Water Heater Identification
How to Determine the Age of an A. O. Smith Water Heater
The serial number on an A. O. Smith data plate often contains manufacturing-date information. The format varies by product line and era, so the safest approach is to record the complete model and serial number and confirm the decoding method for that unit.
This quick reference shows how to determine your A.O. Smith water heater age. Water heaters typically last 8-12 years, but there are instances when they can last much longer. Like most things, usage, maintenance, and installation type will determine how long the unit last.
A.O. Smith Water Heater Age
You can determine the age by locating the serial number on the data sticker. Every A.O. Smith water has a sticker on the tank’s side that displays the unit’s data information. On the sticker, you will see other information on it, such as:
- Product Number
- Tank Size, Capacity US GAL.
- Volts – AC, Upper, and Lower Watts
- Manufacturer Location
You will find six styles in the A.O. Smith water heater age. It looks like this:
Style #1
4568A0012345
Style #2
S2018 F123456
Style #3
12345666789123
For the first three styles, the manufacturer’s date is coded in the first four numerical digits of the serial number. The first two digits are the year, and the second two digits represent the manufacturing week.
Style #4
The second letter represents the month that needs to be decoded using the chart below, and the first two numbers represent the year of manufacturing. The first letter is the Factory Code.
AF01A0123456
| Letter | Month |
| A= | January |
| B= | February |
| C= | March |
| D= | April |
| E= | May |
| F= | June |
| G= | July |
| H= | August |
| J= | September |
| K= | October |
| L= | November |
| M= | December |
Style #5
The second letter represents the month that needs to be decoded using the chart below, and the first two numbers represent the year of manufacturing. The first letter is the Factory Code.
CG01-1234567-S12
| Letter | Month |
| A= | January |
| B= | February |
| C= | March |
| D= | April |
| E= | May |
| F= | June |
| G= | July |
| H= | August |
| J= | September |
| K= | October |
| L= | November |
| M= | December |
Style #6
The letter represents the month that needs to be decoded using the chart below, and the first two numbers represent the year of manufacturing.
E01A123456
| Letter | Month |
| A= | January |
| B= | February |
| C= | March |
| D= | April |
| E= | May |
| F= | June |
| G= | July |
| H= | August |
| J= | September |
| K= | October |
| L= | November |
| M= | December |
For more information on your A.O. Smith Water Heaters, visit their website.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Should I replace my 40-year-old water heater? – If your water heater is older than ten years and still working, that’s great but keep in mind that it could fail at any moment. If it is installed in an area with no risk to your home for a water leak, you may decide to wait until failure.
- Is 15 years old? – once the water heater reaches its expected life, I consider it old, but an old appliance can still work longer than expected. Other conditions, such as regular maintenance, can help extend the water heater’s life.
- What is the life expectancy of an A.O. Smith heater? – a standard tank water heater last 8-12 years but can be functional longer
Summary
Knowing your A.O. Smith water age is something we keep from top of mind, but we should check in occasionally and ensure maintenance is happening regularly. When you know the age of your water heater, you can plan accordingly.
If you have not done so, check out our “plumbing articles” to learn more about water heaters.
For additional questions or comments, be sure to comment below. GGR Home Inspections conducts home inspections in the Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade counties. During our home inspections, we find the age of your water heaters.
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