Thread: A.O Smith Water Heater Age

Hi,
Can someone help me out with the age of a water heater. It is a A.O Smith Promax series. Model: FCG 40 248, Serial Number GE02-0647590-248.

Additionally I also have a Lennox furnace, model number G12D2E-82-10, Serial Number: 5888J02613

Also, is there a source site I can find this info. I have googled all the pertinent info, along with checking the companies website to no avail.

Thank You!

K. Clinton

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My cheat sheet says the second letter, E, is the month, followed by the year, '02, for the water heater.

My other cheat sheet, for the Lennox, says the first two numbers refer to the plant, the second two to the year, '88, and the fifth spot, J, to the month.

Originally Posted by John Arnold

My other cheat sheet, for the Lennox, says the first two numbers refer to the plant, the second two to the year, '88, and the fifth spot, J, to the month.

Thanks so much for the information, John! So...what are these cheat sheets that you have and where can I lay my hands on them, so I don't bug this forum when I can't find the info?

Thanks again!
Kathleen

I'm not aware of a specific go to manual for ages. Through the years, you figure it out. MOST water heaters give you the age in the first 4 numbers of the serial #. A O Smith is easy. In the past, always 2 letters, 2 numbers, dash and numbers. IE: MG98-00303044. 1998. New ones are a little different. But still in the first numbers.
Ruuds and Rheems, third and 4th is the age. Now the fun is with Bradford White. They are all letters. I just google them when the need arises.
Here's the easiest for me:
I figure out the age of the house.
I go to the serial numbers and interpolate. If it's been replaced, I'll figure that out pretty quickly.
the more you do, the easier it gets.

jlmathis

As a plumber I always found it easier to call the 800 # on the water heater data plate and ask the manufacture direct. There is a couple reasons for this.

1. Water Heater may have a 1 year, 6 year, or a 10 to 12 year warranty
2. IF a water heater was replaced under warranty the new heater carries out the remainder of the old heaters warranty. Meaning of the old heater has a 6 year warranty and was replaced 5 years and 11 months later the replacement heater only has a 1 month warranty left.

Originally Posted by Kathleen Clinton

Thanks so much for the information, John! So...what are these cheat sheets that you have and where can I lay my hands on them, so I don't bug this forum when I can't find the info?

Thanks again!
Kathleen

A Guide for Determining the Date of Production/Manufacture or age of HVAC Equipment

Thank you, David. That is really helpful!

Another Method -

Typically such equipment is built to some standards/codes like ANSI, ASTM, ASME, etc., which is usually so stated on the nameplate. Along with that "statement" is the year the standard/code was adopted. Since standards/codes are updated usually every 2-3 years, you can figure the year of manufacture is within 2-3 years of the year noted. Report "Approximate age = XX-XX years"

GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE GAL I GO WITH!

Bruce Low, ME
Bottom Line Home Inspection
Serving NE Wisconsin

The Bottom Line - Through an Engineer's Eyes

What a fantastic website, one that actually works!!

Contact Mark Reinmiller at: mark@bcihi.com for his "Handbook for Identifying the Age of Building Systems and Components"
or: Carson Dunlop Weldon & Associates Carson Dunlop - Home Inspection, Home Inspection Education, Home Inspection Software / Toronto Ontario for their Technical Reference Guide .

Wayne J. Falcone
Accurate

Live the journey, not the destination.
This is not a dress rehearsal.

ron say what

are you telling me that if a water heater fails under warranty--after 5 years and 11 months under a 6 year warrany the new one if warrantied for 10 years is only warrantied for 1 month--that is not right--can you provide some literature on that ??

cvf

Originally Posted by CHARLIE VAN FLEET

ron say what

are you telling me that if a water heater fails under warranty--after 5 years and 11 months under a 6 year warrany the new one if warrantied for 10 years is only warrantied for 1 month--that is not right--can you provide some literature on that ??

cvf

When we replace a water heater under warranty it is replaced with the exact same model. If someone opts to purchase a 10 year warranty unit instead of receiving a free replacement 6 year warranty heater they will have a new warranty since they purchased it.

