
Mismatched is a no-no,but a 3 ton may have a "factory" approved match with a 4 ton coil. The 3 ton coil,should not be a problem for air flow in cooling,If the heating cfm (airflow) required is great than the cooling cfm then it can be a problem.
Full Answer
How many BTUs does a 1 ton air conditioner remove?
An air conditioner that is one ton is able to remove 12,000 BTUs of heat per hour. Each ton is an additional 12,000 BTUs. Simply put, the more tonnage, the more air an AC can cool down.
How much does it cost to install a 3-ton AC unit?
The high cost for this project is $9,500 for a 3-ton packaged AC unit with a SEER rating of 21, installed with significant upgrades to the ducts and surrounding area. 3-ton AC units are frequently installed in homes of around 2,000 sq.ft. They can be split systems, packaged systems, or packaged with a heat source.
What does tonnage mean on an AC unit?
Each ton is an additional 12,000 BTUs. Simply put, the more tonnage, the more air an AC can cool down. So…why wouldn’t you want the most powerful tonnage AC you can afford for your home?
Is a 4 ton air conditioner too big for a house?
You told me your house was 2400 square feet, so that means you need a 4 ton air conditioner. The first answer is bad because they’re assuming the original contractor sized the system properly—and that nothing has changed since. The second is bad because they’re assuming that bigger is better.

How many square feet will a 4 ton AC cool?
Step 5: Match your square footage to an HVAC size chartHome Sq FootageAir Conditioner Size (tons)600 - 1,000 square feet1.5 tons1,000 – 1,500 square feet2 tons1,500 – 2,000 square feet3 tons2,000 – 2,500 square feet4 tons1 more row
Can I replace a 3 ton AC with a 5 ton AC unit?
The short answer is, you can't. A good tech might be able to get it to work with like a TXV, but you are going to be bottle-necked at the 3-ton. There is no way you will get 5-ton capacity after that. It will mess up your warranty and your efficiency will be off.
How big of a house can a 4 ton AC unit run?
Assuming the minimum cooling capacity of 400 square feet per ton for your HVAC unit, a 1600 square foot home will require 4.0 tons of air conditioning to cool. Your HVAC unit will need to remove about 4.0 x 12,000 BTUs, or 48,000 BTUs, per hour to keep your home cool.
Is a 4 ton AC too much?
While a local HVAC professional can help you with this, the general rule of thumb is that one ton of AC capacity will cool approximately 500 square feet. So if your home is 1,500 square feet, a two to three-ton unit would be best.
Can you put a 4 ton condenser with a 3 ton air handler?
she can not install a 4 ton condenser on a 3 ton coil and expect it to work. as far as everyone saying trying to force 4 tons of air through a 3 ton coil, he didn't say anything about changing the air handler out, only the outdoor unit. also the wiring probably isn't large enough to handle the larger unit.
Is it better to undersize or oversize an AC?
Not surprisingly, an undersized air conditioner will struggle to cool your home. It'll run longer cycles than it should since the square footage it's trying to cool is simply too large for its output capacity. On the other hand, an oversized unit will short cycle, meaning it'll turn on and off in short bursts.
How many sq ft will a 3-ton AC unit cool?
1,800 square feetHow many square feet does a 3-ton air conditioner cover is quite easy to answer as well. 3-ton is equal to 36,000 BTU. If you apply the 20 BTU per sq ft rule of thumb, you can see that a 3-ton air conditioner cools about 1,800 square feet spaces.
What happens if your AC unit is too big?
If your air conditioner is too big, you'll have hot spots – or inconsistent cooling – throughout your home. Hot spots occur most often when cold air doesn't disperse through the home efficiently enough. You'll notice that some of your rooms are cool and comfortable, while others are hot and humid.
How much should a 3-ton AC unit cost installed?
The national average cost to install a 3-ton air conditioner is $4,000 to $7,000. Most homeowners pay around $5,500 for a 3-ton, split system unit with a SEER rating of 16, fully installed with modifications to existing ducts.
Can I upsize my AC unit?
Oversized air conditioners don't run for a long time because they satisfy the cooling load quickly and then shut off. Properly sized air conditioners run longer, so if you want your air conditioner to dehumidify your home as well as cool it, don't let the HVAC contractor oversize it.
Is 3 ton AC big enough?
Generally, a 3-ton air conditioner can comfortably cool a 1500 square feet room. For an entire house, a 3-ton air conditioner is usually sufficient for a 2000 sqft insulated house. On the upper limit, a 3-ton air conditioner can cool a house with a floor area up to 2400 sqft.
Is it better to get a bigger air conditioner?
A bigger unit simply gobbles more power than a smaller one. To make matters worse, your oversized air conditioner will likely never reach its promised level of energy efficiency. Just as it is cycling up to its most efficient level, the thermostat will tell it to shut off again.
What is the difference between 3 ton and 5 ton AC?
An air conditioner's electricity consumption depends on its EER rating. The 5-star ACs are more energy-efficient than a 3-star AC unit. The electricity consumption of a 5-star AC (1.5 tons) is approximately 1.5 units per hour, whereas a 3-star AC (1.5 tons) consumes 1.6 units every hour.
Can I replace my 4 ton AC with a 5 ton?
A 5 ton outdoor unit will not work with a 4 ton indoor coil and air handler or furnace. The freon won't boil off correctly.
Can condenser be bigger than evaporator?
Condensers have to be larger than evaporators in terms of their heat exchange capacity because they are not only rejecting the heat absorbed by the evaporator… they also need to reject additional heat that the refrigerant gains in the compressor from the heat of compression.
