Furnaces, AC and heat pumps

How old is my Heil / Tempstar / Comfortmaker / Arcoaire / KeepRite furnace, AC or heat pump?

Heil / Tempstar / Comfortmaker / Arcoaire / KeepRite heating and cooling equipment 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 Heil / Tempstar / Comfortmaker / Arcoaire / KeepRite serial number

Plant letter, then year and week (1990s to today)

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

L992962330 reads as week 29 of 1999.

Two sources agree InspectAPedia, Building Intelligence Center, InterNACHI inspector forum, McGarry and Madsen Home Inspection

Week and year, then a letter (some units after 2000)

The first two digits are the week and the next two are the year. The letter in the fifth spot is a plant code.

4102G12345 reads as week 41 of 2002.

One source 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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