Updated October 2026
Straight answer
Yes. We handle electrical work all over Arlington, and heat pump wiring is a growing share of it, often paired with a panel upgrade. Before you sign with an HVAC installer, we can check whether your service carries the new load, wire the disconnects and circuits for each outdoor unit, and plan any upgrade with Eversource. Phones are answered 24/7.
Does a heat pump mean a bigger panel?
Not automatically. A ductless system for a few rooms may need one 20 or 30 amp circuit per outdoor unit, which a lot of 100 amp panels can carry. A whole-house cold-climate system, sized to replace an oil or gas boiler, is a larger load that runs hardest on the coldest nights. Electric backup heat strips add more on top. The load calculation separates the two cases.
If the panel has capacity but no spaces, a few circuits can often be consolidated or moved to a subpanel. If capacity is short, an upgrade to 200 amps is common. Load management is a third path for homes that sit close to the line. We give the HVAC contractor our numbers so the equipment and the electrical plan match.
Heat pump incentives and older houses in Arlington
Heat pump rebates through Mass Save draw many Arlington owners toward electric heat, though the qualifying rules shift each year, so read the current terms before you sign for equipment. The houses themselves are the other half of the story. Massachusetts has more pre-1940 homes than most states, and an older Arlington house may still run on a small service with a compact panel. We do the load math first, then tell you whether the heat pump fits on the existing service, needs load management, or calls for a panel upgrade.
Wiring the outdoor units and disconnects
Each outdoor unit needs a dedicated circuit, a disconnect within sight of it, and a short whip to the unit. We mount disconnects where they are reachable but out of the snow and the roof drip line, and we seal every wall penetration. Line sets and refrigerant work belong to the HVAC installer. Our side is power to the unit, the disconnect and any control wiring the installer asks for.
In older Arlington houses, finding a route from the basement panel to the side of the house is part of the job. We follow joists, use exterior conduit painted to match when an interior path is not possible, and keep the run as short as the layout allows. The town wiring inspector checks the installation, and we file the permit on work that needs one.
What to fix while the service is open
Heat pump projects often pair with insulation work, and insulation crews will not bury live knob and tube. If your house still has original runs serving top floor lights or outlets, it helps to know before the HVAC and insulation schedules are set. We can check the attic and walls during the same visit as the load calculation.
A service upgrade is also a chance to fix grounding and bonding. Older homes often rely on a water pipe ground that may no longer be continuous, or have no ground rod at all. When we replace the service, we bring the grounding electrode system and the gas and water bonding up to current requirements.
Arlington electrification work we take on
Heat Pump Electrical Wiring
Circuits, disconnects and whips for mini-splits and ducted systems.
Electrical Panel Upgrade
A 200 amp service when a whole-house system will not fit the old one.
Smart Panel & Load Management
A path for homes close to the line on the load calculation.
Subpanel Installation
Extra breaker spaces near the units when the main panel is full.
Knob & Tube Wiring Replacement
Old attic runs that hold up insulation work paired with a heat pump.
Grounding & Bonding Upgrade
Ground rods and bonding corrected when the service is replaced.
Got a heat pump quote? Call and we will check the panel side first.
Call (617) 843-6591Heat pump wiring questions from Arlington
It helps. A load calculation tells you whether your panel can carry the system you are considering, and that can change the equipment size or the order of the work.
Usually one dedicated circuit per outdoor unit, with a disconnect next to it. Indoor heads normally take power from the outdoor unit through the control wiring, depending on the manufacturer.
Many homeowners do, especially at first. Keeping backup heat can reduce the electrical load, because the heat pump does not need electric resistance strips for the coldest nights.
Program rules change from year to year, and what is covered depends on the current terms. Check with Mass Save before you sign, and keep our invoice and permit paperwork for any application.
Yes. Phones are answered 24/7, and an electrician can come out for urgent problems such as a burning smell or a loss of power.