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Guides
Short, factual guides on reading a data plate.
Finding the data plateWhere the rating plate with the serial number usually is on furnaces, air conditioners, water heaters, boilers, generators and appliances.Serial number vs model numberWhy the decoder needs the serial number, not the model number, and why the same serial shape means different dates at different brands.The ANSI date and manufacture-date-label trickHow the ANSI or CSA standard year and a printed MFR DATE on the rating plate settle an ambiguous serial number.Letter-cycle year codesThe brands whose serial year is a letter that repeats (Bradford White, York, Whirlpool, Trane and others), with the transcribed tables.Official warranty and serial lookup directoryManufacturer serial number and warranty lookup pages for HVAC, water heater and appliance brands, with URL verification status.