Why Buy A Used Heater
There are many reasons why you should buy second-hand water heaters, especially if the hot water runs out and you are on a tight budget. Purchasing a replacement may seem so far out of reach for your pockets, so the option of buying a used one is a good pick. Though buying a used water heater might be riskier than buying a new unit, it is still not impossible to come across a good deal, especially if a team still has life left for it.
Some retailers that offer used water heaters also provide scratched and dented units at a discounted price. Others sell water heaters that are refurbished and repaired by technicians. Some DIY enthusiasts also do their repairs, especially an electric heater. Others have to supply the water heater must first consult their gas provider about the financing programs they offer. It may be helpful to read about water heater checklist.
Bradford Whitewater Heater Age Format1
Bradford Whitewater heaters have a very simple and straightforward serial number pattern that allows you to determine the date of manufacture.********* 1st Letter= Year of manufacture2nd Letter= Month of manufacture Bradford Whitewater heaters have a very simple and straightforward serial number pattern that allows you to determine the date of manufacture.
A |
X | 2001 or 2021 |
There were certain OA serialwater heaters built by Bradford White that were damaged as a result of a computer glitch. In January of 1997, they began construction.
Should I Replace A 15 Year Old Water Heater
Anyway, you should consider replacing your water heater if its about 6-12+ years old and when you start running out of hot water faster. However, age and lack of hot water arent everything. You could have a 15-year-old water heater that works just fine and wouldnt need replacing.
What is the lifespan of a water heater?
about eight to 12 yearsBased on the manufacturers suggested service life, the life expectancy of a water heater is about eight to 12 years. That varies with the location and design of the unit, quality of installation, maintenance schedule and water quality.
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How Do I Tell The Age Of A Bradford White Water Heater From The Serial Number
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Bradford White uses a 20-letter code for the year of manufacture of their water heaters. The first letter of the serial number is the one to use. The letters I, O, Q, R, U and V are excluded. Because the letter code recycles every 20 years A, for example, can be 1964, 1984, 2004. You have to use your own judgement of the condition of the water heater to determine which year is correct. Knowing when the house was built is also helpful.
A = 1964, 1984, 2004 B = 1965, 1985, 2005 C = 1966, 1986, 2006D = 1967, 1987, 2007 E = 1968, 1988, 2008 F = 1969, 1989, 2009G = 1970, 1990, 2010 H = 1971, 1991, 2011 J = 1972, 1992, 2012K = 1973, 1993, 2013 L = 1974, 1994, 2014 M = 1975, 1995, 2015N = 1976, 1996, 2016 P = 1977, 1997, 2017 S = 1978, 1998, 1998T = 1979, 1999, 2019 W = 1980, 2000, 2020 X = 1981, 2001, 2021Y = 1982, 2002 Z = 1983, 2003
The data plate for the Bradford White water heater shown below has a first letter of Y and, because we knew that the house was built in 2002, the other choice of 1982 was ruled out and we determined that it was the original water heater installed in the home.
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Check The Warranty Information

Here we have mentioned some of the most famous manufacturers and many popular brands, although it is impossible to list every single one. However, just about every company uses a similar system, and all you need to know is how to read the serial number.
If you have a heater we have not mentioned, the best advice is to find the website of your heaters brand and look up how to read the serial number there. That way, you can be sure you have the correct information about how to determine the age of your water heater.
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Bradford White Water Heater
For over a century now, Bradford Whites brand has been well-known as one of the best brands that manufacture heating systems for various purposes. May it be space heating water heaters for both residential and industrial purposes? Its goal aims to deliver high-quality products to the comforts of your well-being. Since Bradford Whites heater has been known, it is not a question that you find several of these on second-hand or garage sales. However, you may wonder if these units are still usable, and you could make a deal a good buy for it. Knowing how to determine the age of these products is an advantage. So how could we tell the age of the water heater?
How To Decode Your Water Heaters Age
If water heater manufacturers were more like the auto industry, wed have models like the 2020 A.O. Smith Signature Series or something like that and youd never have to wonder when it was made. But they dont, so learning a water heaters manufacturing date takes a little digging.
Find the rating plate: The appliances rating plate contains the units technical specifications — model number, BTU, capacity, etc. Its usually near the warning label and energy guide on the tank. Locate the serial number because it should contain a clue.
Interpret the serial number: There are dozens of water heater brands, and they all bake the manufacturing date into the serial number. Because only six or so companies produce all the major water heater brands, they all more or less follow the same format: The first four digits suggest the date, followed by a string of other numbers. For example, a serial number reading 1015A33968 likely means that the appliance was made in October 2015.
