3.5 Ton EcoTemp 15.5 SEER2 90K BTU Single Stage Gas System W5A5S42AKAWA, W5AM42M21XA, WFER090C048C
This system opens the wide-body half of the EcoTemp gas range. The W5A5S42AKAWA condenser produces 42,000 BTU/h of R-454B cooling at 15.5 SEER2 from a two-row, nine-circuit outdoor coil, and both indoor components move to the 21-inch class cabinet: the W5AM42M21XA cased coil and the four-burner WFER090C048C furnace, rated 88,000 BTU/h input and 72,000 BTU/h output at 80% AFUE. The wider chassis also brings a meaningful airflow increase — a 1/2 HP blower rated to 1,445 CFM with the 048 designation, up from 1,210 CFM on the 17-1/2 inch version of the same input. It is built for 1,800 to 2,400 square foot homes with substantial ductwork, and for the mechanical rooms and basements that have the width to accept a 21-inch cabinet.
Is a 3.5 Ton / 90K BTU Gas System the Right Size?
At 42,000 BTU/h of cooling and 72,000 BTU/h of heat output, this package covers roughly 1,800 to 2,400 square feet in moderate climates and correspondingly less in hot or heavily glazed homes. It is a balanced pairing rather than a heat-heavy or cool-heavy one, which is why it works across a wide band of the country, from the Carolinas and Tennessee through Pennsylvania and into the Pacific Northwest. Half-ton steps matter at this capacity: the difference between 3 and 3.5 tons is 6,000 BTU/h, enough to change comfort in a home sitting near the boundary.
The 21-inch cabinet is the practical gate. Coil and furnace both need that width plus service clearance, and the supply plenum has to match, so retrofits replacing narrower equipment should confirm dimensions early. On the airflow side, the 1,445 CFM blower rating aligns well with the roughly 1,400 CFM a 3.5 ton system wants, meaning the equipment is not fighting to reach design airflow. Whether the existing ducts can deliver it is the separate question, and at this size it usually deserves measurement rather than assumption.
Ideal for: Homes of roughly 1,800 to 2,400 square feet, moderate four-season climates, houses with finished basements or generous mechanical rooms, larger single-story ranches with long duct runs, and 3.5 ton replacements where a 21-inch cabinet fits without modification.
Need more capacity? Step up to the 4 Ton EcoTemp 14.5 SEER2 90K BTU Gas System W5A5S48AKAWA, W5AM48M21XA, WFER090C048C for more cooling on the same furnace, or add heat with the 3.5 Ton EcoTemp 110K BTU Gas System WFER110C060C.
Recommended sizing ranges are general guidelines only. Actual system requirements depend on insulation, window area, air infiltration, duct design, occupancy, and local design temperatures. Request free sizing assistance, contact Budget Heating, or call 813-885-7999.
What's Included
| Outdoor Condenser | W5A5S42AKAWA — 3.5 Ton (42,000 BTU) R-454B Single Stage Condenser |
|---|---|
| Indoor Cased Coil | W5AM42M21XA Multi-Position A-Coil with factory-installed TXV, 21 in. cabinet |
| Gas Furnace | WFER090C048C — 88,000 BTU/h input, 72,000 BTU/h output, 80% AFUE, 4 burners |
| Furnace Cabinet Width | 21 in. — C-size wide-body cabinet |
| Cooling Efficiency | 15.5 SEER2 (AHRI Certificate 215096696) |
| Refrigerant | R-454B low-GWP (A2L), 7.2 lb factory charge in the condenser |
| Blower / Airflow | 1/2 HP motor, 1,445 CFM rated cooling airflow, 048 airflow class |
| Outdoor Coil | Two rows, 9 refrigerant circuits, 20 fins per inch |
| Gas Type | Natural gas as shipped — LP conversion kit is an optional add-on, not included |
| Electrical | 208-230V, Single Phase, 60 Hz condenser — MCA 22.7A, max fuse 40A |
The C cabinet is where the WFER series stops being a compact furnace and becomes an air handler with real airflow capability. Same 88,000 BTU/h input as the B-cabinet version, but 1,445 CFM instead of 1,210, which is what makes it appropriate behind 3.5 and 4 tons of cooling. On the outdoor side, the W5A5S42AKAWA adds a ninth refrigerant circuit over the 3 ton model and takes a 7.2 lb factory charge, with electrical requirements rising to a 40 amp maximum fuse. Refrigerant tubing is not included; this unit uses 7/8 inch vapor and 3/8 inch liquid, available in our copper line sets and fittings selection. Add the EcoTemp AGAGC8NPS01C LP conversion kit from the drop-down for propane installations, or browse the full lineup of complete split systems.
