with HVAC equipment. They generally do a little electrical work, but not beyond connecting a few wires. If your project requires more than that, then the HVAC contractor will likely bring a specialty electrical contractor along with them to do some of the work. Here are some scenarios in which that electrician will be necessary.

1. You're moving the HVAC equipment.

If your furnace is currently on one side of the basement, but you want to move it to the other side of the basement, for example, then a lot of the wiring to the furnace will need to be re-run. You may need to have some new outlets or connections put in. This is more extensive work that has to be done by an electrician. Of course, this adds to the expense of replacing a furnace. So, homeowners do not generally move a furnace unless they have a good reason to do so. Perhaps the new furnace is too large to sit in the old space, or perhaps the new furnace has a different type of vent system that needs to be installed in a different location.

2. You're switching to electric HVAC equipment.

Another time that an electrical contractor becomes necessary is if you're switching from some sort of gas-powered HVAC system to an electric one. For instance, if you're switching from a propane furnace to an electric furnace, an electrician will need to come out and run the new wires. A fully electric furnace needs different size connections and wires than a gas one. Electric furnaces are common with people who don't want to deal with a gas bill or don't have access to a public natural gas supply.

3. You need to add a new circuit to the box.

Another time you'll need an electrician is if your circuit breaker box does not have enough room for the new furnace to connect. An electrical contractor will need to add another circuit and perhaps even replace the entire box to accommodate it. This involves working with a lot of high-powered lines, which means it needs to be done by a total expert.

Most HVAC replacement jobs can be done by an HVAC technician alone, but sometimes, as in the situations above, HVAC techs need to call in an electrician to help.

For more information, contact an electrical contractor near you.

Share