Determining the age of a water heater can be beneficial for several reasons. The average water heater lasts about 12 years. Once it starts to get close to this point, saving up for a new appliance might be a good idea. Knowing the age of a water heater is essential in figuring out if it’s still under warranty.
Here’s how to determine the age of a water heater:
CHECK THE LABEL
You can look at the label on the water heater to figure out the date of manufacture. For newer models, the installation date of the appliance is on the information sticker. Typically, the sticker is visible on the heater. The installation date is close enough to the date of manufacture and can be used to track the heater’s age.
However, it may be challenging to determine the age of an older appliance. One would have to use the serial number as it includes the date of manufacture. Every manufacturer has its method of formulating serial numbers, so figuring it out can be difficult. Learning to understand these numbers will help you pin down the age of a water heater.
Let’s decode the serial numbers of some popular water heater brands:
A.O. SMITH WATER HEATER
For A.O. Smith brands, the first four digits of the serial number indicate the year and month of manufacture.
An example would be 2107xxxxxx. The water heater was made in 2021 and on the seventh month.
RHEEM WATER HEATER
The first four numbers of a Rheem water heater show when they made the appliance. The first two numbers represent the month, while the second set of digits is the year of manufacture.
For 0419xxxx, the construction of the heater was in April of 2019.
BRADFORD WATER HEATER
Bradford does not make it easy to figure out when one of their water heaters was made. They use a key where each letter stands for a certain year. It looks like this:
S = 2018, 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, N = 1996
Each month is also represented by a letter.
A = January, B = February, C = March, D = April, E = May, F = June, G = July, H = August, J = September, K = October, L = November, M = December
The first letter of the serial number identifies the year of manufacture, while the second letter indicates the month. CMxxxxxxx would mean that the manufacture of the appliance occurred in March of 2015.
IS IT TIME TO GET THAT REPLACEMENT?
Having a water heater fail unexpectedly can be frustrating. Taking cold showers while waiting for a replacement is nobody’s idea of fun. Checking the age of your water heater will allow for proper planning, reducing the chances of being caught off guard by a malfunctioning heater.
Water Heater Pros Las Vegas provides water heater installation and replacement services for Las Vegas and surrounding area residents and businesses. Our expert technicians install both traditional and tankless water heaters for homes and other buildings with gas or electric service. We offer the highest quality installers for efficient, versatile water heaters such as Rheem. Ruud, high-efficiency tankless Navien units, and more. Ask about our installation specials.