Where is the model number on my AC unit?

On the metal nameplate: outdoor condensers carry it on a side or rear panel near the service valves; furnaces inside the upper front door; air handlers behind the main access panel; package units on the exterior casing.

How do I tell the age of my HVAC unit from the serial number?

Most brands encode the manufacture date in the serial number, but every brand uses a different format — Trane, Carrier, Goodman, Lennox, Rheem and York all differ. This tool applies the brand-specific rules automatically and shows the manufacture date and age.

Is the nameplate decoder free?

Yes — completely free, no login and no email required. It works in your phone browser.

What does the tonnage in my model number mean?

Cooling capacity: the digits in most model numbers map to tons — 018 is 1.5 tons, 024 is 2, 036 is 3, 048 is 4, 060 is 5. One ton equals 12,000 BTU per hour.

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Photo of any AC, furnace or heat pump data plate → brand, model, serial, age, tonnage, refrigerant and electrical specs in seconds — plus every matching part.

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Where to Find Your HVAC Nameplate

Equipment	Nameplate location
AC condenser / heat pump (outdoor)	Side or rear panel, usually near the service valves or corner post
Gas furnace	Inside the upper front door, on the cabinet wall or blower deck
Air handler	Behind the main access panel, often on the interior wall
Package / rooftop unit	Exterior casing near the electrical access
Mini split	Right side of the indoor head; side panel of the outdoor unit

What Every Field On the Plate Means

Model number

The exact identity of your equipment — it is what every parts lookup, warranty claim and replacement quote keys off. The capacity digits inside it (018–060) encode tonnage.

Serial number

Unique to your unit and, for most brands, contains the manufacture date in a brand-specific format. Age matters: it drives the repair-or-replace math and warranty status.

RLA / LRA / FLA

Rated Load Amps, Locked Rotor Amps and Full Load Amps — the compressor and motor electrical ratings a tech compares against measured draw to judge component health.

Refrigerant type

R-22 (phased out, expensive to recharge), R-410A (the current standard), or the new R-32 / R-454B in the latest equipment. The type changes both service procedure and the repair-vs-replace equation.

Capacitor spec

Many plates list the run capacitor rating (e.g. 45/5 MFD 440V) — the single most-replaced part in residential AC. If yours is failing, that spec is exactly what you order by.

More free tools: 135 HVAC calculators & troubleshooters · Truck Inventory Manager · Job Quote Builder

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