Can you mix and match air handler and condenser?
If you combine a condensing unit with an air handler (or furnace) it wasn't designed to work with, in the best case the result will be reduced operating efficiency. In the worst case, the mismatched system may not work at all. Or, it may appear to run initially and then fail after a short time.
How many ton evap for 18 seer?
Just did a 3 ton 18 seer unit. They are getting the 18 seer using a 5 ton evap and adjusting the blower speed. Seems to be coming more and more common.
Is HVAC talk a DIY site?
Welcome to HVAC-Talk. com, a non-DIY site and the ultimate Source for HVAC Information & Knowledge Sharing for the industry professional! Here you can join over 150,000 HVAC Professionals & enthusiasts from around the world discussing all things related to HVAC/R. You are currently viewing as a NON-REGISTERED guest which gives you limited access to view discussions
Can HVAC work on a trailer?
Many HVAC companies will not go near a trailer, which I understand because these air units are much different than those used in regular houses. So we don't have the luxury of picking from a large pool of HVAC competitors. We found one that will work on mobile home units and he's an older man that primarily works alone and sometimes with one helper that is not a HVAC person (just labor).
Can a 4 ton coil be used with a 3 ton condensor?
A 4 ton coil for a 3 ton condensor would not be my first choice, but if it is set up properly, a larger coil is often how those high SEER ratings are achieved. My first system check would be refrigerant levels since a 4 ton coil is going to require a refrigerant change as how much to charge into it.
Is HVAC talk a DIY site?
Welcome to HVAC-Talk. com, a non-DIY site and the ultimate Source for HVAC Information & Knowledge Sharing for the industry professional! Here you can join over 150,000 HVAC Professionals & enthusiasts from around the world discussing all things related to HVAC/R. You are currently viewing as a NON-REGISTERED guest which gives you limited access to view discussions
Do HVAC types use themselves as pigs?
Typically, us HVAC types use ourselves as ginny pigs. If you don't care why would we?
Can a 4 ton compressor work with a 3 ton compressor?
but if you took that 4 ton unit and put a new 3 ton compressor in it it would work. so long as its not a heat pump. the increased condenser size will increase efficiency when used with a condenser temp based condenser fan variable speed control. i think theyre about $ retail or so.
What does more tonnage mean in AC?
Simply put, the more tonnage, the more air an AC can cool down . So…why wouldn’t you want the most powerful tonnage AC you can afford for your home?
What happens if you have an oversized air conditioner?
Excessive dust in your home: An oversized air conditioner can lead to a few other “home” problems outside of the air conditioner itself that even most HVAC Companies may not consider or even realize. Because many of us here Magic Touch Mechanical are BPI Certified Building Analysts, and BPI Certified Envelope Specialists, we study and repair problems with buildings and homes that affect comfort and energy efficiency outside of the HVAC System. A common problem we see with oversized units and undersized ductwork is dust and contaminants being pulled into the home from unconditioned spaces like the attic and walls. We use special tools while conducting a home energy audit to demonstrate how this is happening, which most people find shocking when they see it with their own eyes.
Why can't my AC unit breathe?
The outcome typically is the new unit can’t “breathe” – the technical term for this is high static pressure. High static pressure causes bigger problems than just comfort issues and high utility bills – it is an AC component killer and can cause expensive components like the compressor and indoor fan motors to fail.
How does an AC system short cycle?
The AC will begin to short-cycle: If an air conditioner is too powerful for the space it’s supposed to cool, the thermostat will register too early that the air conditioner’s job is finished and shut off the compressor prematurely. It will then turn it back on a short time later, only to shut it off again … and this is repeated multiple times per hour, a problem known as short-cycling. These rapid start-ups and shut-downs create massive energy waste, and they put immense wear and tear on the system, leading to a short service life for the AC.
Why is my AC running so long?
If the AC is running long enough because it’s short-cycling, there isn’t enough time to evenly distribute cooling around your house, leading to hot spots. Your home will have high humidity: Both humidity and temperature play a role in how comfortable we are.
Is it true that the bigger the AC you get the better?
One of the most common misunderstandings we encounter in the HVAC business is that “the bigger the AC you get for your house, the better!” This isn’t remotely true, and unfortunately it leads to people getting an air conditioning system that costs too much and ends up not doing the job expected.
Is it important to know the size of an air conditioner?
This is a bit of HVAC lingo that consumers may not understand, but it’s important when it comes to sizing an air conditioner, i.e. making sure the air conditioner is powerful enough without being too powerful.
How many sq ft is an 8 ton house?
Eight Ton for 3700-sf is only 462.5-sf per ton; that appears to be considerably oversized for a 2002 house in Dallas TX.
How many tons of ducts should be on the first floor?
When properly installed with an efficient duct system; the first floor should normally get-by with less than 4-Ton.
What is the advantage of a 2 stage unit?
The advantage of the 2-stage is that it will run at the lower level (less electricity) during those times you don't need so much cooling.
Can you choose an AC solely on SEER ratings?
Don't choose an AC solely on reported SEER ratings.
Do I need a 100 K furnace?
You certainly don't require a 100 K size furnace even at 80% for downstairs system. Look at the 80 K model XV80 with 4 ton rated blower. Add either the XR16 or XR17 in 4 ton size. Both should be eligible for Fed Tax Credit. You also want the 803 thermostat, not the 802. I would also recommend the Perfect Fit Trane filter media cabinet.
