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American Water Heater Water Heater Age by Serial Number
Enter the serial number from your American Water Heater water heater's data plate to get its manufacture date, remaining life, warranty and recall status, and a repair-or-replace recommendation.
How to read an American Water Heater serial number
We can decode serial numbers from American Water Heater water heaters built 1992–2026.
2011–2026 format
On American water heaters made since 2011, the first two digits of the serial number are the year and the next two digits are the week of that year (01-53). For example, a serial starting 1631 was made in the 31st week of 2016 (early August).
1992–2010 format Corroborated
American water heaters made from 1992 to 2010 use the same layout: the first two digits are the year and the next two are the week. For example, 9950123040 was made in the 50th week of 1999. This reading is less certain than for newer units.
This format is confirmed by two or more independent references rather than an American Water Heater document for this product line, so treat dates from it as likely rather than certain.
Worked examples
year month / week
| Serial | Built |
|---|---|
| 16310000000 | August 2016 |
| 9950123040 | December 1999 |
| 0124000000 | June 2001 |
| 0127000000 | July 2001 |
| 9746000000 | November 1997 |
How long does an American Water Heater water heater last?
| Type | Typical life |
|---|---|
| Gas tank | 8–12 years |
| Electric tank | 10–14 years |
| Heat pump water heater | 10–14 years |
| Tankless | 15–20 years |
Ranges come from industry life-expectancy studies (NAHB/Bank of America, InterNACHI, DOE) and apply across brands. Your result adjusts for your state's climate and water hardness.
Is my American Water Heater water heater still under warranty?
- American gas tank models with warranty code G6 in the model number (for example G62 30T30) have a 6-year tank and 6-year parts warranty.
- American gas tank models with warranty code G10 have a 10-year tank warranty and a 6-year parts warranty.
- American ProLine XE heat pump water heaters (HPHE, HPS, HPA and HPV models) have a 10-year tank and 10-year parts warranty, with on-site service or labor in the first year.
Registering an American water heater is optional and does not reduce your warranty rights. Keep your proof of purchase and installation; without a bill of sale, the warranty is counted from the manufacture date on the rating plate.
American Water Heater warranty lookupRegister an American Water Heater unit
American Water Heater water heater recalls
- LP Polaris Comfort Systems Recall/Repair by American Water Heater (Polaris Comfort Systems LP combination water heater / home heating) (1996)
- CPSC, American Water Heater Co. Announce Recall to Replace Burners in Gas Water Heaters (natural gas models; American Proline, Envirotemp, Mor-Flo, Powerflex, Premier Plus, US Craftmaster brands) (2001)
- A. O. Smith Recalls Ultra-Low NOx Water Heaters Due to Fire Hazard (American, A. O. Smith, Kenmore, Reliance, State, U.S. Craftsmaster, Whirlpool brands) (2018)
Recalls come from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Decode your unit above to check whether its model and serial fall inside a recall.
Should you repair or replace it?
Once you decode your unit, we compare its age against its typical life, a typical major repair against the cost of replacing it, and, with your model and state, what a new unit would save on energy. A common rule of thumb: if a repair costs more than about 30–50% of a replacement and the unit is past mid-life, replacing usually wins.
Related brands
American Water Heater belongs to the same company as A. O. Smith and State. Serial formats are often, but not always, shared.
FAQ
How do I tell how old my American Water Heater water heater is?
The manufacture date is encoded in the serial number on the unit's data plate. On American water heaters made since 2011, the first two digits of the serial number are the year and the next two digits are the week of that year (01-53). For example, a serial starting 1631 was made in the 31st week of 2016 (early August). American water heaters made from 1992 to 2010 use the same layout: the first two digits are the year and the next two are the week. For example, 9950123040 was made in the 50th week of 1999. This reading is less certain than for newer units. We can decode American Water Heater water heaters built 1992–2026. Enter the serial above to decode it automatically.
How long does an American Water Heater water heater last?
Typical lifespans: Gas tank 8–12 years; Electric tank 10–14 years; Heat pump water heater 10–14 years; Tankless 15–20 years. These ranges apply across brands. Maintenance, climate and water hardness move a unit toward one end.
How do I check my American Water Heater warranty?
Registering an American water heater is optional and does not reduce your warranty rights. Keep your proof of purchase and installation; without a bill of sale, the warranty is counted from the manufacture date on the rating plate. American Water Heater's warranty lookup: https://www.americanwaterheater.com/support/warranty-verification.html Register a unit: https://www.americanwaterheater.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-american-Site/default/ProductRegistrationForm-Show
Has my American Water Heater water heater been recalled?
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission lists 3 recalls for American Water Heater water heaters. Enter your model and serial above to check yours against each recall's scope.
Sources: American Water Heater service, warranty and installation documentation; independent industry references for formats no American Water Heater document covers; U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission; DOE and ENERGY STAR; NAHB/Bank of America and InterNACHI life-expectancy studies. More about our sources.