When you’re predicting when you might need to replace your furnace, or preparing to sell your home, it is useful to know how old your furnace is. But, figuring out it’s age can be tough. Even if you did buy it yourself, odds are you can’t quite find the receipt. So, how can you determine the age of your furnace? Here is how.
Find the Serial Number
In order to keep track of their products and their models, many furnace manufacturers include the year the furnace was manufactured in the serial number. Others print the year the machine was manufactured directly below it. Which means just by looking at the furnace you could solve your mystery.
- Lennox: Lennox serial numbers are under the front service panel of the furnace, on the left side.
- American standard: American standard serial numbers and inside the front panel either on the right or left.
- Carrier and Bryant: Serial numbers for these two brands are on the rating plate inside the front panel of the furnace.
- Trane: Trane serial numbers are beneath the service panel.
Once you have found the serial number you just have to read it. Which numbers refer to the year of the furnace vary by manufacturer. However, it is usually within the first four numbers.
Typically, you can kind of tell which numbers refer to the year out of sheer deduction. If the numbers were “5505” you can be sure the furnace wasn’t made in 1955, or 1950, so 2005 seems most likely. When the numbers are ambiguous, like “0813,” where it could be 2008 or 2013, you’ll have to confirm with the manufacturer which numbers refer to the year.
Check the Paperwork
Sometimes heat, water damage, or other disruption blurs or removes the serial number from the machine. In that case, you might be able to find the owner’s manual, which may list the year of manufacture or at least give you enough information for the manufacturer or your HVAC technician to figure it out.
Call Your HVAC Technician
Specifically, call up the HVAC technician who installed your furnace. Many of them keep digital records of their service calls and other work. They may be able to quickly pull up when they installed the furnace. If you can’t get ahold of that company, you can also call up the company who does your yearly furnace maintenance, as they may have included the year of the furnace in their records.
Even if they didn’t, then the technician still may be familiar enough with the manufacturer and model in order to tell what year the unit was made. You may be surprised at the little design changes that can give your furnace’s age away.
Call Your Manufacturer
Lastly, call up your manufacturer to get their help in determining the year that your furnace was made. They can help you locate or read the serial number. Or, they may have other ways to determine the year of your model.
If you need a little more help, feel free to reach out to our local furnace repair team in Tracy.
