How old is my York heat pump?
Serial number age decoder for York heat pumps: 2 format eras, the decode rule in plain English, transcribed tables, and the official lookup.
Type the serial from the data plate, not the model number. Nothing is sent anywhere; the tables are in this page.
Format example: W0K5896070
- York heat pump serial numbers in the 2004 to present format encode the year as digit 2 + digit 4 concatenated (0+5 = 2005) and the month as letter 3 (table below) (source: building-center.org).
- Example: serial W0K5896070 decodes to September 2005.
- York heat pump serial numbers in the 1971 to 2004 format encode the year as letter 3 via 21-letter table (table below) and the month as letter 2 (A-N, I/J skipped like style 1) (source: building-center.org).
- Example: serial WAKM011379 decodes to 1980 or 2001 (January).
- The 1971 to 2004 format is ambiguous: Letters A-N repeat (1971-1984 vs 1992-2004): 21-year cycle. Some serials carry a parenthesized leading letter e.g. (S)EBHM062202 - ignore it. Style ran to Oct 2004, so 2004 has BOTH styles.
- York's official lookup at york.bosch-hcgroup.com returns warranty details ('HVAC WARRANTY LOOKUP').
Format eras
- 2004 to present VERIFIED
A#A#######digit 2 + digit 4 concatenated (0+5 = 2005) - 1971 to 2004 VERIFIED
AAAA######letter 3 via 21-letter table: A=1971/1992 B=1972/1993 C=1973/1994 D=1974/1995 E=1975/1996
How to read the serial
2004 to present formatVERIFIED
Shape A#A####### · example W0K5896070 · confidence high
- Year
- digit 2 + digit 4 concatenated (0+5 = 2005)
- Week or month
- month = letter 3: A=Jan B=Feb C=Mar D=Apr E=May F=Jun G=Jul H=Aug K=Sep L=Oct M=Nov N=Dec
- Plant
- letter 1: A=Apodaca N=Norman S=Source One W=Wichita
| Month code | Month |
|---|---|
| A | January |
| B | February |
| C | March |
| D | April |
| E | May |
| F | June |
| G | July |
| H | August |
| K | September |
| L | October |
| M | November |
| N | December |
| Plant code | Plant |
|---|---|
| A | Apodaca |
| N | Norman |
| S | Source One |
| W | Wichita |
Example: serial W0K5896070 decodes to September 2005.
1971 to 2004 formatVERIFIED
Shape AAAA###### · example WAKM011379 · confidence high
- Year
- letter 3 via 21-letter table: A=1971/1992 B=1972/1993 C=1973/1994 D=1974/1995 E=1975/1996 F=1976/1997 G=1977/1998 H=1978/1999 J=1979/2000 K=1980/2001 L=1981/2002 M=1982/2003 N=1983/2004 P=1984 R=1985 S=1986 T=1987 V=1988 W=1989 X=1990 Y=1991
- Week or month
- month = letter 2 (A-N, I/J skipped like style 1)
- Plant
- letter 1: A=Addison B=Blackville C=Canada D=Medina E=Elyria M=Madville N=Norman W=Wichita X=Mexico Y=York
| Year code | Year(s) |
|---|---|
| A | 1971, 1992 |
| B | 1972, 1993 |
| C | 1973, 1994 |
| D | 1974, 1995 |
| E | 1975, 1996 |
| F | 1976, 1997 |
| G | 1977, 1998 |
| H | 1978, 1999 |
| J | 1979, 2000 |
| K | 1980, 2001 |
| L | 1981, 2002 |
| M | 1982, 2003 |
| N | 1983, 2004 |
| P | 1984 |
| R | 1985 |
| S | 1986 |
| T | 1987 |
| V | 1988 |
| W | 1989 |
| X | 1990 |
| Y | 1991 |
| Month code | Month |
|---|---|
| A | January |
| B | February |
| C | March |
| D | April |
| E | May |
| F | June |
| G | July |
| H | August |
| I | September |
| J | October |
| K | November |
| L | December |
| Plant code | Plant |
|---|---|
| A | Addison |
| B | Blackville |
| C | Canada |
| D | Medina |
| E | Elyria |
| M | Madville |
| N | Norman |
| W | Wichita |
| X | Mexico |
| Y | York |
Example: serial WAKM011379 decodes to 1980 or 2001 (January).
Where the data plate is on a heat pump
On the outdoor unit, same place as a condenser: a plate on the side or back of the cabinet near the line set. The indoor air handler carries its own plate with its own serial.
General guidance, not brand-specific: the owner's manual or the installer can point to the exact spot. See the data plate guide.
For scale only: the InterNACHI Standard Estimated Life Expectancy Chart for Homes lists Heat Pump at 10 to 15 years of expected service (nachi.org). That chart is a guideline, not a prediction for your unit.
Open the official York lookup takes serial; returns warranty details ('HVAC WARRANTY LOOKUP'); URL partial
This site is a reference built from published tables. The manufacturer's own lookup wins whenever the two disagree.
Sources
- https://www.building-center.org/york/
- img: YORK-Serial-Number-Style-1.jpg (transcribed)
- img: YORK-Serial-Number-Style-2.jpg (transcribed)
- https://york.bosch-hcgroup.com/residential-equipment/warranty-and-registrationofficial
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell the age of a York heat pump from the serial number?
In the 2004 to present format the year is digit 2 + digit 4 concatenated (0+5 = 2005) and the month as letter 3 (table below). Example: serial W0K5896070 decodes to September 2005.
Where is the serial number on a York heat pump?
On the data plate. On the outdoor unit, same place as a condenser: a plate on the side or back of the cabinet near the line set. The indoor air handler carries its own plate with its own serial.