How old is my BRADFORD WHITE water heater?

1. Find the rating label: On the rating plate attached to the water heater; Bradford White's 'My Water Heater' page shows its position for gas and electric tanks.
2. Take a photo of the whole label, or note the model and serial numbers.
3. Check it on Appliance Age. It is free, and no account is needed.

On the rating plate attached to the water heater; Bradford White's 'My Water Heater' page shows its position for gas and electric tanks.

Keep the model, serial and any separate production code or printed date together. Not every serial number contains a publicly decodable date.

Bradford White water heater age: serial number date guide

Bradford White tank water heaters using the documented two-letter date code · Sources checked October 12, 2026

Bradford White documents a year letter followed by a month letter at the beginning of the serial. The rest identifies production sequence. Use the serial field on the water heater rating plate, together with the complete model.

Year letters repeat on a twenty-year cycle. For example, A can represent 2004 or 2024, and C as the second letter means March. Earlier cycles also exist. A matching prefix therefore gives possible dates, not a unique year by itself.

Keep candidate dates until the full model, original documents or manufacturer records distinguish the cycle. A purchase or installation invoice is useful context but records a different event from manufacture. Do not choose the newest possible year simply because the tank looks clean.

Bradford White also documents an OA-prefix exception for units built in January 1997. Do not force an unusual code into the ordinary chart; use the manufacturer’s guidance. Manufacture age does not establish warranty coverage, condition or remaining life.

• Bradford White owner guide: rating plate, year and month codes
• Bradford White technical guide: date format and OA exception

Bradford White age, installation and warranty

Record the manufacture date and its evidence separately from the installation date. If the serial leaves two plausible years, retain both possibilities and ask Bradford White to confirm the unit using its full model and serial.

Does the age tell me whether the tank is under warranty?

Use Bradford White’s warranty lookup for the warranty length and expiration date associated with the serial. An age estimate alone does not establish coverage.

Should I replace an older Bradford White water heater?

Use age to plan, then consider service history, condition and a professional assessment. A confirmed manufacture date cannot predict a tank’s remaining life. Keep repair and replacement decisions separate from the date-code calculation.

Use the format that belongs to this product family. A printed production date, a supported serial code or manufacturer confirmation can establish the age. Repeating year codes may leave more than one possible year; a model-series introduction date helps narrow the range but does not date your individual unit.

Water Heaters typically last 8 to 12 years. Use, water quality and maintenance matter more than the brand. Drain a few litres from the bottom yearly and check the anode rod every few years to slow corrosion.

19 BRADFORD WHITE models are currently ENERGY STAR certified, 19 of them sold in Canada. The certified models went on the market between 2018 and 2026. An older BRADFORD WHITE water heater may use more energy than today's certified models.

Source: ENERGY STAR open data, 2026-10-08.

Parts that wear out most often on water heaters:

• Anode rod
• Heating element
• Thermostat
• Temperature and pressure relief valve
• Thermocouple or flame sensor
• Drain valve

Have the model number from the rating label ready so the parts fit.

Every BRADFORD WHITE check is compared with Health Canada, U.S. CPSC and U.S. NHTSA recall notices.

Questions

How do I find out how old my BRADFORD WHITE water heater is?

Find the rating label (On the rating plate attached to the water heater; Bradford White's 'My Water Heater' page shows its position for gas and electric tanks), then enter the serial number or a photo of the label on Appliance Age. It checks supported serial date codes or a printed date for you, free; some formats need more information.

Where is the serial number on a BRADFORD WHITE water heater?

On the rating plate attached to the water heater; Bradford White's 'My Water Heater' page shows its position for gas and electric tanks.

Can I tell how old my BRADFORD WHITE water heater is by the model number?

The model number tells you which model it is, not when your unit was made. Look for a manufacture date or a supported date code in the serial number, printed next to the model number on the same label.

Can I decode a BRADFORD WHITE serial number myself?

Some BRADFORD WHITE product families have serial date codes, while others need a printed date or manufacturer confirmation. Repeated year codes can produce multiple candidate years; the model and original documents help resolve them.

How long does a BRADFORD WHITE water heater last?

Water Heaters typically last 8 to 12 years with normal use and maintenance.

Where can I get BRADFORD WHITE water heater parts?

From an appliance parts retailer. Have the model number from the rating label ready so the parts fit.

Other BRADFORD WHITE appliances

• BRADFORD WHITE tankless water heater
• BRADFORD WHITE boiler