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Whirlpool Water Heater Age by Serial Number
Enter the serial number from your Whirlpool 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 Whirlpool serial number
We can decode serial numbers from Whirlpool water heaters built 2000–2016.
2011–2016 format
Whirlpool water heaters were built under license by American Water Heater. The first two digits of the serial are the year and the next two are the week of that year (01-53). For example, a serial starting 1104 was made in the 4th week of 2011.
2000–2010 format Corroborated
On Whirlpool water heaters built before 2011, the first two digits of the serial are also the year and the next two the week. For example, 0128104380 was made in the 28th week of 2001.
This format is confirmed by two or more independent references rather than a Whirlpool document for this product line, so treat dates from it as likely rather than certain.
Worked examples
year month / week
| Serial | Built |
|---|---|
| 1104T403904 | January 2011 |
| 0128104380 | July 2001 |
| 0620127084 | May 2006 |
How long does a Whirlpool 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 Whirlpool water heater still under warranty?
- Models with warranty code 6 have a 6-year tank and 6-year parts warranty, plus 1 year of labor.
- Models with warranty code 9 have a 9-year tank and 9-year parts warranty, plus 2 years of labor.
- Models with warranty code 12 have a 12-year tank and 12-year parts warranty, plus 3 years of labor.
Whirlpool water heaters are made and serviced under license by American Water Heater. You don't need to register to keep the warranty. The tank and parts warranty (6, 9 or 12 years) is shown by the warranty code in the model number on the data plate, and runs from the original installation, so keep your receipt.
Whirlpool water heater recalls
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.
FAQ
How do I tell how old my Whirlpool water heater is?
The manufacture date is encoded in the serial number on the unit's data plate. Whirlpool water heaters were built under license by American Water Heater. The first two digits of the serial are the year and the next two are the week of that year (01-53). For example, a serial starting 1104 was made in the 4th week of 2011. On Whirlpool water heaters built before 2011, the first two digits of the serial are also the year and the next two the week. For example, 0128104380 was made in the 28th week of 2001. We can decode Whirlpool water heaters built 2000–2016. Enter the serial above to decode it automatically.
How long does a Whirlpool 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 Whirlpool warranty?
Whirlpool water heaters are made and serviced under license by American Water Heater. You don't need to register to keep the warranty. The tank and parts warranty (6, 9 or 12 years) is shown by the warranty code in the model number on the data plate, and runs from the original installation, so keep your receipt. Whirlpool's warranty lookup: https://www.whirlpoolwaterheaters.com/owner-center/need-more-help/
Has my Whirlpool water heater been recalled?
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission lists 1 recall for Whirlpool water heaters. Enter your model and serial above to check yours against each recall's scope.
Sources: Whirlpool service, warranty and installation documentation; independent industry references for formats no Whirlpool 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.