Do you know how many AMPs you need for your home? At ESD LLC, we specialize in supplying premium electrical components and the expert advice to go with them. We can help you estimate your electrical use and find the perfect products for your home. Discover how many AMPs you need to power a house below.
What Is Amperage and Why Is It Important?
If you’re wondering, “How many AMPs do I need for my house?” it’s essential to start by understanding the importance of amperage. This electrical measurement illustrates how many electrons flow through a current.
You’ll see measurements ranging from 15 to 30, and the level directly correlates to how much power your devices use. Most devices use 15 or 20 AMPs, whereas large appliances like an air conditioner require 30. If you have GFCI outlets that keep tripping, you may have too many appliances drawing a more powerful current than your circuit can handle.
How Many AMPs Should a House Have?
How many AMPs do you need for a house? The answer depends on a few important considerations. Most homes require, at minimum, a 100 amperage rating to account for using multiple heavy-load appliances simultaneously.
Consider Your Square Footage
To answer the question, “How many AMPs does a house need?” you’ll need to think about your home’s size. Follow these steps:
- Multiply the square footage of your home by three.
- Add 1,500 for each small kitchen appliance.
- Inspect each large appliance in your home and add its wattage rating to your calculation (don’t forget your HVAC system).
- Divide the total by 230 to determine your amperage needs.
Account for Future Plans
How many AMPs do you need in a house? While you may have established what you currently require, don’t forget to consider any future increases. Upgrading your electrical capacity can cost a couple thousand dollars, so planning long-term can save you considerable money.
What life changes could affect how much power you use in your home?
- If you’re planning to add to your home, you’ll likely use more electrical devices at once.
- Buying an electric vehicle and installing a charger for it can significantly increase your power usage.
- When you’re expecting a child, consider what devices you’ll add that will use electricity.
- Are you considering installing solar panels? Factor that into your calculations.
- As local building codes evolve, they may change the minimum requirements from 100 to 200 or more.
- Integrating smart technology in your home can significantly increase your electrical capacity requirements.
Find Everything You Need To Upgrade Your Home’s Amperage
Do you understand the answer to, “How many AMPs does my house need?” We can provide you with more insight. At EDS LLC, we provide products like standard circuit breakers and shunt trip circuit breakers. Whether you’re wondering how to reset a tripped circuit breaker or need more certainty about your power needs, we’ll spend time answering all your questions.
Our experts can match you with the perfect electrical products when you contact us online or call 425-419-4167. Reach out today.