More HVAC Questions
Home
Contact Us
Ask the Electrician
Products & Services
Project Portfolio
Dance of the Lights
About Us

There are multiple topics on this page. Be sure to scroll down to find the question you're looking for!

My new room air conditioner runs off a regular plug but every time the compressor kicks on it blows the 15 amp circuit to my bedroom. Could there be a problem with the circuit?

Most likely not. My guess is that the air conditioner is overloading the circuit. You probably need to have a dedicated circuit installed to power the air conditioner. A licensed electrician can easily help you with this.

I just purchased a PTAC unit for my sunroom. The unit has a 230/208v 30amp plug but my outlet is wired for 20 amp. Should I change the outlet and breaker to use the 30 amp plug, or can I just change out the cord on the A/C unit from the 30 amp plug to a 20 amp plug?

You will need to have a 30 amp line installed. You cannot change the outlet and breaker alone, nor the cord on the unit - these actions are both potential fire hazards.

My electrician installed a Silavent SDF100 axial wall fan in my shower that comes on when we turn on the light, but it has no external exit vent. He says it doesn’t need one but I’m concerned as to where the steam from the shower goes.

The fan needs to be vented somewhere to prevent mold and mildew buildup. If it’s vented into an unheated space such as an attic, then that would be OK.

I have electric baseboard heaters in my house. The power company says that they’re hard on my electric bill because even if I turn them off they still burn electricity. Is this true?

No. If the heaters are off, then they’re not drawing any power.
It's hard to say if they are 'hard' on your utility bill, because I don't know what this is based on. Electric baseboard heat is the most efficient type of heat available, but if your electric rate is more expensive than propane or oil, then it may cost more to heat your home with it.

I have a 12’ x 12’ sunroom that I want to heat with electric baseboard. How many do I need to install?

There are many factors that go into determining heating size. Basically, it requires that you do a heat loss calculation for the room. This takes into account factors such as number of windows and direction they face, number of inside and outside walls, insulation in the walls, and so on.

Here's a good article that should be able to help you calculate heating needs

Wurtsboro Electric Service, Inc.

Licensed electricians serving Orange county, Sullivan county, and Ulster county in New York
(845) 888-8000 

_________________________________________________________________________________________________ 
     
        
All information contained within this site ©2004-2016, Wurtsboro Electric Service, Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproducing or duplicating any information contained herein is prohibited by law.
Contact Us       About Us       Resources