Most hot water tanks manufactured before 2003 have a 6-year warranty against leakage. Most hot water tanks manufactured after 2003 have an 8-year warranty against leakage. If you have extended warranty documentation, your tank may have a longer warranty.
Note that the major manufacturers usually only include a 1-2 year warranty on other parts.
The first two numbers refer to the month of manufacture (01 = January, 02 = February, and so on) and the next two numbers refer to the year (97 = 1997, 05 = 2005, and so on). This is followed by a letter and 5 more numbers. For example, serial number 0307B94210 would mean the tank was made in March (the first two numbers are 03) of 2007 (the next two numbers are 07). Now that you know your Rheem water heater age, check your Rheem water heater warranty here.
The first four letters on an A.O.Smith hot water tank, ignoring any letters, will tell you when the tank was manufactured. The first two letters represent the year the tank was built. If the heater was built before 2008, the next two numbers show the month. If it was after 2008, the letters following the first two are the week the tank was built. For example, serial number: U0106413635 shows the tank was manufactured in June 2001. Or you can check it here.
The manufacture date for State water heaters can be found in the serial number. The first two digits indicate the year. The second two digits are the week of the year. For example, serial number: 1318A033639 was built the 18th week of 2013.
If there is a letter in front, that represents the months – A to M is January to December consecutively. With the number following indicating the year. A serial code starting C12 was built in March 2012.
Models after 2013 also usually list a build date below the serial number so there is no need to figure it out.
Also known as USCraftMaster and Envirotech, the date of these water heaters can be found in the serial number. The first two digits are the month and the second two digits are the year. For example, 1204T463208 was manufactured in the 4th week of 2012.
If your tank is manufactured by one of the three most common brands in the Greater Victoria area (Bradford White, John Wood, or Rheem) then see our guide below. We also look at AO Smith, State Select, and Whirlpool hot water heaters.
The Bradford White serial number consists of 2 letters followed by 7 numbers. The letters refer to the date of manufacture. The first letter refers to the year. A = 2004, B = 2005, C = 2006, D = 2007, E =2008, F = 2009, G = 2010, H =2011, J = 1992, K = 1993, L = 1994, M = 1995, N = 1996, P = 1997, S = 1998, T = 1999, W = 2000, X = 2001, Y = 2002, and Z = 2003. The second letter refers to the month. A = January, B = February, C = March, D = April, E = May, F = June, G = July, H = August, J = September, K = October, L = November, and M = December.
For example, if your serial number is NB3093251, this would mean your tank was manufactured in February 1996 (because N = 1996 and B = February). With your Bradford White water heater age, you can check your Bradford White Warranty here.
John Wood water heaters start with a letter that reveals how long the warranty against leakage is. P = 3 years, R = 5 years, S = 6 years, T = 7 years, U = 8 years, V = 9 years, W = 10 years, and Y = 12 years.
Following the first letter will be four numbers that refer to the date of manufacture. The first two numbers refer to the year of manufacture. 95 would be 1995, 98 would be 1998, 02 would be 2002, 08 would be 2008, and so on.
For tanks made before 2007, the next two numbers refer to the month of manufacture. 01 = January, 02 = February, 03 = March, and so on. For tanks made in 2008 or later, the next two numbers refer to the week of manufacture. 01 = first week of the year, 02 = second week, and so on.
Serial numbers on John Wood tanks made in 2007 or earlier consist of a letter followed by 10 numbers. For example, a serial number of U0508482157 would mean the tank was made in 2005 (the first two numbers are 05), in the month of August (the next two numbers are 08), and includes an 8 year warranty against leakage (the first letter is U).
Serial numbers on John Wood tanks made 2008 and later consist of a letter followed by 4 numbers followed by another letter and 6 more numbers. For example, a serial number of U0923C239421 would mean the tank includes an 8 year warranty against leakage (the first letter is U) and was made in 2009 (the first two numbers are 09) in the 23rd week (the next two numbers are 23) of that year.
Also known as USCraftMaster and Envirotech, the date of these water heaters can be found in the serial number. The first two digits are the month and the second two digits are the year. For example, 1204T463208 was manufactured in the 4th week of 2012.
