HVAC... I think my condensor is to small?

Question

I have a 3.5 ton condensor, (14 seer) and it is TINY, for my 2350 sq foot house..... is there an easy calculation to figure out what it should be, or a website of Standards for Sq footage? this is a new house about a year old and they SKIMPED everywhere they could.... the ac runs all day and nite and never gets the house below 80,.... not many windows... all are rated well on the CF6Rs, and all walls are 2x4 R13, and 13" blown attic, and its allways HOT? what do you think?

i live in central California in the Valley. HOT and DRY... over 110 degrees all week sofar.

Answer 1

It seems to me that maybe your duct work my be too small. I use a simple calculation:

For every 700 sq. ft. = 1 Ton of A/C
So if you have 2350 Sq. ft. of living area w/ 8 foot ceilings, then divide it by 700 and you will come with 3.35 or 3.5 Tons.

Another thing a contractor have to consider is heat load on a house. Is the house under direct sun light or is it under a shade?

So, as you can see the tonnage is correct but, without any information on your duct work (size of your duct the air travels) it is hard to make a judgment call on your situation.

You should be able to hold your temperature in your house about 15 to 20 degrees below the outside temperature.

I would call another company besides the one that installed the system to check that out for you. I would bet that would be the problem.

Good Luck

Answer 2

There are two facets of tonnage, one being b.t.u's of heating and cooling, the other being c.f.m.'s, or cubic feet per minute of air flow discharged by the system. Regardless of your duct sizes, I don't believe your 3.5.ton system is providing enough c.f.m.'s for your square footage.The only way to properly calculate the b.t.u. requirement is with a Manual J, for example, (the form we use in Florida) that takes into account all the relevant factors of the home for the system requirements. My guess is that you are undersized. To prove it, someone is going to have to perform these calculations for you.

If your builder is not being helpful, it may be worthwhile to have it done by a mechanical engineer, or perhaps you are fortunate enough to have a friend in the business. At any rate, a professional assesment of your system must be performed, and your builder needs to be confronted with the results provided you can prove in black and white that he has fallen short of the mark.

This is a serious matter, affecting your wallet and your health.
I would move quickly to resolve this issue, as time in matters of warranty will work against you.

Answer 3

It seems to me that your unit is seriously undersized. In Hawaii, we use the formula sq. ft. times 50 to get us in the ballpark of what btus we need. 1 ton is simply 12,000 btus. I don't know where you live and I don't know the btu requirements for the entire world, but I'm telling you that unit would not be adequate for that same house in Hawaii or a tropical environment. In my estimate, to cool your house, you would need 3 of the same units that you have. However, extensive searches on a search engine may turn up some nice results to help you figure out what the formula is for your part of the country.

Answer 4

Do keep in mind that all new units cycle on much longer than the older ones... T o achieve this many are rated just enough to take care of your normal needs. So in abnormal conditions the unit will not be able to keep up.
And, the higher the sier(efficiency) the longer the cycle seems to be.
Doesn't hurt though to get the gas charge checked -- new doesn't mean it hasn't leaked.

Good Luck and Good Fortune.

Answer 5

You can go to just about any web site for any of the brand name air conditioner manufactures and they have links to help you size condensers . Just guessing by your sq.footage I'd say you need at least a 5 ton unit .depends if you live north or south.

Answer 6

First i assume you're speaking approximately critical air con, somewhat than say a window air conditioner. expenditures for air conditioners variety surprisingly and counting on the size of the domicile, which will confirm the size (tonnage) she needs. From there, you next might desire to look on the SEER or skill performance of the unit. A greater powerful unit will value greater advantageous than a non-powerful unit yet will save additional money in skill expenditures in the long-term. If she needs the compressor and air handler the two replaced, and is getting an exceptionally severe skill powerful unit., it ought to come on the threshold of $5500 yet it fairly is slightly on the severe component so i might go searching. as quickly as you %. out what you like, you may now and lower back order the unit at as quickly as from the producer (Rheem, Trane, and so on.) and that they're going to drop deliver it on your place in case you have somebody to place in it. additionally examine which incorporate your state/close by skill employer (we in Florida have Florida skill and lightweight) and that they assist you to comprehend approximately rebate specials they have. i think of the cost is slightly severe in line with what I paid to interchange my unit for my 1100 ft domicile 2 yrs in the past for despite it fairly is nicely worth. additionally call domicile Depot. They do installations and that i guess their expenditures are mid variety and a good guage for what it would value.

Answer 7

this may need to be recharged and also the fins may need to be cleaned.

Sorry about the house you just bought and now that it is summer time sorry about the heatwave in your house.

Good LUck