Outdoor unit
Record the manufacturer and complete outdoor-unit model number. A series name, tonnage label, or efficiency headline is not a complete identifier.
HVAC equipment-match guide
Check the model numbers and AHRI match before the efficiency claim becomes the comparison.
A brand, product tier, or SEER2 headline does not identify a complete split system. The written quote should name the components that make up the represented combination and preserve them through any substitution.
Product-record check only · Not equipment sizing, diagnosis, installation verification, or a performance guarantee
The identity rule
Match the quoted system, not the marketing family.
The AHRI Directory of Certified Product Performance is designed to identify certified equipment combinations and their rated performance. ENERGY STAR definitions distinguish seasonal measures such as SEER2 and HSPF2 from rated-condition measures such as EER2. Those fields become useful only when they are tied to the exact combination the contractor proposes.
Indoor unit
Record the indoor coil or air-handler model. For a split system, the performance claim belongs to a tested combination, not the outdoor cabinet alone.
Furnace when included
If the proposal uses a furnace and coil, capture the furnace model and blower configuration when they are part of the represented match.
System and capacity
Write down whether the proposal is an AC-and-furnace split, heat pump, packaged system, or another configuration, plus the stated nominal capacity.
Certified performance record
Ask for the AHRI reference number or enough exact model information to find the certified combination and compare its efficiency fields with the proposal.
Quote-to-directory worksheet
Reconcile what the proposal says with the certified record.
Use the proposal as the commitment. Use the directory as a verification source. If a field differs, ask the contractor to correct or explain the written quote.
| Field | Written quote | AHRI record | Decision gate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outdoor model | Complete model number | Exact outdoor model | Characters and suffixes reconcile |
| Indoor model | Coil or air-handler model | Exact indoor model | The quoted component appears in the match |
| Furnace or blower | Model/configuration when applicable | Listed combination detail | No material component is assumed |
| Capacity | Nominal capacity promised | Certified capacity fields | Contractor explains any difference |
| Efficiency | SEER2, EER2, HSPF2 when relevant | Certified values for the combination | The claim matches the exact record |
| Reference | AHRI reference number if provided | Directory record identifier | The record can be independently retrieved |
Read the result
Do not turn a directory lookup into a conclusion it cannot support.
The quoted components and performance fields reconcile.
Preserve the exact model numbers and require any substitution to be documented before it changes the comparison.
The proposal is missing a model or reference field.
Ask the contractor to identify the component or certified match in writing. Silence is not evidence of equivalence.
The record and quote identify materially different components or values.
Pause the price ranking until the contractor explains and corrects the represented equipment and performance.
Primary verification sources
Use the program owners' records and definitions.
Certified combinations
Search the AHRI Directory using an AHRI reference number or exact equipment information, then retain the resulting record with the quote.
AHRI Directory of Certified Product Performance ↗Efficiency terminology
ENERGY STAR's definitions explain SEER2, EER2, HSPF2, capacity, and split-system terminology used in equipment records and proposals.
ENERGY STAR efficiency definitions ↗Sources reviewed August 25, 2026. A certified record documents listed product performance; it does not verify home-specific sizing, installed performance, or workmanship.
Common questions
Keep product evidence separate from installation promises.
Is the outdoor-unit model number enough to verify an HVAC system?+
Usually not for a split system. The represented performance applies to a combination of outdoor and indoor equipment, and sometimes a furnace or blower configuration. Capture every component identified in the certified record.
Does an AHRI certificate prove the system is correctly sized for my home?+
No. A certified combination documents tested product performance for listed components. It does not size the equipment for a particular home, verify installation quality, or replace the contractor's load analysis and written scope.
What if the quote says the exact model will be selected later?+
Treat the equipment identity and claimed efficiency as unresolved. Ask the contractor to define the allowed models or provide a final written match before signing or before any substitution becomes binding.
Already holding a written quote?
Make the exact equipment combination part of the market bar.
SecondLook records the quoted components and performance fields before comparing a lower option, so an apparent saving does not depend on moving the equipment.
- No deposit
- No contractor visit without your approval
- 15% of verified savings only if you use a lower comparable option