Do You Need an Electrical Panel Upgrade for a Heat Pump or EV Charger?

If you’re thinking about:

Replacing your old furnace/AC with a heat pump, or
Installing an EV charger at home

…someone has probably told you:

“You’ll need a panel upgrade for that.”

Sometimes that’s true.

Sometimes it’s totally not.

And sometimes there are smart ways to avoid a full upgrade.

This guide from Galaxy Heating & Air Conditioning walks through:

When a heat pump really does push your panel too hard
How EV chargers factor into the equation
Signs your Bay Area home is due for an electrical upgrade anyway
And how Galaxy works with electricians so your project actually moves forward instead of stalling at the panel

📍 Serving Contra Costa, Alameda & San Francisco counties

📞 Want to see if your panel can handle a new heat pump? Call or text (925) 578-3293.

Quick Answer: Do You Automatically Need a Panel Upgrade?

No. You don’t automatically need a new panel just because you want:

A heat pump, or
An EV charger, or
Even both.

Whether you need an upgrade depends on things like:

Your service size (60A? 100A? 125A? 200A?)
How many big electrical loads you already have (oven, dryer, water heater, AC, etc.)
The size and type of heat pump you’re adding
The EV charger level you want (small Level 2 vs big high-amp charger)
Whether your home is gas-heavy (gas range, gas water heater, gas dryer) or already very electric

Plenty of Bay Area homes can add a heat pump without upgrading the panel.

Once you start stacking heat pump + EV charger + electric water heater + induction range, that’s when things get spicy.

Electrical Panel Basics (Super Simple Version)

Think of your electrical panel as:

The “traffic cop” for all the electricity entering your home
A box that can safely handle only up to a certain total load

Key things to know:

The main breaker (usually at the top) tells you your service size, e.g.:
- 60A
- 100A
- 125A
- 200A (very common in newer homes)
The number of breaker spaces isn’t the same as total capacity, but lack of spaces can still be a problem (sometimes solved with subpanels, sometimes not).

Older Bay Area homes frequently have:

60A or 100A service
Panels that are physically small, full, or both
Mixed gas/electric appliances

Newer homes are more likely to have 200A service, which gives you more flexibility for heat pumps + EVs + future electrification.

How Much Power Does a Heat Pump Actually Use?

People hear “all-electric heating” and picture some giant power hog. Reality is usually kinder.

Rough idea (actual numbers depend on specific equipment):

Typical ducted heat pump for a Bay Area home might use:
- A 20A–40A, 240V circuit for the outdoor unit
- Air handler/blower on a 15A–20A circuit
Ductless mini splits:
- Smaller heads can run on 15A–20A circuits
- Multi-zone systems still generally pull less than an old electric furnace or big resistance heaters

The big difference:

Old-school electric furnaces or baseboard heat can be massive draws.
Heat pumps move heat instead of making it from scratch, so they’re usually much more efficient for the same comfort.

If you already have central AC, the new heat pump’s electrical load often isn’t wildly different from what your AC condenser was using—especially if we choose the right size and features for your home.

Where it can get trickier:

Very large homes
Systems with big electric backup/resistance heat strips
Homes that are already running close to the limit with other loads

That’s where we start thinking about panel capacity more seriously.

How Much Power Does an EV Charger Need?

EV chargers are where panels often start to feel the squeeze.

Very rough:

Level 1 (120V, standard outlet)
- ~12A
- Slow charging, usually fine on existing circuits
Level 2 (240V home charger) – most common upgrade
- Typically uses a 30A–60A dedicated circuit
- Code usually treats EV charging as a continuous load, so you size the breaker ~125% of the charging current

Examples:

A 32A EV charger usually needs a 40A breaker
A 40A charger usually needs a 50A breaker
Bigger/faster chargers can need 60A or more

So while a heat pump might add something similar to an AC load, a Level 2 EV charger is like adding another big appliance all on its own.

Heat Pump and EV Charger – Where It Adds Up

If your panel is already supporting things like:

Electric range
Electric oven
Electric dryer
Maybe an electric water heater

…and you now want to add:

A heat pump, and
A Level 2 EV charger

…we’re often in “let’s take a serious look at this panel” territory.

That doesn’t automatically mean “rip it out and start over”, but it does mean:

We may need a load calculation
An electrician may need to evaluate:
- Whether a 200A upgrade makes sense
- Whether a subpanel or load management solution can avoid a full upgrade
- What’s realistic for the size, age, and wiring of your home

Signs You’re Likely to Need a Panel Upgrade

You’re more likely to need (or at least strongly want) a panel upgrade if:

Your main breaker says 60A or 100A
Your panel is full and already relies on a bunch of tandems (“double stuff” breakers)
You’re planning multiple electrification projects, like:
- Heat pump for HVAC
- Heat pump water heater
- EV charger
- Induction range
You’ve had frequent breaker trips or issues already
The panel itself is very old or from a brand with known issues (some older panels are unreliable or hard to safely work with)

Even if an upgrade isn’t required right now, sometimes it makes sense to:

Do it once, proactively,
Instead of fighting the panel every time you add something new over the next 5–10 years.

