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You can determine how old your residential water heater is by looking at and decoding data on the water heater’s label.
Smith Water Heater Age Determination - reader comment: (May 11, 2012) AO Smith employee said: To tell the age of any AO Smith water is the first 4 numbers. The first 2 are the year and the second 2 are what week it is. Electric water heaters For those places where conventional fuel is unavailable, or where ease of installation is a conscious choice, A.O. Smith offers a range of electric water heaters. Our electric water heater line-up features highly compact dimensions with a tank capacity ranging from 115 to 450 litres and a relatively high power rating.
Read below how to determine the age of your unit. 1209D1234 (MMYYPnnnn) = December 2009. MM = month of manufacture YY = year of manufacture P = plant identifying code nnnn = a consecutive serial number for your individual unit. AO Smith and American. (YYWWxxxxxx) = 1997, 5th week (early February) YY = month of manufacture. Smith is proud to be known as one of the world’s leading providers of water heating and water treatment solutions. As a leader, we refuse to sit quietly. Each and every day at A. Smith, we are working on developing state-of-the-art solutions that are pushing new boundaries.
First, locate the manufacturers label with the serial number on the side of your unit. This sticker is usually around any warning labels and the energy guide. Check to see if the installation date is noted on the sticker. If not, then write down your serial number as it usually indicates the year and month of manufacture of the water heater. Each manufacturer uses different formats and you need to de-code the water heater serial number. Read below how to determine the age of your unit.
Rheem or Ruud
ex. 1209D1234 (MMYYPnnnn) = December 2009
MM = month of manufacture
YY = year of manufacture
P = plant identifying code
nnnn = a consecutive serial number for your individual unit
YY = year of manufacture
P = plant identifying code
nnnn = a consecutive serial number for your individual unit
AO Smith and American
ex. 9705123445 (YYWWxxxxxx) = 1997, 5th week (early February)
Ao Smith Electric Water Heater Age
![Ao Smith Electric Water Heater Age Ao Smith Electric Water Heater Age](/uploads/1/1/7/7/117734098/621295393.jpg)
YY = month of manufacture
WW = year of manufacture
WW = year of manufacture
Bradford White
ex. BH6511396 (YMxxxxxxx) = B=2005 & H=August
![Ao Smith Electric Water Heater Age Ao Smith Electric Water Heater Age](/uploads/1/1/7/7/117734098/564586756.jpg)
The Bradford White rating plate is the most difficult to decode.
The year of manufacture is noted by the first letter of the serial number, the month is the second letter. The decoding is based on the following format (also see chart below):
Year Decoder: G = 1990; H = 1991; J = 1992; K = 1993; L= 1994; M= 1995; N= 1996; P= 1997; S= 1998; T= 1999; W= 2000; X= 2001; Y= 2002; Z=2003; A= 2004; B=2005; C=2006; D=2007
Month Decoder: A= JAN; B=FEB; C=MAR; D= APR; E=MAY; F= JUNE; G=JULY; H= AUG; J= SEPT; K=OCT; L= NOV; M= DEC.
Note: Bradford White uses a 20-year letter designation rotation in serial numbers shown in the chart below. Therefore, please be aware that water heaters manufactured 20 years apart will have the same serial number “letter year” designation.
Year Decoder: G = 1990; H = 1991; J = 1992; K = 1993; L= 1994; M= 1995; N= 1996; P= 1997; S= 1998; T= 1999; W= 2000; X= 2001; Y= 2002; Z=2003; A= 2004; B=2005; C=2006; D=2007
Month Decoder: A= JAN; B=FEB; C=MAR; D= APR; E=MAY; F= JUNE; G=JULY; H= AUG; J= SEPT; K=OCT; L= NOV; M= DEC.
Note: Bradford White uses a 20-year letter designation rotation in serial numbers shown in the chart below. Therefore, please be aware that water heaters manufactured 20 years apart will have the same serial number “letter year” designation.
Click image to enlarge.
For a complete water heater dating chart visit www.nachi.org/water-heater-dating-chart.htm
If your Tucson water heater is 10 years or older you should consider replacing it before it fails and potentially could cause damage.