Knowledge Builders

how do you read a water heater serial number

by Hugh Gerhold Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

Your model number and serial number are located on the rating plate on your water heater. This is where you'll find the rating plate with your model number and serial number on your water heater. The rating plate example above shows the model number in blue and the serial number in yellow.

Decoding the serial number
The year of manufacture is noted by the first letter of the serial number, and the month is the second letter. Is your water heater's brand not listed above? If your water heater's brand isn't listed, check NACHI's or The Water Heater Hub's serial decoder to learn more.
Jul 31, 2019

Full Answer

How do I find out what model my water heater is?

Locate Your Water Heater Model & Serial Number Your model number and serial number are located on the rating plate on your water heater. This is where you'll find the rating plate with your model number and serial number on your water heater. The rating plate example above shows the model number in blue and the serial number in yellow.

What do the numbers on a water heater serial number mean?

The first two characters of the serial number represent the year and month of manufacture. The remainder of the serial is a sequential production number, seven digits in length before December 2007 (DM), and eight digits in length after. Due to a computer error there were some OA serial water heaters manufactured.

How can I tell how old my Rheem water heater is?

On older models, you can determine the age of your unit by decoding the water heater serial number. Some manufacturers, including Rheem, made it easy by incorporating the month and year built into the first 4 digits of the serial number. For instance, the picture below shows that this Rheem water heater was manufactured in December of 1991 (1291).

How can I tell the age of my Craftsman water heater?

The date of production/manufacture or age of U.S. CRAFTMASTER® Water Heater (s) can be determined from the serial number. Every effort is undertaken to offer you correct and concise information to assist you in determining the age or manufacture date of water heating equipment.

image

What do the numbers on a water heater mean?

When it comes to water heaters, the most pertinent information can be found in the model and serial numbers. The serial number contains the year the water heater was manufactured and the model number will tell you the size i.e. how many gallons the water heater holds.

How do I find out what year my water heater was made?

This sticker is usually around any warning labels and the energy guide. Check to see if the installation date is noted on the sticker. If not, then write down your serial number as it usually indicates the year and month of manufacture of the water heater.

How do you read a serial number on a US water heater?

American Water Heater wants to make it simple for you to read their labels and find the date of manufacture. The serial number on one of these units is also 10 digits. The first two digits tell you the year of manufacture, and the second two tell you which week of the year.

How do you read a Rheem water heater serial number?

With a Rheem water heater, once you have located the rating plate, you need to find the serial number, which will be made up of 10 numbers and letters. Once you have found this, look at the first four numbers. The first two numbers represent the month of manufacture while the second pair show the year of manufacture.

How many years does a water heater last?

between eight and ten years— The majority of water heaters last between eight and ten years. While ten is the age at which heater replacement is generally recommended, the actual need to replace a heater could arise before or after this timeline.

Is there an expiry date on hot water tanks?

The average lifespan of a hot water tank is between 8-12 years if it's high-quality, was properly installed, and has been properly taken care of since installation.

How do I know if my water heater is still under warranty?

Depending upon the specific model, an American warranty may cover six, eight, or ten years. You can tell the warranty at a glance by examining the first two to three digits of the model number. The length drops to one year when the heater is installed in any building other than a single family home.

How can I tell how old my Whirlpool water heater is?

Whirlpool water heaters are manufactured by Craftmaster, and their coding system is that the first two numbers of the serial number are the year of manufacture.

How long do electric water heaters last?

How Long Do Water Heaters Last? Based on the manufacturer's suggested service life, the life expectancy of a water heater is about eight to 12 years. That varies with the location and design of the unit, quality of installation, maintenance schedule and water quality.

What year is my Rheem hot water tank?

The third and fourth numbers in the serial number, usually after several letters, is the year of manufacture of a Rheem water heater.

What is the life expectancy of a Rheem water heater?

Rheem hot water systems have a typical life span of between 5 and 15 years depending on water conditions and how well the system has been serviced. You can add years to the life to a Rheem hot water system if you have it serviced every 5 years.

Where is the rating plate on a Rheem water heater?

0:271:58How to Find Water Heater Model Numbers - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe main thing you're looking for is the sticker on the tank that has the model number and theMoreThe main thing you're looking for is the sticker on the tank that has the model number and the serial number on it.

How do you read AO Smith serial number?

Serial number styles/formats found are: The Date of manufacture is coded in the 1st four numerical digits of the serial number. The second set of digits represent the week of manufacture.

Where is the manufacture date on a Whirlpool water heater?

