Whirlpool water heater age by serial number
Reviewed 7 primary sourcesSee sources
Whirlpool doesn’t build its water heaters. They are made under license by American Water Heater Company, which provides the warranty. A government recall notice confirms that the first four serial digits are the year and week for Whirlpool units made from 2011 to 2016.
Covers: Whirlpool-brand tank water heaters with all-number serials.
Who documents the format: Whirlpool’s own manuals say its water heaters are manufactured under license by American Water Heater Company of Tennessee, which also provides the warranty.[1]
Where to find the serial number
- The serial number is on the data plate, next to the brand and model number.[4]
Date formats Whirlpool documents
- Year + week (confirmed)2011–2016
- A U.S. recall notice states this year-and-week reading for Whirlpool-brand units made from April 2011 to August 2016.[4]
- Year + week (likely, not confirmed)2017 on
- Outside 2011–2016 the reading is likely but not confirmed: American Water Heater’s parent, A. O. Smith, documents the same layout for its own serials, but neither Whirlpool nor American Water Heater publishes it.[5]
- Year + week (likely, not confirmed)2000–2010
- Before 2011 the reading is not confirmed by any Whirlpool, American Water Heater or government source. Treat it as a lead and check with the warranty line.[5]
What Whirlpool says
- The Whirlpool water heater website is run by American Water Heater as a Whirlpool licensed partner.[3]
- The energy-smart electric guide carries the same statement that American Water Heater makes the heaters under license.[2]
What the serial can’t tell you
- No Whirlpool or American Water Heater document explains the serial format; the confirmed reading comes from a single recall and covers units made 2011–2016.[4]
- The serial shows the manufacturing week, not the installation date. Warranty normally runs from installation or purchase.[5]
- The exact serial layout before 2011 and after 2016 for Whirlpool-brand heaters.
Recalls on record
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission lists these recalls naming Whirlpool equipment. Check the recall notice itself for the exact models and serial ranges.
- A. O. Smith Recalls Ultra-Low NOx Water Heaters Due to Fire Hazard (2018-11-08, recall 19029)[7]
Ask Whirlpool
- American Water Heater warranty verification: American Water Heater provides the warranty for Whirlpool-brand heaters.[6]
Sources
Facts on this page are restated in our own words from the manufacturer and government documents below. Formats and codes change between product lines, so check the document for your exact model.
- Residential Standard Gas Water Heater Use and Care Guide (Whirlpool brand)American Water Heater Company · 100263111 · Back cover (page 36) manufacturer statement; repair parts page 35 · retrieved
- Energy Smart Residential Electric Water Heater guide (Whirlpool brand)American Water Heater Company · 318686-001 · Last page manufacturer/trademark statement · retrieved
- Whirlpool Water Heaters (licensed partner site)American Water Heater Company (Whirlpool licensed partner) · Footer copyright lines · retrieved
- A. O. Smith Recalls Ultra-Low NOx Water Heaters Due to Fire Hazard (recall 19029, 2018-11-08)U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission · 19029 · Recall description (serial numbers and brands) · retrieved
- Service and Warranty Guide for Contracted Service Providers (July 2024)A. O. Smith Corporation · PDF page 9, 'How to Read the Serial Number - Serial Number Matrix & Warranty Verification'; same page 'Limited Warranties' · retrieved
- Warranty VerificationAmerican Water Heaters (A. O. Smith) · Warranty check intro · retrieved
- CPSC Recall Retrieval Web Service: recalls with product name “water heater”U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission · Recall records (number, date, title) returned for the product name “water heater” · retrieved
Primary publishers: American Water Heater Company, American Water Heater Company (Whirlpool licensed partner), U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, A. O. Smith Corporation, American Water Heaters (A. O. Smith). Spotted an error? Email the address in the footer with the model and the document you are using.