What to Know About Taking Your Home All-Electric
A Guide from the Bay Area Experts in Electrification
Transitioning to an all-electric home is a transformative journey that offers numerous benefits, from increased energy efficiency to a reduced carbon footprint. As you embark on this path, it’s essential to understand the various components that make up an all-electric home.
Electrical Panel Sizing
Assessing and planning your electrical panel is a first step.
Contrary to popular belief, a 100-amp panel can support an all-electric home, even with solar panels, a battery, and a car charger! However, some homes may need an upgrade. In such cases, we coordinate with PG&E to install a new 125 or 200-amp panel, usually costing between $4,000 and $6,000. In almost every case, a 200-amp panel is more than adequate.
Early planning by a knowledgeable professional is essential. Most electricians use an NEC calculation that often suggests a 200-amp panel is required. At EPB, we use actual wattage data for HVAC and water heating systems, ensuring precise calculations. This approach saves you money and reduces the need for extensive grid upgrades.
Planning for Efficient HVAC
Your HVAC plan will feature a heat pump, which can be either ductless or ducted. We generally recommend ducted units for their superior comfort and filtration. However, if your home cannot accommodate ducted systems, or if you prefer ductless options, we can install wall or ceiling-mounted ductless units.
We size heat pump systems around 1000 square feet per ton of heating and cooling capacity, minimizing the impact on your main panel, enhancing your indoor comfort, and lowering your utility bills.
Insulation and Air Sealing
Smarter Water Heating
A heat pump water heater is the ideal choice for water heating. Installing that new unit in the same location as your existing water heater simplifies the process, though it isn’t always possible. While updating your water heater can usually be done independently of the HVAC and insulation work, we should plan for that update in your panel and solar design. If the HVAC or panel work is done first, we can install the electrical circuit for your future water heater during that phase, reducing downtime.
Electric Cooking
Modern induction cooktops have revolutionized electric cooking. We have one in our office kitchen, and it’s fantastic. Induction cooktops use magnets to heat the metal above them, not the cooktop, making them faster, safer, and easier to clean.
Switching to an electric oven and stove can be done independently of other projects but, just like with your water heater, consider installing the necessary electrical circuit and including it in your panel design while working on other upgrades.
Clothes Dryer
You have the option of a regular electric dryer or a modern heat pump dryer. Heat pump dryers are 3 to 4 times more efficient than electric dryers because they use a heat pump instead of electric resistance heat. They also don’t require venting because they use a condensate line to remove water instead.
However, research and read reviews, as some models may have issues with lint buildup. While transitioning your dryer to a heat pump dryer can be done independently of other projects, we recommend installing the electrical circuit with your panel design so your home will be ready for that upgrade.
FAQs - Electrification & Energy Efficiency
Do I need to upgrade my electrical panel to electrify my home?
Not always, it depends on your panel’s current capacity. A 100-amp panel can typically support a fully electric home, including a heat pump, heat pump water heater, and induction cooktop, while smaller or older panels (especially those under 100 amps) usually need an upgrade first. A panel assessment is the only reliable way to know which category your home falls into.
How much does an electrical panel upgrade typically cost?
A panel upgrade generally runs $4,000 to $6,000, depending on your home’s existing electrical setup and whether PG&E coordination is required for the new service size. This is a one-time cost that unlocks the rest of an electrification project, which is why we assess it first rather than partway through.
Why do you calculate panel capacity differently than some other contractors?
Most contractors size a panel using standard NEC load calculations, which estimate electrical demand conservatively and often recommend a bigger, more expensive upgrade than a home actually needs. We instead use your home’s actual wattage data for HVAC and water heating, which frequently means a smaller upgrade.
What order should I electrify my home’s systems in?
Insulation and air sealing should come before a new HVAC or heat pump installation, since a well-sealed home lets you install smaller, less expensive equipment. From there, panel capacity and HVAC are typically addressed together, with water heating, cooking, and drying phased in as budget and priorities allow
Will I need a bigger panel later if I add solar, a battery, or an EV charger?
A 100-amp panel can support a fully electric home even with solar panels, a home battery, and an EV charger, as long as the overall system is planned with those additions in mind. This is exactly why we assess future plans during the initial panel evaluation rather than only what’s needed today.
What’s the difference between a regular electric dryer and a heat pump dryer?
A heat pump dryer doesn’t need external venting, it uses a condensate line to remove moisture instead and runs 3 to 4 times more efficiently than a standard electric dryer.
That efficiency gain also means lower amperage draw, which can matter if your panel capacity is limited.
Can I electrify my home in phases, or do I have to do it all at once?
You can electrify in phases. In fact, we often plan for it, such as wiring a water heater circuit during panel or HVAC work so that the appliance is ready to upgrade later without additional electrical work. Sequencing insulation and panel capacity first makes every later phase, from cooking to drying, simpler and less expensive.
Schedule a Free Assessment
Take the first step toward a more efficient, comfortable home! Complete the form, and our team will contact you to discuss your electrification goals and how we can help. From there, we’ll schedule a visit with one of our building scientists to assess your home and recommend solutions.
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