A/C & HVAC Electrical Pre-Wiring in the Denver Metro
Dedicated circuits, outdoor disconnects and the panel capacity behind them, so your HVAC contractor arrives to a service that is ready for the equipment.
The electrical half of a new HVAC system
Adding air conditioning to a Colorado home that never had it, or replacing a furnace with a heat pump, is as much an electrical project as a mechanical one. The condenser or heat pump needs a dedicated circuit sized to its nameplate, a disconnect within sight of the unit, and a panel with the capacity and breaker space to carry it.
Older Denver-area homes are where this gets interesting. A 100-amp service that was adequate for a gas furnace and a swamp cooler often has nothing left for a condenser, and the mechanical contractor finds out on install day. Doing the electrical assessment first keeps that off your calendar.
- First-time central air in a home built without it
- Heat pump conversions, including cold-climate systems
- Mini-split and ductless zone circuits
- Furnace, air handler and electric backup heat circuits
- Replacing an undersized or non-compliant existing disconnect
What we install
We size the circuit from the equipment's nameplate data rather than a rule of thumb, run the conductors and conduit, set the outdoor disconnect at the correct clearance from the unit, and land it all on a properly rated breaker. Where the panel does not have the room or the capacity, we quote that honestly as part of the same job instead of discovering it later.
We work to the HVAC contractor's timeline so the electrical is finished and inspected when their crew arrives, and we are happy to talk to them directly about equipment specs.
- Correctly sized conductors, breaker and overcurrent protection
- Weatherproof outdoor disconnect with proper working clearance
- Whip and connection to the unit coordinated with the mechanical crew
- Panel capacity check and upgrade quoted if needed
- Permit pulled and inspection closed out
Pre-wiring during a remodel
If walls are open for a remodel and air conditioning or a heat pump is on your five-year list, this is the cheapest hour of electrical work you will ever buy. Running the circuit and setting the panel provision now costs a fraction of retrofitting it through finished drywall later.
Our process
How an EPO a/c pre-wiring job runs
- 01
Equipment details
Nameplate data from your HVAC contractor tells us exactly what the circuit has to carry.
- 02
Panel and load review
We confirm capacity and breaker space, and flag an upgrade only if the math requires one.
- 03
Written fixed price
Circuit, disconnect, permit and any panel work in a single number.
- 04
Installation
Circuit run, disconnect set, breaker landed and everything labeled.
- 05
Inspection and hand-off
Permit closed, and the mechanical crew arrives to a finished, inspected circuit.
Pricing
What moves the price on this job
We quote after seeing the equipment, because these details change the number more than anything else.
- Equipment size and the circuit rating it requires
- Distance from the panel to the outdoor unit
- Finished-wall routing versus open-wall access
- Whether the panel needs capacity or breaker space added
- Permit and inspection fees
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FAQ
Common questions
Does my HVAC contractor handle the electrical?
Some do, many subcontract it, and a few leave it to you. We are happy to be the electrical side of the project and to coordinate directly with their crew.
Will adding air conditioning require a panel upgrade?
Not always. It depends on your service size and existing loads. We run the calculation and tell you plainly, and if 100 amps genuinely will not carry it, we show you the numbers.
What is the disconnect for?
Code requires a means of shutting off power to the outdoor unit within sight of it, so a service tech can safely work on the equipment. It also protects you.
Can you pre-wire before I buy the equipment?
We can rough in the path and panel provision, but final circuit sizing depends on the equipment nameplate. If the model is not chosen yet, we size the rough-in conservatively and finish once it is.
Do mini-splits need their own circuits?
Usually yes, one per outdoor unit, sized to that unit. Multi-zone systems vary, so we work from the manufacturer's data.
Still deciding?
The fastest way to get a real answer for your home is to have a tech open the panel. The on-site estimate is free, and you leave with a written price for a/c pre-wiring.
Want the long version first? Read 100 vs 200 Amp Service: What Your Home Actually Needs.
Where we work
A/C & HVAC Electrical Pre-Wiring across the Front Range
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