How old is my Bradford White water heater? Reading the serial number

Bradford White uses letters rather than numbers for its date code. Bradford White's own FAQ confirms that the first two characters of the serial number are the year and month of manufacture, followed by a production number.

Where to find the serial number

The rating label is on the side of the tank, usually in the upper third. On some gas models, you may also find information behind the burner access door. The serial number begins with two letters followed by digits.

Year letters

Bradford White skips the letters I, O, Q, R, U and V, which gives 20 year letters that repeat in a 20-year cycle.

Each letter also matches a year 20 years earlier: S is 2018 or 1998, K is 2013 or 1993.

Month letters

For example, Bradford White notes that DM marks December 2007, when its production numbers changed from seven to eight digits.

Which decade is it?

Because letters repeat every 20 years, use common sense. A clean tank with a modern label and an eight-digit production number is almost certainly from the newer cycle. An installation receipt or permit settles it.

What the age tells you

Tank water heaters commonly last about 8 to 12 years. If your Bradford White is past ten years, compare any repair with the water heater replacement cost. Gas models report faults with a blinking status light; our Bradford White error codes page explains the flash patterns.