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Ways To Determine The Age Of A Bradford White Water Heater
So, how to determine the age of a Bradford White water heater? By searching for the serial number on the label of the water heater you purchased, you may determine its age. The serial number can be found on the back or bottom of the heater, but you must first decode it to determine its exact age. Are you prepared to solve this puzzle?
Bradford Water Heater Age
In order to indicate the year and month of the manufacturers date, Bradford Water Heaters employ a key. Here is the key to each letter of the alphabet that represents a year. S = 2018, P = 2017, N = 2016, M = 2015, L = 2014, K = 2013, J = 2012, H = 2011, G = 2010, F = 2009, E = 2008, D = 2007, C = 2006, B = 2005, A = 2004, Z = 2003, Y = 2002, X = 2001, W = 2000, T = 1999, S = 1998, P = 1997, N = 1996, S = 1998, P = 1997, N = 1996, S = 1998, P = 1997, N = 1996, S = 1998 Here is the key to each letter of the alphabet that represents a month.
For example, if the Bradford White serial number is DG******, then the water heater was built in July 2007 according to the manufacturer.
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What Is The Life Expectancy Of A Bradford White Water Heater
Bradford White water heaters have an average lifespan of 10 to 15 years with proper installation and maintenance. This is why many professionals would recommend this brand.
Bradford White tankless water heaters can last up to 20 years. If you need to replace your water heater, tankless water heaters are a good choice for many reasons.
Determine The Age Of Your Water Heater
This article is a quick reference guide for the most common manufacturers of water heaters. Unfortunately most manufacturers of water heaters do not clearly state the manufacture year on the data plate or label but luckily the year of manufacture is typically coded in the serial number. By referencing the manufacturer below with the serial number the age of the equipment can be determined in most cases.
Manufacturers have been inconsistent over the years with their labeling which is why buyers should verify this information by following up with the manufacturer. A lot of information can be included in the serial number including month of manufacture, day of manufacture, manufacture plant, type of unit and more. When it comes to determining the life expectancy of a unit we are most interested in the year of manufacture which is the focus of this article.
Water Heaters typically have a 15-20 year life expectancy. Their service life can be extended by replacing the heating elements and other components.
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How Old Is My Bradford White Water Heater
The written serial number on the data plate of your water heater, as well as the table below, may be used to establish the age of your heater. This water heater manufacturers reference guide is intended to assist both homeowners and professionals in determining the date of manufacture of the water heater that has been installed. Please note that Inspector-IQ makes reasonable measures to guarantee that the information on its website is correct. Even though every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the content of Inspector-IQ.com, no warranty or fitness for a particular purpose is provided or implied, and Inspector-IQ and any of its partners, supporters, employees, or associated organizations shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage arising from the use of this website.
Water Heater Age & Replacing Your Water Heater
![[25+] Bradford White 50 Gallon Water Heater Btu](https://www.hvactalk.net/wp-content/uploads/25-bradford-white-50-gallon-water-heater-btu-scaled.jpeg)
Unfortunately, water heaters do not last forever and there will come a time when your water heater age will grow old and it is time for a replacement. On average, a water heaters lifespan is anywhere from 8 to 12 years.
Take a look at your water heaters serial number to decipher your water heaters age to determine if it is time for a water heater replacement. If you are trying to determine How old is my water heater, then use this guide to determine the water heater age of your water heater.
If you are having trouble determining the age of your water heater, then feel free to contact us today and we will gladly help you determine your water heaters age based on its brand.
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How To Determine The Age Of A Bradford White Water Heater 3 Best Ways
Do you have a newly purchased Bradford White water heater? Or have you acquired a used one? No matter what the case is, you need to know the age of the unit itself. Dont know how? I was once in this problem too, but I have found the secret code in finding out the age. Do you want to share the secret?
Well, in this article, Im going to teach you the different product codes that will help you determine the age of your water heater, why we should know about this, and some tips to help you maintain your water heater in good shape. So without further ado, lets get started!
Discover The Age Of A Water Heater With These Simple Steps
If a water heater is making strange noises, leaking, or not heating water properly, it means that the plumbing element has some significant problems. There can be any number of culprits, but one of the most common reasons for the malfunction is simply that the appliance’s life has run its course.
If you want to verify the water heater’s age, it’s essential to locate the model number to confirm when it was manufactured. Fortunately, any homeowner can track down this valuable piece of information since there’s no particular skill involved.
