By: Barry Stone
Dear Barry,
My heating and cooling system was recently serviced by an air conditioning contractor. He advised that I hire a licensed electrician to install an electric shutoff switch at the A/C unit behind the garage. Frankly, I don't see why this should be necessary. The system operates perfectly, and there is an adequate shutoff switch at the main electric service panel. Do you know of any reason why I should install this switch? -- Norm
Dear Norm,
Be assured your contractor is right. The code requires that there be an electric disconnect switch near your air conditioning unit. The purpose of this requirement has nothing to do with performance, but rather with safety. It enables a repair technician to turn off the power at the work site, with the assurance that no one will turn on the power while his hands are engaged with the internal components of the system.
It's easy to understand why your contractor would like to see a switch at the required location: It could save his life. My advice is to have this condition corrected by a licensed electrician.
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