But in my example I stated a 6 year warranty heater fails in 5 years 1 month gets replaced will only carry the remainder of the original water heaters warranty meaning it will only have a 1 month warranty on the replacement tank. Here is a link to Bradford Whites warranty papers for a residential gas water heater. In the box in the upper right corner last paragraph tells you exactly as I just said. Here is a snap shot of that paragraph for those of you that do not like to click on links. http://www.bradfordwhite.com/images/...es/39699AA.pdf

This is why I always wonder about you all asking to decode the manufacture date. It would be more useful to your customers if you called the manufacture and verified the remaining warranty on said water heaters.

Here is A.O. Smiths warranty sheet. http://www.hotwater.com/lit/ws/res-gas/186196-002.pdf

Here is State Water Heaters on page 39 http://www.statewaterheaters.com/lit...317998-002.pdf

I would post Rheems but their site is hanging up on me when I try to pull up a PDF. But I think you get the idea now... I hope.

I'm a wholesaler of plumbing products, including AO Smith water heaters, and Ron is correct regarding the warranty. The replacement heater warranty lasts only as long as the remainder of the warranty of the original heater. Otherwise, the consumer would end up with a potential "lifetime" warranty, were the warranty to reset upon replacement.

The warranty goes into effect based on when the heater was put into service, not just based on manufacture date, so if the time frame is close, a CO, or receipt can aid in getting a warranty processed.

Steve

My first post here. I have a A.O. Smith Promax electric storage tank water heater - but the serial # does not seem to match the formats I see online.
Serial # is 0930A014774 Not sure if those are letter Os or #0 but I think numbers.
No dashes. There is no month O, so I am a bit confused.

If anyone knows that would be great

Thanks

RW - Brooklyn NY

Originally Posted by Richard Weisfeld

My first post here. I have a A.O. Smith Promax electric storage tank water heater - but the serial # does not seem to match the formats I see online.
Serial # is 0930A014774 Not sure if those are letter Os or #0 but I think numbers.
No dashes. There is no month O, so I am a bit confused.

If anyone knows that would be great

Thanks

RW - Brooklyn NY

RW,

Not sure why you care, if you're not the original purchaser and don't have proof of same, or you weren't the original purchaser of the original water heater that this was warranty replaced under and have proof of same, plus installation date, and there were still original warranty protection under the original purchase available to you: there would be no warranty applicable to you for your promax lowboy 50 gal elect WH.

If you are the original purchaser, then the purchase date or if later, the installation date is of issue, not the date of manufacture.

I believe, that when you register or call, you will be told the 30th production week of the fiscal/production year which ended in 2009, (or possibly the third production month of the fiscial/production year ending in 2009 - which is not necessarily the calendar year that ends in December of a given year). The edition of the vessle/tank ANSI standard referenced on the safety label and that of the effective date of same relative to dates of manufacture contained in same) may further confirm my sometimes glitchy memory.

As has already been provided in another thread, contact A.O. SMITH Customer Service, they can advise you as to any IF available, applicable warranty, conditional upon and subject to a host of limitations regarding subjects which include, maintenance, installation, use conditions, events, damage, etc.; all of which are moot should you not be the original purchaser, or having purchased or acquired through a legit authorized dealer of same, since the warranty is not transferrable and conditional on proof of both in addition to legit installation.

Call A.O. Smith Customer service OR visit the Home owner side of their site A. O. Smith Water Heaters and visit the warranty registration pages.

http://www.hotwater.com/customer-support/

A. O. Smith Water Products
500 Tennessee Waltz Parkway
Ashland City, TN 37015
United States of America
Phone: 800-527-1953
Fax: 615-792-2163

Installation Manual, Warranty for your 50 gal ProMax Lowboy Elect Storage Type WH: Instruction Manual Residential Electric Water Heaters, Models 6-120

"FOR POTABLE WATER HEATING ONLY" "NOT SUITABLE FOR SPACE HEATING"
Bottom of cover page:
"ALL TECHNICAL AND WARRANTY QUESTIONS; SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE LOCAL DEALER FROM WHOM THE WATER HEATER WAS PURCHASED. IF YOU ARE UNSUCCESSFUL, PLEASE WRITE TO THE COMPANY LISTED ON THE RATING PLATE ON THE WATER HEATER.
KEEP THIS MANUAL IN THE POCKET ON HEATER FOR FUTURE REFERENCE WHEN EVER MAINTENANCE ADJUSTMENT OR SERVICE IS REQUIRED.

