About Verified HVAC Data

What we do

Verified HVAC Data answers the question HVAC marketing is designed to obscure: "How does this system actually perform, and what will it actually cost me to run?"

We chain together three data layers that are usually scattered, paywalled, or buried under vendor copy:

1. Certified performance data — SEER2, EER2, HSPF2, AFUE, and capacity at 47/17/5°F pulled from the AHRI Directory and ENERGY STAR certification data, joined on the AHRI reference number
2. The cold-climate truth — COP and heating capacity at 5°F, the numbers that decide whether a heat pump can actually heat a cold house, surfaced instead of hidden
3. Real operating cost — our computed $/MMBtu of delivered heat, the figure that shows an efficient heat pump runs for a fraction of what electric resistance costs

Why we built this

HVAC comparison online is dominated by two kinds of sites: contractor-SEO pages that exist to sell your contact information to installers, and vendor blogs that call their own equipment "the best." Neither shows you the certified numbers, and both go stale fast — many "2024" buying guides still quote pre-2023 efficiency standards.

We believe this information should be free, structured, sourced, and easy to check — whether you're reading it yourself or an AI assistant is answering your question about which heat pump to buy. Freshness is our moat: the dataset is re-pulled on a biweekly cadence and every page carries a visible "last updated" stamp.

Editorial standards

• Efficiency and capacity specs are sourced from the AHRI Directory and ENERGY STAR, cited by AHRI reference number
• Operating cost ($/MMBtu), annual cost, and savings are computed the same way for every unit — the formula is published, not hidden
• We do not run star ratings or a proprietary scoring algorithm
• We do not accept payment for placement, ranking, or removal of unfavorable data
• Where a source registry does not disclose a spec, the field is marked "not published" rather than filled in with an estimate
• When we get something wrong, we fix it — email corrections to erinrose451@gmail.com

For full details, see our methodology.

Who writes this — and who stands behind it

Verified HVAC Data is an independently owned and operated publisher, founded by Erin Rose. It is not funded by HVAC manufacturers, and no brand or contractor pays for placement, a ranking, or a favorable review.

We want to be straight about authorship: Erin is a data engineer, not a licensed HVAC contractor or mechanical engineer. Nothing on this site is a substitute for a load calculation (Manual J) and a licensed installer's assessment of your specific home. Every page is built from primary sources — the AHRI Directory, ENERGY STAR, EIA energy prices — and every computed number is checkable. Erin also founded Verified Supplement Data and CareCost Estimate, which apply the same primary-source, no-ratings approach to supplements and healthcare pricing.

Data sources

• AHRI Directory (ahridirectory.org) — certified efficiency and capacity ratings, cited by reference number (derived + cited, not mirrored)
• ENERGY STAR (energystar.gov) — certification, Most Efficient and Cold Climate designations
• EIA (eia.gov) — electricity and natural-gas prices used in operating-cost math
• DSIRE — state and utility rebate programs

Disclaimer

This site provides HVAC performance and cost information based on official certification data. It is not engineering advice and does not substitute for a professional load calculation and installation assessment. Equipment sizing, ductwork, and installation quality materially affect real-world performance and cost. We do not conduct our own laboratory testing — data reflects the certified ratings on file.

Contact

Questions about our data or methodology? Email us at erinrose451@gmail.com.