Condenser, Coil & Furnace Features
W5A5S42AKAWA Outdoor Condenser
- 42,000 BTU nominal cooling, 15.5 SEER2 in this certified match
- Single stage hermetically sealed scroll compressor
- R-454B low-GWP A2L refrigerant, 7.2 lb factory charge
- Two-row outdoor coil with 9 refrigerant circuits
- 20 fins per inch for maximum heat rejection area
- 75 dBA sound rating
- Bonderized galvanized steel cabinet with pre-paint finish
- Post-painted aluminum fins and coated wire grille
- 7/8 in. vapor and 3/8 in. liquid sweat connections
- MCA 22.7A, 40A maximum fuse, 208-230V single phase
W5AM42M21XA Cased Evaporator Coil
- 3.5 ton nominal coil on the 21 in. class cabinet
- 1,050 to 1,750 CFM airflow range
- Range comfortably brackets the furnace's 1,445 CFM rating
- Vertical A-coil configuration
- Multi-poise: upflow, downflow, horizontal left or right
- Factory-installed R-454B specific TXV
- R-454B dedicated construction
- Fiberglass-reinforced thermoset polyester condensate pan
- Separate drain pan provisions for horizontal orientation
- Burst pressure rating above 2,100 psi
WFER090C048C Gas Furnace
- 88,000 BTU/h input, 72,000 BTU/h output at 80% AFUE
- Four-burner single stage gas valve
- 21 in. C-size cabinet
- 1/2 HP blower motor, 1,445 CFM rated cooling airflow
- 048 airflow designation, rated for cooling systems up to 4 tons
- Highest airflow-per-BTU ratio of the 88,000 BTU models
- Upflow, downflow, and horizontal left or right installation
- Category I metal-vented for conventional flue systems
- Factory natural gas setup, field LP convertible
- 20-year limited heat exchanger warranty
Specifications & Manuals
Product documentation includes condenser and furnace technical specifications, installation instructions for all three components, cased coil literature, and warranty information to assist with equipment selection, installation, and service.
Frequently Asked Questions
What changes when moving up to the 21-inch C cabinet?
Airflow capability, mainly. The C cabinet houses a larger blower assembly, taking rated cooling airflow to 1,445 CFM on this model versus 1,210 CFM for the same 88,000 BTU/h input in the 17-1/2 inch B cabinet. It also becomes the platform for the 110,000 BTU/h furnaces. The tradeoff is 3-1/2 additional inches of width over the B cabinet and a matching plenum transition.
Why does the WFER090C048C move more air than the WFER090B042C at the same input rating?
Input rating and airflow capability are separate design decisions. Both furnaces fire 88,000 BTU/h, but the C cabinet's wider blower housing and larger wheel allow it to deliver 1,445 CFM against typical duct resistance, earning the 048 designation for cooling systems up to 4 tons. The B cabinet version is limited to the 042 class, or 3.5 tons. If your cooling capacity is 3.5 tons or more, the C cabinet is the correct chassis.
Does the 3.5 ton condenser require a 40 amp circuit?
The W5A5S42AKAWA has a minimum circuit ampacity of 22.7 amps and a maximum fuse or breaker rating of 40 amps, so a 40 amp circuit is the upper limit rather than a requirement — a properly sized 30 amp circuit may satisfy the MCA depending on conductor selection and code interpretation. Size conductors and overcurrent protection from the values in the W5A5S installation instructions and local code.
Is the cased coil wider than the furnace it sits on?
No. The W5AM42M21XA is designed on the same 21-inch class cabinet as the WFER090C048C furnace, so the two stack flush without an adapter. That matching is one of the advantages of buying the components as a factory match rather than assembling a coil and furnace from different width families, which often requires field-fabricated transitions.
How does the 75 dBA sound rating compare with the smaller units in this range?
It sits at the top of the range. W5A5S condensers run from 71 dBA on the 2.5 ton model to 75 dBA on the 3.5, 4, and 5 ton units, which is expected since larger fans and coils reject more heat. In practice, pad placement, distance from bedroom windows, and avoiding sound reflection off nearby walls influence perceived noise more than the four decibel spread across the series.
What is the practical difference between the 036, 042, 048, and 060 airflow designations?
Each states the largest nominal cooling capacity the furnace blower is rated to serve: 036 for up to 3 tons, 042 for 3.5, 048 for 4, and 060 for 5. Matching that designation to your cooling capacity is essential, because a furnace rated below the system tonnage cannot deliver design airflow no matter how well the ducts are sized. This model's 048 rating covers both 3.5 and 4 ton applications.
W5A5S Technical SpecificationsW5A5S Installation InstructionsW5A5S Customer BrochureWFER Technical SpecificationsWFER Installation InstructionsW5AM Technical SpecificationsW5AM Installation InstructionsICP Warranty Certificate
