Guide
Heat Pumps and Electrical Panel Capacity in North Shore Homes
Field write-up by Simon Z., Senior Technician
North Shore communities like Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetka, and Kenilworth have a large share of homes built in the early-to-mid 20th century. These homes were wired for a very different electrical load than what a modern all-electric heat pump requires — and that mismatch is one of the most common surprises in a heat pump project.
Why older panels become the bottleneck
Many pre-war and mid-century North Shore homes were originally built with 100-amp electrical service, sized for lighting and basic appliances — not central air conditioning, electric vehicle chargers, induction ranges, and heat pumps all at once. Adding a heat pump on its own may be fine, but adding it alongside other electrification projects often pushes a 100-amp panel past its practical limit.
What a panel review actually checks
A proper panel review looks at the total electrical load your home already draws, the panel's rated capacity, and what headroom remains for new circuits. This is a standard part of our heat pump installation process and it's worth doing before finalizing equipment selection, not after.
Renovation history matters as much as panel age
A home with an original 1950s panel that later had a kitchen remodel, finished basement, or addition may have circuits added piecemeal over the decades — sometimes without a corresponding panel upgrade. That combination is common across North Shore homes and is one of the first things worth checking before any heat pump quote.
Planning ahead for other electrification
If you're also considering an EV charger, induction range, or heat pump water heater down the line, it's worth sizing the panel upgrade for all of it at once rather than revisiting the panel again with each new project.