Water heaters

How old is my Richmond water heater?

Richmond water heaters carry the build date inside the serial number. We know 3 serial formats for this brand; the decoder tries each one and shows every reading that fits.

How to read a Richmond serial number

Month (or week), then the year (most models)

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.

RHNG0804P000036 reads as August 2004.

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

Year, a period, then the month (tankless models)

On tankless units with a period in the serial, one source reads the two digits before the period as the year and the two after as the month.

05.05-000021 reads as May 2005.

Sources disagree on whether the year comes before or after the period, so both readings are shown when both are possible.

One source Building Intelligence Center

Month, a period, then the year (tankless models)

Another source reads the two digits before the period as the month and the two after as the year.

05.05-000021 reads as May 2005.

One source InspectAPedia

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 tankless water heater: 15 to 20 years

A gas tankless water heater usually lasts 15 to 20 years, and sometimes longer, because there is no tank to rust through. Scale buildup in the heat exchanger is what shortens its life.

How long does a tankless water heater last? · Should I replace my water heater? · DC Dept. of Energy & Environment, U.S. DOE Building America

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 · GE · 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.
Descaling kit A pump and hoses for running descaler through the heat exchanger. Hard water makes this the main upkeep job.

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.

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.

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