Water heaters

How old is my GE water heater?

GE water heaters carry the build date inside the serial number. We know 2 serial formats for this brand; the decoder tries each one and shows every reading that fits.

How to read a GE serial number

Month (or week), then the year (1990s to about 2016 (made by Rheem))

Skip any letters at the start. The first two digits are the month and the next two are the year. If the first two digits are 13 or higher they are the week instead.

GENG0601D13586 reads as June 2001.

Two sources agree Building Intelligence Center, InterNACHI water heater dating chart, InterNACHI inspector forum, InspectAPedia, Energy Trust of Oregon serial charts

Two letters, then digits (GeoSpring heat pump) (2010 to 2016 GeoSpring)

GE Appliances built the GeoSpring. Its first letter is the month and the second is the year, using GE's appliance letter code.

This is GE's general appliance code. No published source shows it worked on a GeoSpring plate, so treat the result as likely rather than certain.

One source City of Mountain View

Where to find the serial number

Water heater: the rating label on the side of the tank, near the EnergyGuide sticker. On a tankless unit it is on the side or bottom of the cabinet.
Use the line marked Serial No. or S/N, not the model number. If the plate prints a manufacture date, use that.

How long should it last?

Typical life of a tank water heater: 8 to 12 years

A standard tank water heater usually lasts 8 to 12 years. Some make it to 15 with soft water and a replaced anode rod; some fail at 7.

How long does a tank water heater last? · Should I replace my water heater? · DC Dept. of Energy & Environment, InterNACHI

Typical life of a heat pump water heater: 10 to 15 years

A heat pump (hybrid) water heater is expected to last 10 to 15 years. ENERGY STAR bases its savings math on 13 years.

How long does a heat pump water heater last? · Should I replace my water heater? · DC Dept. of Energy & Environment, ENERGY STAR (13-year basis)

Should I replace it?

Should I replace my water heater?

Other brands in this group

A.O. Smith · American Water Heater · U.S. Craftmaster · Bradford White · State · Reliance · Kenmore · Whirlpool · Rheem · Ruud · Richmond · Marathon · Rinnai · Navien · Noritz · Takagi · Bosch (tankless water heater) · Lochinvar · GSW / John Wood · Paloma · HTP / Westinghouse / American Standard (water heaters) · Giant · EcoSmart / Eemax · Stiebel Eltron

Parts that help it last

Anode rod The sacrificial rod that rusts instead of the tank. Checking it every few years is the cheapest way to add life.
Flush kit A hose and fittings for draining sediment from the bottom of the tank once a year.
Expansion tank Soaks up pressure swings in a closed plumbing system. Ask a plumber whether yours needs one.
Leak alarm A small alarm that goes on the floor beside the heater and warns you before a slow leak becomes a flood.

Check your model and size before you buy. Amazon links are affiliate links: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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.

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The House Has Old Pipes

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

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