Step 1: Visual Identification of Organization Type

Package Units

A package unit is an "all-in-i" system that does everything in one big box. Y'all tin can best identify the bundle unit by looking at the unit (outdoors). If you have a package unit of measurement yous will notice a big hood fabricated of metallic that looks like a box between the unit of measurement and your business firm. This is called the rain shield and it protects the ductwork from rain, debris, and critters. Because a package unit of measurement is all-in-1 box the supply and return ducts connect right to the unit and the heated or conditioned air is delivered right into the house.

The actual look will vary based on equipment just when y'all can see the metal box between the unit and the house like the picture below y'all've got a package unit of measurement.

Divide Organisation

The separate A/C and Furnace is the type of system most people are familiar with. In this setup the outdoor unit has the shape that well-nigh people associate the air-conditioners. This is the condensing unit. Inside, usually in the cranium, crawlspace, or closet is the component that contains the blower, furnace (if equipped) and evaporator coil.  The condensing unit of measurement will be located outside the house and has a more traditional look, similar to the movie below.

Step 2: Identifying the Make, Model, Age, and Size

To identify the make, model, historic period, and size you will need to observe the manufacturers label. Do this on the outdoor unit of measurement, whether it's a split arrangement or packet system. On a bundle system it is ordinarily on the right side of the equipment, nearly where the gas and power connect to the system. On a split organization the characterization is often found on the same side as the refrigerant lines enter the system. On some older systems nearly the lesser right above the lines on newer systems closer to the acme.

On this characterization you'll find lots of numbers and letters. The ones nosotros are most interested in are the model and serial numbers. From these nosotros tin determine the historic period, size, and type of equipment.

Make and Model:

The make should be pretty easy to figure out. Normally they have a logo prominently placed. If not, it can be institute on the label pretty easily. The model is designated every bit a field on the label and is easy to identify. Each manufacturer categorizes their equipment differently. Some like Trane encode the efficiency of the equipment in the model, others practise not. You tin expect upward the model of your equipment, its features and efficiency using the model and brand on the label and Google.

Size:

Basically all manufacturers encode the size or tonnage of their systems into the model number. Tonnage is a mensurate of BTU's in 12,000 BTU increments. For example a 1 ton system would take 12,000 BTU's. A 2.five ton organization would take xxx,000 BTU's. These are reflected in the model numbers well-nigh the middle and frequently followed by a letter.

Below are a couple examples to look at:

38EZA048310 is a Carrier 48,000 BTU or 4 ton arrangement

4TTZ0048A1000AA is a Trane 48,000 BTU or 4 ton organisation

If you are unable to read the label you can wait down into the condensing unit from the peak to see the compressor and frequently utilize the compressor office number to determine the tonnage using Google.

Age:

The age is mostly encoded into the series number. Many manufacturers do it differently and most accept inverse the style they do it over the years. Below are the nearly popular brands and how they encode the twelvemonth within the final xx years or and then. For older equipment Google tin can be pretty helpful.

Carrier/Payne/Bryant Carrier systems made in the last 20 years or so encode the week and twelvemonth of manufacture within the first 4 digits. The first 2 are the week of the year (1-52) and the second are the twelvemonth. For instance 0199 would mean the organization was fabricated the first week of Jan in 1999.
Trane/American Standard Many Trane products accept the engagement they were manufactured right on the characterization in the top right corner. Offset there, if there isn't a manufacturing appointment present and so await at the serial number. There are two styles that were used within the last 20 years.
  • Way one starts with a letter which represents the manufacturing location and and so 2 numbers which is the last 2 digits of the year manufactured (in 2000). For example C12A00152 means Clarksville Plant.
  • Style two starts with numbers and the first 2 numbers are the year. For example 1125KREAA was manufactured in 2011. This style also has the year of manufacture commonly listed on the label so you won't need to decode the serial number.
Lennox Modern Lennox system serial numbers incorporate 4 numbers followed by a letter of the alphabet. The first ii numbers represent the factory where they were manufactured, the second 2 numbers are the year and the letter of the alphabet is the month where A is Jan, B is February, etc. An example would exist 5800A12345. 58 is the manufacturing plant, 00 represents the year 2000 and A ways it was manufactured in Jan.
Goodman Goodman series numbers are x digit numerical where the month and year are encoded in the first four digits. The year is the start two and the month the second 2. For example 1404123456 is manufactured is April 2014.
Rheem/Ruud Modern Rheem systems use two styles of engagement encoded in the serial number.
  • Mode ane starts with a letter followed by the week and year of industry. W011012345 would be manufactured in Jan of 2010.
  • Way ii follows the letter of the alphabet in the middle of the serial number with the calendar week and year of manufacture. For example CB5D302F0998 would exist manufactured in March of 1998.