Rheem and Ruud water heaters put the month and year in the first four digits after any letters: RH 0806B17262 was built in August 2006. Rheem and Ruud furnaces, air conditioners and heat pumps use a letter, then the week and year: W291013412 is week 29 of 2010. Many plates also print an MFD date.
| Serial | Built |
|---|---|
| RH 0806B17262 (water heater) | August 2006 |
| W291013412 (furnace or AC) | Week 29 of 2010 (mid-July 2010) |
A few Rheem tanks use a week number instead of a month in the first two digits. If the first two digits are higher than 12, the decoder reads them as a week.
Codes based on a week number give the month only approximately. If the plate prints a manufacture date (often labeled MFG or MFD), trust that over the serial.
| Equipment | Typical service life |
|---|---|
| Tank water heater | 6–12 years |
| Gas furnace | 15–25 years |
| Central air conditioner | 7–15 years |
| Heat pump | 10–15 years |
Source: InterNACHI Standard Estimated Life Expectancy Chart. Maintenance, water quality and climate all move these numbers.
Age doesn't mean a unit has to be replaced; it tells you when to start planning. A replacement you schedule costs less than one you buy the night it fails. If it's near the end of its range, write down the model, serial and capacity now, so a contractor can quote the right replacement without a trip just to read the plate.
Scan the nameplate and Answer3 Vault reads the serial, works out the age, saves the model and the maker's parts list, and reminds you before the unit reaches the end of its life.
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