Furnaces, AC and heat pumps

How old is my Comfort-Aire / Heat Controller / Century furnace, AC or heat pump?

Comfort-Aire / Heat Controller / Century heating and cooling equipment carry the build date inside the serial number. We know 4 serial formats for this brand; the decoder tries each one and shows every reading that fits.

How to read a Comfort-Aire / Heat Controller / Century serial number

Three-character prefix, then year and month (Nordyne-built units)

Skip the first three characters (a model code). The next two digits are the year and the two after that are the month.

RSF150300183 reads as March 2015.

Two sources agree Building Intelligence Center

Plant letter in the middle, then week and year (Rheem-built units)

Find the single letter in the middle of the serial (often F, M, G, N or W). The two digits after it are the week and the next two are the year.

EB5D302F320107830 reads as week 32 of 2001.

Two sources agree Building Intelligence Center, InterNACHI inspector forum

Year and month, all digits (Goodman-built units)

The first two digits are the year and the next two are the month. The rest is a production number.

0804237539 reads as April 2008.

Two sources agree Building Intelligence Center

Plant letter, then year and week (ICP-built units)

The first letter is the factory. The next two digits are the year and the two after that are the week.

R0424070098 reads as week 24 of 2004.

Two sources agree Building Intelligence Center

Where to find the serial number

How long should it last?

Typical life of a furnace: 15 to 20 years

A gas furnace usually lasts 15 to 20 years. Well-maintained units in mild climates reach 25; units that run hard with dirty filters fail sooner.

How long does a furnace last? · Should I replace my furnace? · HVAC.com, Lennox, InterNACHI (15-25)

Typical life of a central air conditioner: 12 to 15 years

A central AC condenser usually lasts 12 to 15 years. In hot climates where it runs most of the year, 10 is more typical; in the north, 20 is possible.

How long does a central air conditioner last? · Should I replace my air conditioner? · Bryant, Lennox, InterNACHI (7-15)

Typical life of a heat pump: 10 to 15 years

An air-source heat pump usually lasts 10 to 15 years. It runs in both seasons, so it logs more hours than a furnace or an AC alone.

How long does a heat pump last? · Should I replace my furnace? · Trane, Lennox, Bryant, InterNACHI

Should I replace it?

Should I replace my furnace? · Should I replace my air conditioner?

Other brands in this group

Parts that help it last

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Keep a record of your home

The age you just looked up is the kind of fact that gets lost. A written record of serial numbers, install dates, repairs and who did the work saves the next owner, inspector or insurer from guessing.

Keep This With the House

A lifetime logbook for the house, organized by system, with room for serial numbers, install dates, repairs and contractors. It stays with the house for the next owner.

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The House Has Old Pipes

Galvanized, polybutylene, cast iron and the sewer line: what fails, what it costs, what insurance won't cover and how to decide.

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The House Is Fifty Years Old

A buyer's guide to older homes: wiring, pipes, lead, asbestos, insurance refusals and what the repairs actually cost.

Paperback · Kindle

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