About this site

Appliance Age Decoder turns the serial number on a water heater, furnace, air conditioner or heat pump into a build date, an age, and a plain answer on whether to start planning a replacement.

Where the rules come from

Each brand's rule is written down once, in one table, and every page is generated from that table. A rule goes live only after it has been checked against published sources, and each brand page shows how many sources agreed. When a serial could mean more than one year, the decoder shows every possible date instead of picking one.

What the answer means

The verdict compares the age with a typical lifespan range for that kind of equipment. It is a guide, not an inspection. Rust, leaks, noise, repair history and water quality matter as much as the calendar.

How the site pays for itself

The site shows ads, earns a commission on some Amazon links, and may be paid a fee when you ask for quotes from an installer. None of that changes the date or the verdict the decoder gives you.

Found a wrong date?

Tell us the brand, the serial number and the date printed on the label, and we will check the rule. Write to EvergreenDigitalMediaLLC@gmail.com.