Tempstar Model Number Lookup: How to Read Tempstar Furnace and AC Model Numbers

Tempstar model numbers pack the tier, staging, efficiency, capacity and cabinet size of the unit into one string. Once you know where to split it, a Tempstar model number tells you almost everything except the unit's age. This guide decodes Tempstar furnace and air-conditioner model numbers position by position, using the key the manufacturer prints on its product data sheets.

Tempstar is built by ICP (International Comfort Products, a Carrier company). Tempstar is an ICP brand. Heil, Comfortmaker and Day & Night share the same model-number logic on matching chassis — only the badge and some marketing family names change.

Position meanings below follow the ICP model-number identification guide printed on N9MSB-class product data (shared across Heil, Tempstar, Comfortmaker and Day & Night). Letter prefixes can vary by badge and generation; treat this as typical decoding guidance.

Where to Find the Tempstar 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.

Tempstar Furnace Model Number Format

A typical Tempstar model number in this family looks like: N9MSB1002120A. Use the table to split it up:

Common Tempstar Families

The first few characters identify the family, and the family tells you the tier, staging and blower (or inverter class) before you read a single digit of capacity.

Tempstar AC and Heat Pump Model Numbers

Outdoor units use a different string. A typical Tempstar outdoor model number looks like: T4A336GKA.

Tempstar Tonnage by Model Number

Every Tempstar 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 heating "080" means 80,000 BTU/h of heating, not 80,000 BTU/h of cooling.

Common Tempstar outdoor families and where they sit:

What the Tempstar Model Number Does Not Tell You

The model number says nothing about the unit's age. That is in the serial number, and Tempstar (like most brands) has changed serial date formats over the years. Use the Tempstar 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 Tempstar? 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: Heil model number guide · Goodman vs Tempstar furnace comparison · how to read any furnace data label · Goodman model number decoder.

Tempstar, and related marks, are trademarks of their respective owners. Furnace Direct is not affiliated with or endorsed by Tempstar's manufacturer. This page is nominative fair-use reference for homeowners decoding a nameplate.