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How old is my Rheem water heater?
Check the rating label of your Rheem water heater for the serial number and any printed manufacture date. Enter the details or a label photo to check supported date formats, typical service life and available recall notices.
Check your Rheem water heater
- Find the rating label: On a label on the front of the tank, according to Rheem's FAQ.
- Take a photo of the whole label, or note the model and serial numbers.
- Check it on Appliance Age. It is free, and no account is needed.
Where is the serial number on a Rheem water heater?
On a label on the front of the tank, according to Rheem's FAQ.
Keep the model, serial and any separate production code or printed date together. Not every serial number contains a publicly decodable date.
Rheem’s guide to finding the model and serial numberRheem water heater age: month/year versus week/year
Rheem tank-water-heater formats documented in technical bulletin 1207 · Sources checked October 12, 2026
Rheem’s technical bulletin documents a month/year arrangement and a different plant/week/year arrangement. In its month/year example, the opening 09 and 12 represent September 2012, followed by a plant-line character and sequence digits.
The bulletin describes a plant/week/year format introduced at particular plants in 2012. A leading plant character is followed by two week digits and two year digits. Do not read that week as a month or treat the plant character as a year code.
Check the whole rating plate for a printed manufacture date and keep any prefix or suffix visible. The documented transition happened by manufacturing plant, so a single calendar-year cutoff is not enough to identify every serial format.
A masked date-code example
M1412•••••
In the documented plant/week/year format, M is the plant identifier, 14 is production week 14 and 12 is 2012. This masked illustration gives a week, not an exact manufacture day.
This water-heater guidance is not a Rheem furnace, air-conditioner or heat-pump serial rule. Preserve unfamiliar codes and use manufacturer confirmation when the format or era is unresolved. Installation and warranty dates must be checked separately.
Checking the manufacture date
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.
How long does a Rheem water heater last?
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.
More about water heatersENERGY STAR certified Rheem water heaters
167 Rheem models are currently ENERGY STAR certified, 80 of them sold in Canada. The certified models went on the market between 2020 and 2026. An older Rheem water heater may use more energy than today's certified models.
Compare models on ENERGY STARSource: ENERGY STAR open data, 2026-10-08.
Rheem water heater parts
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.
Rheem official partsRheem water heater recalls
Every Rheem check is compared with Health Canada, U.S. CPSC and U.S. NHTSA recall notices.
Search Rheem water heater recall noticesRheem’s recall pageQuestions
- How do I find out how old my Rheem water heater is?
- Find the rating label (On a label on the front of the tank, according to Rheem's FAQ), 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 Rheem water heater?
- On a label on the front of the tank, according to Rheem's FAQ.
- Can I tell how old my Rheem 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 Rheem serial number myself?
- Some Rheem 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 Rheem water heater last?
- Water Heaters typically last 8 to 12 years with normal use and maintenance.
- Where can I get Rheem water heater parts?
- From Rheem's official parts store, or an appliance parts retailer. Have the model number from the rating label ready.
Other Rheem appliances
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