York model numbers are short and dense. A furnace number like TM9V080B12MP12C carries the series, efficiency, staging, input, cabinet and airflow in the first ten characters; an outdoor unit like YCG36B21S gives up type, SEER and tonnage in six. This guide decodes York furnace and air-conditioner model numbers position by position, using the key York prints on its own product data sheets.
York is built by Johnson Controls, which also makes Coleman and Luxaire. The three brands share equipment and use parallel model numbers (a York TM9V is a Coleman TM9V / Luxaire TM9V), so this guide decodes those nameplates too.
Where to Find the York Model Number
On a furnace, the rating plate is inside the front door or on the side of the cabinet, usually a foil or paper label with the model (M/N) and serial (S/N) side by side. On an outdoor AC or heat pump it is on the side of the condenser near the refrigerant line connections. Copy the model number exactly as printed, including dashes: the position of each character is what carries the meaning.
York Furnace Model Number Format
A typical York furnace model number looks like: TM9V080B12MP12C. Use the table to split it up:
| Position | Characters | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series | TM | TM / TG / TL = LX series; YP / YPLC = Affinity series (letters vary by generation) | TM (LX) |
| AFUE family | 9 | 9 = 90%+ condensing; 8 = 80% | 9 (96% AFUE) |
| Stages / motor | V | V = two-stage variable-speed ECM; S = single-stage; E = single-stage ECM; C = modulating | V |
| Heating input | 080 | Thousands of BTU/h: 040, 060, 080, 100, 120 | 80,000 BTU/h |
| Cabinet size | B | A = 14.5 in.; B = 17.5 in.; C = 21 in.; D = 24.5 in. | 17.5 in. wide |
| Nominal airflow | 12 | Maximum cooling airflow in hundreds of CFM: 10 = 1,000; 12 = 1,200; 16 = 1,600; 20 = 2,000 | 1,200 CFM (about 3 tons) |
| Configuration | MP | MP = multi-position (upflow, horizontal, convertible to downflow); UH / DN on other families | MP |
| Electrical / design | 12 | Manufacturer electrical and design code | 12 |
| Generation | C | Design generation letter | C |
Buy the same name-brand HVAC system the pros install — shipped factory-direct to your door. No middleman, 5-star rated, and financing available.
Common York Furnace Families
The first few characters identify the family, and the family tells you the tier, staging and blower before you read a single digit of capacity.
| Model prefix | Family | Stages | Blower | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YP9C | Affinity 98 | Modulating | Variable-speed | Up to 98% AFUE |
| TM9V | LX 96 two-stage | Two-stage | Variable-speed ECM | 96% AFUE |
| TM9E / TG9S | LX 96 / 95 single-stage | Single-stage | ECM / multi-speed | 95-96% AFUE |
| TM8V / TG8S | LX 80 families | Two- / single-stage | Varies | 80% AFUE |
York AC and Heat Pump Model Numbers
Outdoor units use a different string. A typical York air conditioner model number looks like: YCG36B21S.
| Position | Characters | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Y | Y = York | Y |
| Product type | C | C = air conditioner; H = heat pump; F = fin-and-tube air conditioner | C (AC) |
| Series efficiency / staging | G | D = 13 SEER single-stage; E = 14 SEER single-stage; S = 14 SEER (Southwest); G = 17 SEER single-stage; other letters on two-stage and variable models | G (17 SEER) |
| Cooling capacity | 36 | 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 60 = thousands of BTU/h | 36,000 BTU/h = 3 tons |
| Refrigerant | B | B = R-410A | B |
| Voltage | 2 | 2 = 208/230 V single-phase 60 Hz | 208/230-1 |
| Generation | 1 | 1 = first generation; 2 = second generation | 1 |
| Style | S | Cabinet / style designation | S |
York Tonnage by Model Number
Every York outdoor unit carries its cooling capacity as a two- or three-digit BTU code. Divide by 12 to get tons (1 ton = 12,000 BTU/h). Furnace numbers carry the gas input instead, so a "080" on a furnace means 80,000 BTU/h of heating, not 80,000 BTU/h of cooling.
| Model code | Size | Cooling capacity |
|---|---|---|
| 018 | 1.5 ton | 18,000 BTU/h |
| 024 | 2 ton | 24,000 BTU/h |
| 030 | 2.5 ton | 30,000 BTU/h |
| 036 | 3 ton | 36,000 BTU/h |
| 042 | 3.5 ton | 42,000 BTU/h |
| 048 | 4 ton | 48,000 BTU/h |
| 060 | 5 ton | 60,000 BTU/h |
Common York outdoor families and where they sit:
| Model prefix | Family | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|
| YCD / YCE / YCS | LX 13-14 SEER | 13-14 SEER |
| YCG | LX 17 SEER | 17 SEER |
| YXV / YXT | Affinity variable-speed and two-stage | Up to 20 SEER |
| YHE / YHG / YZV | LX and Affinity heat pumps | 14-20 SEER |
What the York Model Number Does Not Tell You
The model number says nothing about the unit's age. That is in the serial number, and York has changed its serial date format more than once. Use the York serial number lookup to turn a serial into a manufacture date, or the HVAC serial number decoder hub for any other brand. The model number also does not tell you whether the unit was installed and charged correctly, which matters as much as the SEER digit for what it actually costs to run.
Decoded Your York? Here Is What to Do With It
If the unit is under 10 years old and the model number shows a mid- or high-efficiency family, it is usually worth repairing. If the serial dates it past 12 to 15 years for an AC or 15 to 20 years for a furnace, the capacity and cabinet width you just decoded are exactly what you need to size a replacement. A new system at the same tonnage and input will drop straight into the same duct and gas connections.
Related: Goodman vs York AC comparison · how to read any furnace data label · Goodman model number decoder.
Get your system replaced.
Tell us a little about your home and what you're replacing. A specialist will call you to work out exactly what you need, go over the price, and get it replaced. No obligation.