How to Tell the Age of the Furnace?

How to Tell the Age of the Furnace?

Whether you’ve recently moved into a new home with an existing furnace or are confused about the system in your present home, determining the actual age of your furnace can be challenging. It’s important to know the precise date your furnace was purchased. This is because, on average, a furnace has to be changed after serving for between 15 and 20 years. 

If you are seeking furnace repair in Hartly or the surrounding areas, contact Air Doctorx Heating & Air Conditioning for assistance!

Determining Furnace Age Through The Serial Number

The furnace’s serial number is the first thing you need to find to estimate its age. The serial number may be located in various places, depending on the manufacturer and the year of production. The following are typical places to look for the serial number:

  • Fan or fan blades 
  • Inside the access panel
  • On the panel of the blower compartment
  • Internal cabinet

Once you’ve obtained the serial number, you’ll most likely need to conduct additional research to determine the particular specifications of your furnace. There are two main methods:

  • Method 1: Contact the manufacturer

Checking with the manufacturer is the simplest approach to using a serial number. If you know the brand, you may easily determine your model by using the furnace age chart.

Alternatively, if the manufacturer is still in business, you may call and inquire about the furnace’s production date. Even without a serial number, a manufacturer representative might determine your furnace’s age by looking at a picture of the appliance.

  • Method 2: Understanding the serial number

When you don’t know what brand your furnace is, can’t find an age chart, or can’t get in touch with the manufacturer, you can still utilize the format of the serial number to date the device.

Let’s discuss some of the popular serial number formats:

  •  Week, month, or year as the first four digits: The first four digits of the serial code are commonly used to denote the manufacturing week or month, followed by the year. If you observe 2-3-9-8 followed by more figures or letters, it most likely signifies that the furnace was manufactured in the 23rd week of 1998.
  •  Week, month, and year as the first four digits: Alternatively, the year could come first, followed by the week or month. In that situation, the first four digits of the serial number could be 0-2-1-2 for 2002, December, or the twelfth week of 2002.
  •  The date at the end: The final four digits of the serial number might sometimes, but not always, show the model’s production date.
  •  A serial number that starts with a letter: The manufacturer or location is frequently represented by the first letter of a serial number, and the production date typically  follows.

Other Methods For Determining The Age Of The Furnace

Here are a few more ways to determine the age of your furnace:

  • Search for service tags

Another method for determining the age of your furnace is to search for a sticker or tag that indicates when your furnace was last serviced. The date when the furnace was installed may be listed on this tag. Although this isn’t the same as the production date, it might give you a good idea of how old the unit is.

  • Consult an HVAC professional

Experienced HVAC technicians will have several years of experience, which means they’ve probably seen it all. Our tutorials can help you become more knowledgeable about furnaces and assist you in making an informed decision.

Get a free quote from Air Doctorx Heating & Air Conditioning for the best furnace repair in Delaware and Eastern Shore MarylandContact us without delay!