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How old is my water heater?
29 water heater brands catalogued, 23 with a sourced serial format you can decode here. Pick your brand; the serial format depends on it.
- 23 of 29 water heater brands on this site have a sourced serial number date format.
- The InterNACHI Standard Estimated Life Expectancy Chart for Homes lists Water Heater (conventional) at 6 to 12 years of expected service.
Brands with a decoder
A.O. Smith2008 to present; before 2010; before 20084 formatsAmerican Water Heater2008 to present; 2008 to present; before 20076 formatsAristonera not stated; 1994 to 2011; 2011 to 20214 formatsBradford White1984 to present1 formatGE Water Heatersera not stated1 formatGE/GeoSpringera not stated; era not stated2 formatsGSW2008 to present; 2008 to present; 2008 to present7 formatsHTP1994 to 2011; 2011 to 2021; 2021 to present3 formatsJohn Wood2008 to present; before 2007; 2008 to present11 formatsKenmore Water Heaters2008 to present; before 2010; era not stated4 formatsLaarsera not stated; before 19992 formatsLochinvar1979 to 2011; 2011 to present; 1978 to present8 formatsReliance2008 to present; before 2010; before 20108 formatsRheemera not stated1 formatRichmondera not stated; era not stated; era not stated5 formatsRuudera not stated1 formatRuud Water Heatersera not stated; era not stated; 2010 to present4 formatsState2008 to present; before 2010; before 20046 formatsTakagi2008 to present; before 2010; before 20084 formatsU.S. Craftmaster2008 to present; era not stated; 2008 to present7 formatsVaughnera not stated1 formatWestinghouse Water Heaters2011 to 2021; 1994 to 2011; 2011 to 20214 formatsWhirlpool Water Heaters2008 to present; era not stated; 2008 to present7 formats
Brands catalogued, format not yet sourced
Where the data plate is on a water heater
The rating plate is a large label on the side of the tank near the top or beside the control. The serial is printed on it, often beside the model number and the ANSI standard line.
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 Water Heater (conventional) at 6 to 12 years of expected service (nachi.org). That chart is a guideline, not a prediction for your unit.