How Old Is Your Water Heater or Furnace?
The manufacture date is hidden in the serial number. Pick your brand, type the serial, and see the age and how much of its typical life is left. Free, no sign-up.
Try an example:
Step-by-step guides by brand
Showing all 15 brands
- Residential & Commercial Water HeatersA.O. Smith age lookupAverage lifespan: 10 yearsHow to read the serial →
- Central Air Conditioners, Heat Pumps & FurnacesAmerican Standard age lookupAverage lifespan: 16 yearsHow to read the serial →
- Inverter Heat Pumps, Tankless & BoilersBosch age lookupAverage lifespan: 15 yearsHow to read the serial →
- Water Heaters & BoilersBradford White age lookupAverage lifespan: 10 yearsHow to read the serial →
- Gas Furnaces, Heat Pumps & Air ConditionersBryant age lookupAverage lifespan: 15 yearsHow to read the serial →
- Heat Pumps, Air Conditioners & Gas FurnacesCarrier age lookupAverage lifespan: 15 yearsHow to read the serial →
- Gas Furnaces, Split AC & Package UnitsGoodman age lookupAverage lifespan: 14 yearsHow to read the serial →
- Water Heaters & Central HVACKenmore age lookupAverage lifespan: 10 yearsHow to read the serial →
- Residential Furnaces, Heat Pumps & Air ConditionersLennox age lookupAverage lifespan: 15 yearsHow to read the serial →
- Water Heaters, Furnaces & Air ConditionersRheem age lookupAverage lifespan: 10 yearsHow to read the serial →
- Water Heaters, Furnaces & Air ConditionersRuud age lookupAverage lifespan: 10 yearsHow to read the serial →
- Residential & Commercial Water HeatersState Water Heaters age lookupAverage lifespan: 10 yearsHow to read the serial →
- Central Air Conditioners, Heat Pumps & FurnacesTrane age lookupAverage lifespan: 16 yearsHow to read the serial →
- Electric & Gas Water HeatersWhirlpool age lookupAverage lifespan: 10 yearsHow to read the serial →
- Central Air Conditioners, Heat Pumps & FurnacesYork age lookupAverage lifespan: 14 yearsHow to read the serial →
No brand matches your search. Many brands are made by the same factories, so check the label for the manufacturer name.
3 rules that make a water heater last longer
1. Watch the 10-year mark
Tank water heaters are built to last about 10 years. After that, the risk of a sudden leak climbs quickly.
2. Check the anode rod
A metal rod inside the tank corrodes so the tank doesn't. Having it checked every 3 to 5 years can add years of life.
3. Add a leak alarm
A battery water sensor on the floor beside the tank sounds at the first drop, before a small leak becomes a flood.
Questions and answers
How do I find out how old my water heater is?
Find the rating label on the side of the tank, copy the serial number, pick your brand above and type it in. Each brand hides the manufacture date in the serial number in its own way, and this tool decodes it.
How old is too old for a water heater?
Tank water heaters usually last 8 to 12 years. After about 10 years, corrosion inside the tank makes a sudden leak much more likely, so plan a replacement rather than waiting for it to fail.
How long do furnaces and air conditioners last?
Gas furnaces typically last 15 to 20 years and central air conditioners or heat pumps 12 to 16 years, depending on maintenance and climate.
Is the manufacture date the same as the installation date?
Not always. Equipment can sit in a warehouse for months before it is installed. The serial number gives the factory date; your installer's invoice gives the installation date.