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In The Picture Below You Can See That This Bradford White Water Heater Was Manufactured In March Of 2006
The American Water Heater Company sells their products under a variety of brand names, including Craft Master, Whirlpool, and others. They utilize a YEAR / WEEK pattern to organize their information. The year is represented by the first two numbers, while the week of the year is represented by the second two digits. The heater in this photograph was constructed during the 45th week of 2005, as seen in the photograph.
How To Age A Bradford White Water Heater
Determining the age of your Bradford-White water heater can be tricky if you dont have the associated table to decode your serial number. For unknown reasons, some manufacturers refuse to print a calendar date on the label to tell you, the homeowner, when a water heater was manufactured.Obviously, the manufactured date and installation date will never be the same on any water heater, but they are typically close. Unless you have an obscure unit that has sat in a warehouse for an extended period of time, its rare to see a date of manufacturing not be within a few months of the installation date of a water heater.While Bradford-White does not print a manufacturing date on the label, they do supply us with their chart so you can easily cross-reference the age of your water heater.To check the age of your water heater you will need to locate the serial number on the label. The first two letters of the serial number are all you need to focus on.The first letter of the serial number corresponds to the year that the water heater was manufactured.The second letter of the serial number corresponds to the month that the water heater was manufactured. I cant think of a scenario that you would need to know the month your water heater was produced, but that information is available should you need it.
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Bradford White Water Heater Age Chart
1st Digit |
M |
Looking at the table above, M is the 1st digit and represents 1995/2015. The 2nd digit is E and it represents the month of May. Bradford uses letters for 20-year letter cycles. Some labels will have the ANSI date and if it does not, lets see how to figure it out.
Is It Time To Replace Your Water Heater
Bradford White Water Heaters are designed for many years of outstanding performance and reliable operation especially if theyre properly maintained and serviced*. But all water heaters eventually need to be replaced and factors like harsh water and natural gas quality can shorten that lifespan.
Some Typical Tell-Tale Signs Your Water Heater May Need Replacement.
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State Water Heaters Water Heater Age
State Water Heaters makes heaters that are sold under a range of brand names. There are three possibilities for the type of serial number you will find on a water heater manufactured by this company.
With the first type, the serial number will begin with four numbers. In this case, the first two stand for the year and the second two for the week of the year.
This means a water heater with a serial number 1210 would have been manufactured in the tenth week of 2012.
The second type uses a letter to represent the month, which is followed by a number telling you the year. Heres the key:
This means that a serial number beginning with AB would have been made in February 2004 since A = 2004 and B = February.
Lochinvar water heaters are also sold under Energy Saver, Golden Knight and Knight brand names, and serial number on these units can be read in the same way.
How To Read The Bradford White Water Heater Serial Number

The Bradford White water heater serial number will always begin with 2 letters. The first two letters in the serial number show the year and month, and the rest of the serial number is a sequential production number.
For example:
J = manufactured in the year 2012 or 1992C = march16433183 = sequential number
In order to identify the correct manufacturer year for the Bradford White water heater, you will need to rely on your own judgment regarding the units condition. The letter J in the serial number above could mean 2012 or 1992.
Another useful piece of information is the year the house was constructed. If the house was built in the year 2000, then it doesnt make sense that the letter J means 1992.
A |
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How To Determine Water Heater Age
by Peter Gray, Sensible Digs
As a home inspector, its crucial to be able to identify the age of a water heater to prevent corrosion and unnecessary water bills. Most hot water heaters are good for no more than 10 to 15 years. But how exactly can you tell?
In this article, well walk you through some of the leading water heater brands and manufacturers, and give you a handy guide on how to gauge the age. So lets get started.
Determining water heater age is simple on most newer modelsthe installation date is generally recorded on the information sticker. On older models, however, its likely youll need to do some detective work. You may want to start by decoding the serial numberfind the details toward the side of the heater. Its usually placed nearby the energy guide or warning labels. The serial number holds two crucial details: the month and year of construction. But this is where it gets a little tricky. Manufacturers tend to use different patterns or formats so youll have to find your specific manufacturer or brand in order to do this.
To help you decipher your serial number, weve put together a guide plus examples from multiple brands and manufacturers.
Figure 1: A. O. Smith
Figure 2: Rheem
Figure 3: Navien
Bradford White: Instead of using numbers, Bradford White uses two letters . The first indicates the year and the second signifies the month.
Figure 4: Bradford White
Figure 5: American Water Heater
Figure 7: Lochinvar