If installed in other than indoors, single family residential, the 6-yrs reduced to 1 year and with out proof to the contrary, start date reverts to mfg date one-yr anniversary, which has long passed.

instruction manual, warranty is last 2 pgs before otherwise blank "notes" pages:
http://www.hotwater.com/lit/im/res_elec/185762-000.pdf

THIS WARRANTY IS APPLICABLE TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER ONLY. In accordance with the warranty terms and conditions specified below.
A.O. Smith Corporation (the warrantor) will furnish the ORIGINAL OWNER, ....

... THE A.O. SMITH WATER HEATERS REPLACEMENT MODEL OR PART WILL BE WARRANTED FOR ONLY THE UNEXPIRED PORTION OF THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY. The warranty period will be determined by the original date of the purchase of the water heater, or in the absence of a Bill of Sale verifying said date, from the date of manufacture indicated on rating plate affixed to this water heater. This warranty is not transferrable and applies to models listed below:

...ProMax 6-Year Series....Model: ECL....Tank/Parts: 6-year...


When the water heater has been used for other than single family residential application,
1. The tank warranty shall be reduced to 1 year for 6-year models...
2. The tank warranty shall be reduced to 1 year for all models...

CONDITIONS AND EXCEPTIONS

...This warranty shall apply only when the heater is:
- owned by the original purchaser,...

- bearing a rating plate which has not been altered, defaced or removed except as required by the warrantor.

...This warranty does not apply to water heaters used to heat pools, whirlpools or hot tubs or used for space heating ...

CLAIM PROCEDURE

Any claim under this warranty should be initiated with the dealer who sold the heater, or with any other dealer handling the warrantor's products. If this is not practical, the owner should contact: A.O. Smith Corporation, 500 Tennessee Waltz Parkway, Ashland City, TN 37015. Phone 1.800.323.2636 or visit our website (clickable link):

A. O. Smith Water Heaters

...
The warrantor will only honor replacement parts with identical or similar water heater or parts thereof which are manufactured or distributed by the warrantor.

Dealer replacements are made subject to in-warranty validation by warrantor.

PROOF OF PURCHASE AND PROOF OF INSTALLATION DATE ARE REQUIRED TO SUPPORT WARRANTY CLAIM FROM ORIGINAL OWNER. THIS FORM DOES NOT CONSTITUTE PROOF OF PURCHASE OR PROOF OF INSTALLATION.




As I recall, A.O. Smith has had several numbering systems; can't use just one of the many, and expect it to be universal. Those are zeros not "o"s.

From a "cheat sheet" regarding same:

Originally Posted by cheat sheet

A.O. Smith can be confusing. Serial numbers may be comprised of letters and numbers. May be one, two, or no letters at the start.


- If two letters first, next two numbers are manufacturing/fiscal year.

- If one letter first, followed by two numbers and another letter, next two numbers are manufacturing/fiscal year.

- If one letter first, next two numbers are manufacturing/fiscal year, providing no letter follows.

- If two numbers first, this is manufacturing/fiscal year.

Expect to find this topic discussion moved to "Questions from Home Owners, Home Buyers, and DIYers" non-technical area of the forum.

WOW!!!! Either answer the questions or don't, but bite off someones head because they asked a question?????

WOW!!!

Originally Posted by Jack Feldmann

WOW!!!! Either answer the questions or don't, but bite off someones head because they asked a question?????

WOW!!!

Jack's Off with his WOW!!!s Personal commentary, etc..

The above was referenced and quoted bits are verbatim from the 2-pages warranty information - the CAPs formatting was and IS as ORIGINAL to A.O. SMITH.

Was ON TOPIC, to both the OP, the entirety of the on-topic discussion pertaining to A.O. Smith branded water heaters, and dates of manufacture, and to the subsequent HO piggy-back question about his electric water heater in NY.

No one but YOU "bit" anything, and not one's "head off"; you need to back off Jack.

Sorry, I guess I misunderstood "RW, Not sure why you care, ".

My mistake.

Originally Posted by H.G. Watson, Sr.

Jack's Off with his WOW!!!s Personal commentary, etc..

No one but YOU "bit" anything, and not one's "head off"; you need to back off Jack.

I agree with Jack, Watson was onto his personal commentary (using Watson's words) and Watson was out of line in his post.

Watson will never get it and will never understand it, and that is a shame.

How To Determine Water Heater and Furnace Age...
http://www.inspectapedia.com/plumbin...Age_Charts.pdf