Whether it’s leaking, making noises, or simply not heating water the way it used to, you’ll eventually have some type of water heater problem. Since you probably understand that appliances don’t last forever, one of the first questions you’ll ask yourself when something goes wrong is, “How old is my water heater?“.
You may be wondering if repair or replacement is the best option or even if you’re still covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.
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.
For everyone else, keep reading to see how easy it is to find your water heater’s manufacture date. All you need is to know who manufactured the water heater and its serial number (both found on the label affixed to the water heater).
Alternatively, you can check your manual to get a rough estimate on age based on the copyright year. You can access online versions of most models of the three most popular brands at these links:
Manufacturer vs Brand
Before going further, I want to point out the differences between a water heater manufacturer and a water heater brand. The manufacturer is the company that takes materials or components to create (or manufacture) the water heater.
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The brand on the other hand is what the water heater is sold (or branded) as to customer. A small number of manufacturers create water heaters which are then sold under dozens of different brands. For instance, even though the water heater you bought from Sears says Kenmore on it, it’s still manufactured by Rheem.
So, how old IS my water heater?
Below are serial number lookup sections for every major water heater manufacturer. Column one lists all the various brands that manufacturer makes, column two shows sample serial numbers, and column three of each table acts as a serial number decoder.
A.O. Smith Water Heater Age
| Included Brands | A.O. Smith Serial Numbers | How to Decode |
|---|---|---|
| A.O. Smith Glascote GSW PermaGlas | Style 1 (current): 1510******* (10th week of 2015) Style 2 (pre-2008): *A07******* (January, 2007) | 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. |
Rheem Water Heater Age
| Included Brands | Rheem Serial Numbers | How to Decode |
|---|---|---|
| Rheem Ruud Rheem/Ruud Richmond Vista Therm Citation Aqua Therm Energy Master Vanguard Cimarrom Coast to Coast Lowe’s Servi-Star True Value ABS Intertherm & Miller Mainstream Montgomery Ward General Electric Professional | Style 1: 0811****** (August, 2011) Style 2: *3210***** (32nd week of 2010) Style 3: ** 1599****** (15th week of 1999) Style 4: ****0608****** (June, 2008) Style 5: 09.04-****** (April, 2009) | 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. Style 5: Digits 1-2 are the year and digits 3-4 are the month (the sets of numbers are separated by a period) |
Bradford White Water Heater Age
| Included Brands | Bradford White Serial Numbers | How to Decode |
|---|---|---|
| Bradford White Jetglas | EH******* (August, 2008) TB******* (February, 1999) | 1st letter equals the year using this key: P = 2017 | N = 2016 | M = 2015 L = 2014 | K = 2013 | J = 2012 H = 2011 | G = 2010 | F = 2009 E = 2008 | D = 2007 | C = 2006 B = 2005 | A = 2004 | Z = 2003 Y = 2002 | X = 2001 | W = 2000 T = 1999 | S = 1998 | P = 1997 2nd letter equals the month using this key: A = January | B = February | C = March D = April | E = May | F = June G = July | H = August | J = September K = October | L = November | M = December |
State Industries Water Heater Age
| Included Brands | State Ind. Serial Numbers | How to Decode |
|---|---|---|
| State/Kenmore Ace Ambassador Barnett Century Crosley Energy Stretcher Freedom Freedome/Nipsco Hardware House Master Plumber/True5 Mission Nationaline Patriot Penfield President Regency Reliance The Plumbery Thermo-Ki | Style 1: 1021******* (21st week of 2010) Style 2: K06******* (October, 2006) Style 3: *K06******* (October, 2006) | Style 1: Digits 1-2 are the year and digits 3-4 are the week of the year. Style 2: The 1st digit is the month of the year using the key below and digits 2-3 are the year. A = January | B = February | C = March D = April | E = May | F = June G = July | H = August | J = September K = October | L = November | M = December Style 3: Same as style 2 except it has an extra digit at the beginning. |
American Water Heater Age
Acquired by A.O. Smith in 2001. Prior to that, manufactured water heaters for dozens of different brands.| Included Brands | American Serial Numbers | How to Decode |
|---|---|---|
| American Water Heaters Ace American Hardware Best Best Deluxe Apex Aqua Temp Agua Therm Aquamatic Champion Craftmaster De-Limier Deluxe Eagle Earl’s Energy Saver Environtemp Four Most Hotmaster Hotstream King-Cleen King-line Master Plumber Mor-Flo/American Nationaline Neptune Penquin Premier Prestige Proline Proline-Plus Quaker Quick-Flo Raywall Revere Riveria SABH Sands Sentinel Service-Star Shamrock Special Deluxe Standard Super Eagle Sure-Fire Thoro-clean Tru-Test Tru Value U.S. Supply Whirlpool XCL-Energy Saver | Style 1 (current): 1510******* (10th week of 2015) Style 2 (pre-2008): *A07******* (January, 2007) | 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. |
Lochinvar Water Heater Age
| Included Brands | Lochinvar Serial Numbers | How to Decode |
|---|---|---|
| Lochinvar Energy Saver Golden Knight Knight | EH******* (August, 2008) TB******* (February, 1999) | 1st letter equals the year using this key: P = 2017 | N = 2016 | M = 2015 L = 2014 | K = 2013 | J = 2012 H = 2011 | G = 2010 | F = 2009 E = 2008 | D = 2007 | C = 2006 B = 2005 | A = 2004 | Z = 2003 Y = 2002 | X = 2001 | W = 2000 T = 1999 | S = 1998 | P = 1997 2nd letter equals the month using this key: A = January | B = February | C = March D = April | E = May | F = June G = July | H = August | J = September K = October | L = November | M = December |
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I cannot find any info on this water heater. No brand name on faceplate. Model is 52 EE-T. Serial is 0000121547. I am trying to find out how old this water heater is.
