Why does this 3 ton unit require a minimum 41 Amp breaker? My existing heat pump runs on a 30 Amp breaker and only draws 17 Amps (full load amps). Do I need to upgrade my circuit breaker?

It does require the larger breaker for two reasons. The first is the included basepan heater. This resistance element prevents coil freezing during the coldest temperatures and ensures a long service life. The second reason is the Hyper Heat extended heating performance. When conditions call for heat in extremely low outdoor temperature, the Hyper Heat mode keeps the condenser running at full power for long periods of time. To maintain this high-performance mode over time, you need the correct amp draw. Bear in mind that it does not always mean that it uses more power than your old model. Except in the rare conditions stated above, this heat pump is using inverter technology to ramp down and only use the minimum power needed to meet demand. This means that most of the time, it is using a fraction of the current older single stage or 2 stage heat pumps would use. This also applies to the same savings for cooling mode as well.

If you have any further questions, please call us and we will be happy to assist you.