Signs You Might Not Need an Upgrade (Yet)

You may be in decent shape if:

You already have 200A service
You have gas for:
- Water heating
- Cooking
- Dryer (maybe)
You’re adding one big electrical load (heat pump or EV charger), not three at once
Your panel has spare spaces and isn’t jammed with knockoff or questionable breakers

In these cases, the conversation is more about:

Breaker space and wiring for the new circuit, and
Ensuring everything is sized correctly and meets code

Not necessarily about upgrading the entire service.

What About “Smart Panels” and Load Management?

There’s a growing middle ground between “do nothing” and “full service upgrade”:

Load management devices and smart panels can:
- Monitor your total usage
- Temporarily limit or stagger big loads (like EV charging)
- Let you add new equipment without blowing past your panel’s capacity

For example:

A smart EV charger might dial down charging amps if the home is using a lot of power
A load management device might ensure your EV charger turns off if your electric range + heat pump are going full blast

These solutions are very case-by-case. For some Bay Area homes, they’re a clever way to avoid a full upgrade for now, especially in older neighborhoods where utility service upgrades are slow or expensive.

Galaxy partners with electricians who are familiar with these options and can tell you if it’s a good idea for your specific setup.

How Galaxy Approaches Panel Questions on Heat Pump Projects

We’re an HVAC company, not your electrician — but we care a lot about your electrical panel because it directly impacts:

What kind of heat pump system we can install
Whether we can safely add backup heat if needed
How well the system will play with your future EV / electric water heater / induction plans

On a typical heat pump or electrification consult, we’ll:

Look at your panel
- Note the main breaker size (service rating)
- Check for spare spaces vs overcrowding
- Look for obvious red flags (scorch marks, questionable breakers, very old gear)
Ask about your plans
- EV now or soon?
- Plan to swap to electric water heater or induction range later?
- Long-term electrification goals?
Size your heat pump thoughtfully
- Avoid oversized systems that draw more power than you need
- Use efficient, variable-speed equipment where appropriate
- Minimize or right-size electric backup heat so we’re not adding unnecessary load
Loop in a trusted electrician when needed
- For formal load calculations
- To quote panel upgrades, subpanels, or load management solutions
- To pull the necessary permits and coordinate inspections

We don’t just say “not our problem.” If your panel is a bottleneck, we help you understand what that means and who needs to do what, when.

Should You Upgrade the Panel While Doing a Heat Pump?

Sometimes the smartest move is to pair a panel upgrade with your HVAC project, especially if:

Your panel is old and marginal anyway
You definitely want an EV charger soon
You’re planning more electrification over the next 5–10 years

Benefits of pairing the work:

One coordinated project instead of multiple disruptive ones
Electrician and HVAC installer can plan together
You won’t have to tear into finished areas twice
You future-proof your home a bit instead of constantly bumping into the panel limit

Other times, we’ll honestly say:

“Your panel is okay for now. Let’s do the heat pump, and you can tackle a panel upgrade later when you add X, Y, or Z.”

FAQ – Electrical Panels, Heat Pumps & EV Chargers

Q: Will a heat pump use more power than my existing AC?

A: Not usually in cooling mode. In heating mode it draws power instead of gas, but it’s far more efficient than electric resistance heat. The overall electrical load is often similar to, or just somewhat higher than, a central AC system of comparable size.

Q: If I’m only adding a heat pump (no EV yet), do I need a panel upgrade?

A: Not automatically. Many Bay Area homes can handle a heat pump on existing 100A or 200A service, especially if most other major appliances are gas. We’ll look at your panel and let you know if we see any concerns before you commit.

Q: I know I want both a heat pump and an EV charger. Which should I do first?

A: It depends on your priorities and panel situation. Often we:

Evaluate the panel and load first
Decide whether a panel upgrade or load management is needed
Then coordinate the heat pump and EV project plan so they don’t trip over each other.

Q: Can I just add smaller EV charging and avoid a panel upgrade?

A: Sometimes, yes. A slightly slower Level 2 charger on a lower-amp circuit or load-managed charger can be enough for many drivers, especially if you charge overnight.

Q: Do you guys do panel upgrades yourselves?

A: We focus on HVAC and heat pump systems, but we regularly work with trusted, licensed electricians. We can flag when a panel is likely to be an issue and help coordinate the right pros to handle the electrical side.

Wondering If Your Panel Can Handle a Heat Pump (and Maybe an EV)?

You don’t have to guess by squinting at your breakers.

If you’re in Contra Costa, Alameda, or San Francisco counties, Galaxy Heating & Air Conditioning can:

Evaluate your current HVAC system and electrical panel during a heat pump consultation
Explain realistically whether your panel is probably fine, borderline, or a clear upgrade candidate
Design a heat pump system that fits your comfort needs and your electrical reality
Coordinate with a licensed electrician if you need panel work, subpanels, or load management alongside your HVAC project