Air conditioner size

[Grammy]

We have a double wide with 2750 sq ft. The dealer put a 4 ton unit in this home.
This past summer the unit would come on at 7:00 in the morning & run all day & not cut off untill 11:00. During the day while the unit was running the temperature inside the house would slowly rise. The dealer & manufactor both say that this home is rated for a 4 ton unit. I have talked to local electricians who have told me a house this size would need at least a 5 to 6 ton unit.
Do you think this unit is too small?
Thanks
Grammy

[rmurray]

Your home is a large double indeed...Your home has a HUD required data plate (laminated paper)on the wall somewhere..Often on a closet wall...That plate will have the heat loss calculations for your home..It will also have a MAX size for the A/C..You should not install an a/c larger than this size...

An a/c should run at least 80% of the time....thwe system conditions the air and removes humidity..Oversized a/c's can lead to moisture and mold problems...My guess is the 4 ton is the proper size...

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[rbonnie]

Proper air conditioner sizing is dependent upon several factors. The heat loss/gain of the home, the direction in which the home is sited, the location at which you live, the number of windows etc. The correct way to size an air conditioner is to have the installer do a "Manual J" calculation. Many air conditioners when matched with other brand components will not produce the btu rating to which they are built, ie: just because you have a four ton system, does not mean you are getting 48,000 btus of cold air.

[Grammy]

Hi,
Why is the size of the AC different for a house & a double wide?
If I call local AC companies & tell them I am building a 2700 sq ft house & ask for ac size they all say at least a 5 ton, a 6 tom would be better. One said I would need 2 3 ton units.
No matter what size unit is installed the house should be comfortable?
We have had to install 3 window units. When the factory workers came & worked in August on the inside of our house they said the unit was too small. They even wrote it up in their report. The unit does not stop running during the day when the outside temp reaches 90. At this rate the unit will not last very long.

[rmurray]

No professional HVAC tech shoulkd or would quote an actual size for any size or type home without doing the calculation Mr. Bonnie has recommended..Have you looked at the data plate on the wall in your home???..What does it say about the sizing that your home is built to have???? The proper size will be written there..An A/C tech would use these figures to make the calculations that Mr. Bonnie has reccomended..The heat loss figures listed should include your insulation and windows and the tightness of your home..When it is 90 degrees out what temp do you have the thermostat set at???? What are your expectations of a comfortable home...

Have you had a professional do the calculations Mr. Bonnie has suggested..Actually an air that runs all the timne probably will last longer than one that is on and off often...The hard work of starting an air takes a toll on the equipment and the energy bill..Have a proper calculation done...