A York model number is a 10 to 16 character string that encodes the product family, tonnage or input BTU, efficiency rating, refrigerant, voltage, and cabinet revision — and it is the single piece of information a parts counter needs to send you the right York OEM part the first time. This guide shows exactly where to find it on a York furnace, air conditioner, or heat pump, how to decode each character, how to read the manufacture date out of the serial number, and how to use that string to order the correct Johnson Controls OEM replacement part without a return.
The quick answer: on a York outdoor unit, the data plate is a silver sticker on the side of the condenser cabinet. On a York furnace, it is inside the upper access panel on the right-hand wall. Photograph the plate, read the M/N (model) and S/N (serial), and either match it against a Johnson Controls parts catalog or call HVACMORE at 855-575-4822 with those two strings in hand.
Why the York model number matters more than the brand
HVAC parts fit by model number, not by brand. A York YP9C modulating furnace and a York TG9S single-stage furnace share a logo on the door and almost no components inside. Order a “York inducer motor” without the model number and you have a 50 percent chance of getting the wrong one. Order it with the model and serial in hand and the match is deterministic.
The second reason the string matters: Johnson Controls, York's parent company, uses the same model-number logic across its York, Coleman, Luxaire, Champion, and Fraser-Johnston residential lines. A technician who knows how to decode a York model can read a Coleman model from the same reference — and the OEM part number is usually the same across the sister brands.
Where to find the model number on a York unit
Three products, three locations. All three carry a silver or white adhesive data plate stamped with M/N (model) and S/N (serial) at minimum, usually with ratings, electrical specs, and refrigerant charge on the same label.
York outdoor units: air conditioner condenser or heat pump
The data plate is on the side of the cabinet, almost always on the side closest to the house. Walk around the unit until you find the silver sticker — it is about the size of a smartphone, stamped with text in black ink. If the sun has faded it, shine a flashlight across the surface at a shallow angle to read the raised stamping on the metal underneath.
On the heat pump variants (YHE, YXT, YZH families) the plate location is the same, with one extra line of text for the refrigerant charge expressed in ounces.
York gas furnaces: upflow, downflow, horizontal
Open the upper access panel — the one that covers the burners and gas valve. The data plate is riveted or glued to the right-hand interior wall of the cabinet, roughly at eye level when the panel is off. On high-efficiency condensing furnaces (YP9C, TM9Y) the plate also lists AFUE and the vent category.
If the upper panel is sealed with safety screws, the model and serial are also printed on the rating plate inside the lower (blower compartment) panel on the same wall, lower down.
York air handlers and coils
Pop the front door and look at the blower housing. The data plate is either on the housing itself or on the right-hand interior wall of the cabinet near the condensate drain. York air-handler model numbers start with AVV, AHV, or AHE depending on the generation.
If the air handler is paired with a York condenser, write down both model numbers. The matched AHRI combination determines the system's rated SEER2 and the correct refrigerant metering device.
How to decode a York model number, character by character
Modern York residential model numbers follow a left-to-right pattern. The exact position of each code varies by product family, but the groupings below cover the vast majority of 2015-2026 residential equipment.
Positions 1–3: product family and generation
The first two or three letters identify what the equipment is and which generation it belongs to. A few common ones:
- YXV — York Affinity premium variable-capacity air conditioner (up to 20 SEER2)
- YCG — York LX single-stage air conditioner (13.4–15.2 SEER2)
- YHE / YZH — York heat pump families (standard and variable-capacity)
- YP9C — York Affinity modulating gas furnace (up to 98% AFUE)
- TG9S — York LX single-stage gas furnace (80% AFUE)
- TM9Y — York LX two-stage gas furnace (95–96% AFUE)
- AVV / AHV — York variable-speed air handler
Match the first three characters to the family and you already know what you are looking at — AC vs. heat pump vs. furnace, premium vs. value tier.
Positions 4–5: nominal capacity
Two digits that encode tonnage (for AC and heat pumps) or input BTU (for furnaces):
-
Air conditioners and heat pumps: capacity in 1,000 BTU/hr.
18= 1.5 ton,24= 2 ton,30= 2.5 ton,36= 3 ton,42= 3.5 ton,48= 4 ton,60= 5 ton. A ton of cooling is 12,000 BTU/hr. -
Furnaces: input BTU in thousands.
060= 60,000 BTU/hr,080= 80,000,100= 100,000,120= 120,000.
Positions 6–8: efficiency and generation
On air conditioners and heat pumps, these characters hint at SEER2 range and the generation revision. The newer the generation code, the more likely the unit is R-454B compatible, following the EPA SNAP transition rules.
On furnaces these characters indicate AFUE tier and stage count (single-stage, two-stage, modulating).
