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How Old Is My Water Heater?
A tank water heater usually lasts 8 to 12 years, and the serial number tells you how far along yours is. Pick the brand and type the serial number from the rating plate.
Find your brand
- Rheem
- Ruud
- Bradford White
- A.O. Smith
- State
- Reliance
- American Water Heater
- U.S. Craftmaster
- Whirlpool
- Kenmore
- Richmond
- GE
- Rinnai
The brand on the cabinet is not always the company that made it. Who makes what.
Where the serial number is
The rating plate is a sticker on the side of the tank, usually at eye level or just above the gas valve or the upper access panel. Many water heater labels also print the manufacture date, so check for that first.
How long does a water heater last?
Most water heaters last 8 to 12 years. Yearly servicing, the local climate and how hard it works all move it within that range. Past 8 years, it is worth getting a replacement price before the unit fails, so you aren't forced into a rushed decision.
Many water heater labels print the manufacture date as well. How long water heaters last, and the signs one is failing.
Questions
How can I tell how old my water heater is?
Every water heater has a data plate with a serial number, and most makers hide the manufacture date inside it. Pick the brand and type the serial number into the decoder above. If the label prints a manufacture date, use that.
Where is the serial number on a water heater?
The rating plate is a sticker on the side of the tank, usually at eye level or just above the gas valve or the upper access panel. Many water heater labels also print the manufacture date, so check for that first.
How long does a water heater last?
Typically 8 to 12 years.
Keeping an older water heater going
- Water heater anode rod: A new anode rod can add years to a tank that is not leaking yet.
- Water heater leak detector alarm: Cheap insurance for a tank near the end of its life.
- Water heater drain flush kit: Flushing sediment once a year helps an older tank.