I’m not able to find any info on a “52 EE-T” either. If there are any other identifying markings/labels on the tank? It sounds like an older model as anything even remotely recent is required to have certain info on it.
whirlpool nat. gas waterheater s#0927t423281 m#bfg1f40405nob
This would fall under the “American Water Heater” manufacturer where it gets rebranded as a Whirlpool. Digits 1-2 of the S/N are the year, and digits 3-4 are the week of the year. So in your case, the 27th week of 2009.
Hi I have a kenmore water heater. Serial # is EG4323686. Can somebody help identify how old it is/if it’ll need replacement soon? Thank you. Heidi
Are you sure it doesn’t start with “E0”? Only the first character should be a letter. If EO4323686, it would be May of 2004.
I have a Regency Fuel Saver model with serial number JFR237903. Help!
This doesn’t seem to be a valid S/N for a Regency (made by State). It should be one of the 3 formats in the “State Industries Water Heater Age” section.
Model no. Mims40t6lx10 ser. We9446136. There’s only one pipe coming out the top. One on the side with a shut off and it’s leaking. Propane hot water. Can I tell me the year ?
That would be a Bradford White. Manufactured May of 2000.
We’re buying an older home and we can’t determine the age of the water heater – in fact, we can’t find the brand anywhere…Wagoner S/N 2078639.
Wagoner was acquired by Lochinvar in 2001 so it’s hard to find much info about them (I’ve never actually work on one). But you’re likely looking at an (at least) 20 year old water heater so I would look to replace it. Even if you don’t have a leak now, it’s only a matter of time. Also, its efficiency is going to be far worse than today’s water heaters.
Model #ER42DV
Serial #. 8550. 348564
Standard Tag manufactured by
Mor Flo Industries
Johnson City, Tn
I have a Modern Water Equipment Company of West Chicago water heater – model C 50 D. Serial number is 1 7 385. Can you find out how old it is?
That’s likely just the plumbing company that installed the water heater. Are there any other labels affixed to the tank anywhere which show the brand or model?
I have a model: AERO CF-32T serial number: 9712R999
Is there any way to determine when it was installed?
Thanks,
Cheryl
Bradford White acquired Aero in 2002 but this serial number was before then. But I’m 99% sure it’s December of 1997 as that is a common S/N format.
I haven’t been able to decode our water heater for its age. Can you help?
Champion Water Heaters, product of SABH Worldwide Water Heater Group
Model: SMEQR9052D
Serial: KDR507874
50 Gallon, electric
Can you help determine the age of my water heater?
Mor-Flo Industries Inc.
Johnson City, TN
Model #ER42D
Serial# 312561
It doesn’t seem to have as many digits in the serial number as the examples given. Thanks
Kim,
I just looked at a Mor-Flo water heater Model# ER42DTR Serial# 407117. It is in a double wide mobile home that was built in March of 1974. It is the original so I assume it to be a 1974 or earlier. Cannot figure out the code in the serial number though.
Can’t find Maytag 12 sticker anywhere on hot water heater for year info and serial number.
Anyone else have this problem? Thank you!
I’ve got a huge (119gal) electric water heater by SABH. The Model # is SMII120R5DS13 and the Serial # is LA2651468. According to you decode guide that would be manufactured in January 1926. It’s old, but it can’t be that old. Any idea how to date it?
I agree, that doesn’t sound right. I’d recommend contacting American Water Heater. They should be able to look it up.
http://www.americanwaterheater.com/contact
Any info on dating an Everhot All-Copper Inc. ‘Copper King’ water heater?
Here’s a challenge. Water heater was old when we purchased our house in ’86. It’s still running fine. Label on side says:
Collins Automatic Electric Water Heater
Collins Concrete and Steel Co.
Portland Oregon
ser# 67866
BTW, it feeds from the bottom of the tank. Really am curious to find out date and info on this heater. Thanks for any info.
Unfortunately, I’ve never heard of that brand. Only mention I found in Google were from newspaper classified ad listings from the 1940’s and 50’s.
my GE water heaer was manufactured in 2006, but not installed until 2012. Is it 7 years old or 13 years old????
Technically 13 years old but usage of a 7 year old unit. I’d compare it to buying a Porsche that was built in 2006 but has half the miles on the odometer compared to others. Its engine and components will be in better shape than a typical model from that year.
Where it becomes interesting is the warranty period. There’s no hard rule when a warranty actually begins. It seem like some manufacturers it starts on the purchase date while for others, the installation date is used.
I have a gsw water heater serial number is 1546AO17627 HOW OLD IS THE HEATER.
GSW is a subsidiary of A.O. Smith. I’ve updated the data above to include this brand.
In your case, it was manufactured in the 46th week of 2015.
We have an Excel Company water heater made in Dowagiac MI. One pipe 1/3 of the way down, one pipe at the bottom. Model 52EX5. How old is this thing??
Sorry but I couldn’t find any info on this one.
I’m trying to determine the age of my Lochinvar water heater. The plate has the model no. 40 R-9 and the serial no. 99709. It also is stamped L-67