Positions 9–end: refrigerant, voltage, cabinet revision
The tail of the string codes the refrigerant type (A for R-410A legacy, B for R-454B), voltage (21 = 208/230V single phase, the residential standard), and a letter revision for the cabinet. Revisions matter for parts: a cabinet rev B fan grille does not always fit a rev A cabinet from the same model year.
Worked example: YXV6024B21
Reading the string left to right:
- YXV — Affinity variable-capacity air conditioner family
- 60 — 60,000 BTU/hr = 5 ton nominal
- 24 — generation code (SEER2-compliant, up to 20 SEER2)
- B — cabinet revision B
- 21 — 208/230V single-phase
Any York OEM part with a fitment list that includes YXV6024B21 will drop in. Any part listed only for YXV6024A will not.
How to decode a York serial number (and how old your unit is)
Modern York serial numbers (post-2015) typically follow a plant + week + year + sequence format. The first character is the manufacturing plant, the next two or three characters are the week-and-year code, and the remainder is the per-unit sequence.
Example: W0A1234567
- W — Wichita, KS plant
- 0A — week 10, year 2024 (A for 2024 in that generation's rotating letter code)
- 1234567 — unit sequence number
York has changed its serial-number convention twice in the last 15 years, so if your unit is pre-2015 the format is different — usually a numeric week-year at the start (N0115 for week 1 of 2015). When in doubt, call parts and read the full serial over the phone; the parts counter has the lookup table.
Knowing the age matters for three decisions: whether the repair-vs-replace calculus favors a new unit, whether the equipment is near end of life, and whether the parts warranty is still active (10 years from install for registered York units, 5 years if unregistered).
York OEM parts: what you need, and why fitment matters
“OEM” stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. A York OEM part is a replacement component manufactured or specified by Johnson Controls with the exact fit, electrical specification, firmware (where applicable), and refrigerant compatibility of the part that shipped in your unit from the factory.
The question is never “OEM or aftermarket” in the abstract. It is: which part on which unit?
Where aftermarket is usually fine
- Dual-run and start capacitors — electrically identical if the microfarad and voltage ratings match
- Contactors — standardized by amperage and pole count
- Single-speed PSC fan motors — replaceable with a universal of the same HP and voltage
- Air filters — size and MERV rating are what matters, not the badge
- Thermostats on non-communicating systems — any 24V stat works
Where you need the York OEM part
- Control boards and defrost boards — the firmware addresses specific valve, sensor, and compressor logic; a wrong board bricks the unit
- ECM variable-speed blower motors — the motor module is paired to the furnace's control board; universal replacements lose variable-speed functionality
- Modulating gas valves — specific to the furnace's AFUE rating and vent category
- Inverter-driven compressors (YXV, YZH) — the compressor and its drive are a matched pair
- Communicating thermostats — the York Hx3 and S1-THX stats talk to the system over a proprietary data bus
- Heat exchangers under warranty — must be York OEM to keep the warranty active
The warranty rule
Johnson Controls warrants York residential equipment for 10 years on parts when the unit is registered within 90 days of install and when any in-warranty replacement part is an OEM York part. Install a universal control board on a 3-year-old YXV and you have voided the compressor warranty — a $2,000 mistake on a $90 part.
If the unit is out of warranty, aftermarket is a budget decision. If it is still in warranty, use the York OEM part every time and keep the receipt.
How to order the right York OEM part the first time
The process that works, in order:
- Diagnose the failed component. “Furnace won't ignite” is not a part number. Narrow it to flame sensor, igniter, inducer motor, pressure switch, or control board before you call parts.
- Pull the model and serial off the data plate. Photograph the whole plate so you have the electrical specs on hand too.
- Pull the failed part's own number if visible. Igniters, boards, motors, and valves usually carry a Source 1 part number (S1-xxxxxxxx) stamped or stickered on the component. That number is the shortest path to the right replacement.
- Confirm fitment against the model number. A parts catalog, the Johnson Controls Source 1 lookup, or a call to HVACMORE at 855-575-4822 will cross-reference the component against your unit's model.
- Ask about equivalent or superseded part numbers. York retires and supersedes part numbers constantly. The number stamped on your 2019 blower motor may be officially replaced by a different S1 number in 2026 — which still fits, but ships under a new SKU.
- Order the matched part and verify it against the old one before installing. Compare mounting hole pattern, wire colors, electrical rating, and shaft size side by side.
Common York model number mistakes
Reading the serial number instead of the model. Both start with letters and both are on the data plate. The model is labeled M/N and is longer; the serial is labeled S/N. If what you read has only 10 characters and starts with a plant letter and a date code, you are reading the serial.
Dropping the cabinet revision letter. “YXV6024” is incomplete. The B at the end changes which fan grille and which top panel fit. Always include the trailing characters when ordering.
