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Rheem Water Heater Age by Serial Number
Enter the serial number from your Rheem 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 a Rheem serial number
We can decode serial numbers from Rheem water heaters built 2004–2026.
2012–2026 format
Rheem water heaters made since 2012 have a serial that starts with a factory letter, then two digits for the week and two for the year, then five more digits. For example, M141209135 was made in week 14 of 2012. If the serial begins with extra letters (such as RH), skip to the last letter before the digits.
2004–2013 format
Rheem water heaters from about 2004 to 2013 have a 10-character serial: two digits for the month, two for the year, a letter for the plant line, then five digits. For example, 1209D01234 was made in December 2009. The serial may start with extra letters such as RH; skip them.
Worked examples
year month / week
| Serial | Built |
|---|---|
| M141209135 | April 2012 |
| 1209D01234 | December 2009 |
| RH0806B17262 | August 2006 |
| A011400001 | January 2014 |
| A051500001 | January 2015 |
| W121600001 | March 2016 |
| Q521400001 | December 2014 |
| W311600001 | August 2016 |
How long does a Rheem 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 Rheem water heater still under warranty?
- Rheem Performance tank water heaters have a 6-year tank and parts warranty in a single-family home. Higher series have longer terms; check the rating label or your certificate.
- Rheem Professional Prestige electric tank models have a 12-year tank and parts warranty.
- Rheem ProTerra hybrid (heat pump) water heaters have a 10-year tank and parts warranty.
- Rheem tankless gas water heaters have a 15-year heat exchanger and 5-year parts warranty in a single-family home (10 years on the heat exchanger for space-heating use, less with an always-on recirculation pump or in commercial use).
Rheem's water heater warranty certificates don't require registration for the standard terms.
Rheem water heater recalls
- Tankless Water Heaters Recalled for Repair Due to Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Hazard (power vent tankless; Rheem, Rheem-Ruud, Ruud, Paloma and Richmond brands) (2007)
- Rheem Recalls to Repair Water Heaters Due to Fire and Burn Hazards; Sold Exclusively at Home Depot (2016)
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
Rheem belongs to the same company as Ruud. Serial formats are often, but not always, shared.
FAQ
How do I tell how old my Rheem water heater is?
The manufacture date is encoded in the serial number on the unit's data plate. Rheem water heaters made since 2012 have a serial that starts with a factory letter, then two digits for the week and two for the year, then five more digits. For example, M141209135 was made in week 14 of 2012. If the serial begins with extra letters (such as RH), skip to the last letter before the digits. Rheem water heaters from about 2004 to 2013 have a 10-character serial: two digits for the month, two for the year, a letter for the plant line, then five digits. For example, 1209D01234 was made in December 2009. The serial may start with extra letters such as RH; skip them. We can decode Rheem water heaters built 2004–2026. Enter the serial above to decode it automatically.
How long does a Rheem 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 Rheem warranty?
Rheem's water heater warranty certificates don't require registration for the standard terms. Rheem's warranty lookup: https://www.rheem.com/warranties/ Register a unit: https://rheem.registermyunit.com/en-US/warranty/brand?brand=rheem
Has my Rheem water heater been recalled?
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission lists 2 recalls for Rheem water heaters. Enter your model and serial above to check yours against each recall's scope.
Sources: Rheem service, warranty and installation documentation; U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission; DOE and ENERGY STAR; NAHB/Bank of America and InterNACHI life-expectancy studies. More about our sources.