How Old Is My Water Heater? Read the Label
The age of your water heater is printed on it, just not in plain words. Here is how to read it and what the number means.
Request a plumberFind the label
The data label is on the side of the tank, usually near the top or by the controls. In a Lakeland garage it may be facing the wall, so use a phone camera.
Read the serial number
Most makers put the year and month of manufacture in the serial number, often as the first letters or digits. The maker's website or customer line can decode yours.
What the age tells you
Many tank heaters last around 8 to 12 years. Past that, a leak can start without warning. Garages that get very hot in summer don't help.
Warning signs
Rust-colored hot water, rumbling or popping, water around the base, a pressure relief valve that drips, or hot water that runs out faster than it used to.
Repair or replace
Thermostats, elements and valves can be replaced. A leak from the tank itself can't be fixed. If the heater is old and needs a costly part, replacement is often the better buy. See water heaters.
Plan ahead
Replacing a heater before it fails means choosing the size and type you want, not the one in stock on an emergency day. Ask about tankless or heat pump models.
Size matters too
If the household has grown since the heater went in, running out of hot water may simply mean the tank is too small, not that it's failing. A plumber can check the size against how many people and bathrooms you have.
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