The age of the water heater can be determined by reading the serial number. The serial number can be found on the label of the water heater. The serial number will always begin with 4 numbers. Occasionally, there might be a letter after the first 4 digits, or there may just be a sequence of numbers.

How long do electric water heaters last?

How Long Do Water Heaters Last? Based on the manufacturer's suggested service life, the life expectancy of a water heater is about eight to 12 years. That varies with the location and design of the unit, quality of installation, maintenance schedule and water quality.

How long do AO Smith water heaters last?

between 6 to 10 yearsSmith tank water heaters have a limited warranty lasting between 6 to 10 years, it is not uncommon to find water heaters that are still properly functioning well over a decade or more. When properly installed and maintained in locations with good water quality and pressure, A. O.

Rheem Water Heater Model Numbers

New Rheem water heaters have an easy to understand rating plate. It includes the manufacture date, as well as information on the size and capacity....

American Water Heater Model Numbers

American water heater rating plate, with close up below.American’s format puts the year first, then the week the tank was built. In this example, t...

Bradford White Model Numbers

The Bradford White rating plate is the most difficult to decode. To find the age of a Bradford White tank, you have to understand their coding. The...

What is Fortiva credit?

The Fortiva® Retail Credit program can help you pay for your plumbing and related home improvement projects.

Where is the model number on a water heater?

Your model number and serial number are located on the rating plate on your water heater. This is where you'll find the rating plate with your model number and serial number on your water heater. The rating plate example above shows the model number in blue and the serial number in yellow.

When was the OA water heater made?

Due to a computer error there were some OA serial water heaters manufactured. They were built in January of 1997.

How long does a water heater last?

Common conventional electric water heaters tend to last 10–15 years, and typically come with a standard six-year warranty. If you don’t know the age of your current unit, it’s worth checking to see if you’re nearing time for replacement.

How far apart are Bradford white water heaters manufactured?

Note: Bradford White water heaters manufactured 20 years apart will have the same letter designation

Where to find installation date on water heater?

Check for a manufacturer label on the side of your water heater — this should include the installation date.

What are the digits of a water heater?

Prior to that, manufactured water heaters for dozens of different brands. Style 1: Digits 1-2 are the year and digits 3-4 are the week of the year. Style 2: The second digit is the month (A-N, excluding I) so A=January and N=December. Digits 3-4 are the year.

What are the digits of the year?

Style 1: Digits 1-2 are the month and digits 3-4 are the year. Style 2: Digits 2-3 are the week of the year and digits 4-5 are the year. Style 3: Digits 3-4 are the week of the year and digits 5-6 are the year. Style 4: Digits 5-6 are the month and digits 7-8 are the year.

Who is Anthony Barnes?

Anthony Barnes is the founder of Water Heater Hub and a second-generation plumber by profession. Before developing Water Heater Hub, Anthony Barnes was a full-time plumber, and he has undertaken a wide variety of projects over the decades.

Who makes Kenmore water heaters?

For instance, even though the water heater you bought from Sears says Kenmore on it, it’s still manufactured by Rheem.

Do you need to read the age on a water heater?

If you’re the type who saves every purchase receipt for decades, you probably don’t need to read this. If you have a newer model, the water heater age is sometimes clearly printed on the manufacturer’s label affixed to the unit.

image

1.How to Find Water Heater Model Numbers | Water …

Url:https://www.fastwaterheater.com/water-heaters/water-heater-model-numbers-rating-plates/

18 hours ago C05*******. (March 2005) Beginning 2008, state uses an 11-digit alpha-numeric serial number. The first two positions are the year followed by a two digit month. Position 5 is a letter followed …

2.Locate Your Water Heater Model & Serial Number

Url:https://www.bradfordwhite.com/locate-water-heater-model-serial-number/

34 hours ago  · The first two numbers in the serial number, which may appear after one or two letters, are the year of manufacture of an A.O. Smith water heater. So the data plates shown …

3.How to Determine the Age of Your Water Heater

Url:https://hotwatersolutionsnw.org/news/how-old-is-my-water-heater

15 hours ago The serial number identification on all Rheem water heating product rating labels contain ten (10) digits. If follows the example below: Serial Number Description 12 Month Manufactured 09 …

4.How to Determine the Age of a Water Heater | Water …

Url:https://www.waterheaterhub.com/water-heater-age-lookup/

5 hours ago

5.How to Locate and Read your Rheem Water Heating …

Url:https://www.rheem.com/how-to-locate-and-read-your-rheem-water-heating-serial-numbers/

16 hours ago

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9