Confusing York residential with York light commercial. York Sunline rooftop units and York residential split systems share the brand but not the parts catalog. If your “York” is on a package rooftop unit, you need the commercial parts channel, not the residential one.
Assuming the Coleman or Luxaire part “won't fit.” Johnson Controls makes Coleman, Luxaire, Champion, and Fraser-Johnston on the same lines as York, with the same OEM parts. A Source 1 part number listed for a Coleman AC model is often the exact same component as the York equivalent.
Trusting the installer sticker over the data plate. Some contractors slap their own branded sticker over the manufacturer plate. Peel the corner carefully — the OEM data plate is almost always underneath.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the model number on a York air conditioner? On a York outdoor condenser the model number is on a silver data plate on the side of the cabinet, usually the side facing the house. The label is marked M/N for model, S/N for serial.
Where is the model number on a York furnace? Inside the upper access panel, on the right-hand interior wall of the cabinet, near the gas valve. Remove the front panel to see it.
How do I decode a York model number? Read left to right: product family, nominal capacity (tonnage for AC, input BTU for furnaces), efficiency and generation code, refrigerant and voltage, and cabinet revision at the end. A YXV6024B21 is an Affinity variable-capacity 5-ton AC, generation 24, cabinet revision B, 208/230V.
How old is my York unit? Read the serial number: the plant letter is first, then the week-year code (two to three characters), then the per-unit sequence. A serial starting W0A1234567 was built in week 10 of 2024 at the Wichita plant.
What does OEM mean for York parts? Original Equipment Manufacturer. A York OEM part is manufactured or specified by Johnson Controls, with exact fit and specification matching the factory part. Aftermarket universals may fit physically but can void the parts warranty on in-warranty units.
Can I use a universal capacitor on a York AC? Yes, as long as the microfarad rating and voltage rating match the OEM capacitor it is replacing. Capacitors are commodity components.
Can I use a universal control board on a York furnace? No. The board firmware is specific to the furnace model's valve, blower, and sensor logic. Use the York OEM Source 1 replacement board.
Does HVACMORE sell York OEM parts? Yes. HVACMORE stocks York and Johnson Controls Source 1 OEM parts for furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, and air handlers. Send your model and serial through chat or call 855-575-4822 and the parts team will confirm the exact SKU before shipping.
Is a Coleman or Luxaire part the same as a York part? In most cases, yes. Johnson Controls builds Coleman, Luxaire, Champion, and Fraser-Johnston on the same residential platforms as York and shares the Source 1 OEM parts catalog across all five brands. Verify the Source 1 part number against your York model before ordering.
How long is the York parts warranty? 10 years on registered residential units (registration within 90 days of install), 5 years on unregistered units. Replacement parts installed during the warranty period must be York OEM to keep the warranty active.
Buying from HVACMORE
HVACMORE stocks York and Johnson Controls OEM parts for residential furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, and air handlers — from flame sensors and capacitors to variable-speed blower motors and Source 1 control boards. Every part is cross-referenced against the model and serial before it ships so you don't open the box and find the wrong SKU.
What ordering OEM parts from HVACMORE gets you:
- Fitment verified against your York model and serial before the order ships
- Free shipping on eligible orders over $500
- Price match if you find the same Source 1 part number cheaper elsewhere
- Original 10-year York parts warranty preserved when the unit is in-warranty and the replacement is OEM
- 60-Day Money Back Guarantee
- 30-Day Hassle-Free Returns with no restocking fees
Not sure which part you need? Text or email a photo of the data plate and the failed component to the HVACMORE parts team, or call 855-575-4822 — US-based, Monday to Friday 8am–9pm ET, weekends included. Reading your York model and serial over the phone takes two minutes and prevents a wrong-part return.
The bottom line
A York model number is a complete fingerprint of the unit, and a serial number is a date-stamp. Together they resolve every ordering question that would otherwise end in a return. Pull the data plate, photograph it, write down the full M/N and S/N including the trailing cabinet revision, and either match the component yourself against a Source 1 catalog or call HVACMORE with those two strings in hand. OEM where it counts — boards, motors, valves, compressors, anything under warranty — aftermarket where the physics are commodity. That rule is worth more than the price difference on any single part.
Sources
- Johnson Controls — York residential HVAC (product families, warranty terms, Source 1 OEM parts catalog)
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — SNAP program overview (refrigerant transition rules affecting 2024–2026 model generations)
- U.S. Department of Energy — Central Air Conditioning (SEER2 and efficiency rating definitions)
- Related reading on HVACMORE — Furnace Buying Guide 2026, Repair vs Replace, HVAC Lifespan Guide
Model number conventions, Source 1 part supersessions, and warranty terms change over time. Always verify current fitment with Johnson Controls, an authorized York dealer, or HVACMORE parts before ordering. Warranty registration windows and coverage vary by product generation.
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