Bradford White Water Heater Age: Serial Number Decoder
The first two letters of a Bradford White serial number give its build date: the first letter is the year and the second is the month. Enter your serial below for an instant manufacture date, or read it by eye with the chart.
How old is my Bradford White water heater?
The first two letters of the serial number give its build date: the first letter is the year, the second is the month. Type your serial for an instant date. No serial handy? The chart below works by eye too.
e.g. Where's my serial number?
Standard Bradford White tank models use this code. Some specialty or non-standard units may use a different serial format.
Where to find your serial number
- Find the rating plate, a rectangular label on the side of the tank, usually in the upper third of the unit.
- The serial number sits next to the model number and, on Bradford White tanks, begins with two letters (for example, MK12345678).
- On tankless and commercial models, check the label on the front or underside of the cabinet.
- If the first character is a digit rather than a letter, you are probably reading the model number or a different brand. Re-check the label for the field marked Serial or S/N.
How to read a Bradford White serial number
Rules last verified 2026-05-30The first letter is the manufacture year, on a code that repeats every 20 years. The second letter is the month: A for January through M for December, with the letter I skipped. The digits after the two letters are a sequential production number.
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Find the rating plate and serial number
Look for the rectangular rating label on the side of the tank, usually in the upper third. The serial number is printed next to the model number and starts with two letters.
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Read the first letter for the year
Match the first letter to the year chart below. Because the code repeats every 20 years, most letters map to more than one year. The next section shows how to pick the right one.
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Read the second letter for the month
Match the second letter to the month chart: A is January through M is December, with the letter I skipped. That gives you the full manufacture month and year.
Year and month code charts
Year letter (1st character)
The code repeats every 20 years, so each letter maps to three possible years 20 years apart. The serial length and the markers below tell you which cycle applies; the newest cycle reaches into years that have not arrived yet.
Month letter (2nd character)
A through M, with the letter I skipped (so J is September).
Letters never used in the code: I, O, Q, R, U, V.
Worked examples
MK12345678 M is the year, K is October. The serial has 8 production digits, the format used from December 2007 on, so M is 2015 rather than 1995. Built October 2015.
WC9876553 W is the year, C is March. With only 7 production digits the unit predates December 2007, so W is 2000 rather than 2020. Built March 2000.
BH6511396 B is the year, H is August. Seven digits rule out 2025, but B can still be 1985 or 2005. This is the ambiguous case: use the ANSI date, a Defender label, or install records to choose the decade.
Two possible years? How to tell which decade
Bradford White reuses its 20-letter year code every 20 years, so a single letter can point to two or three possible years. Four signals on the unit itself tell you which cycle is correct.
| Signal on the unit | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Serial length | A 10-character serial (two letters plus eight digits) was made in December 2007 or later. A 9-character serial (two letters plus seven digits) predates December 2007. |
| Defender Safety System label | Bradford White rolled out the Defender Safety System in 2003. A residential gas unit labeled Defender Safety System was made in 2003 or later. |
| ANSI date on the rating plate | The ANSI Z21.10.1 revision year printed on the plate is the earliest the unit could have been built. An ANSI 2004 date rules out 1984 for a first letter of A. |
| ICON System gas valve | The ICON System, an LED-diagnostic gas control, was introduced around 2009. Treat it as a weak supporting clue that the unit is from about 2009 or newer, not a precise date. |
- Letter codes repeat across long time ranges; estimate the decade from unit condition, label style, warranty context, or support lookup.
Defender series and tankless units
Standard Bradford White residential tanks, including Defender Safety System models, use the two-letter date code above. Tankless units are a different case. Bradford White tankless heaters built after 2006 were often made by Rinnai or Bosch, and they use those manufacturers' serial formats instead. If your tankless serial has no two-letter prefix, identify the actual manufacturer on the plate and use that brand's decoder.
What your manufacture date tells you
Warranty
Bradford White's limited warranty normally starts on the installation date. If you cannot prove the install date, it starts three months after the manufacture date encoded in the serial number, which is where this decoder helps. Residential tanks often carry 6- or 10-year coverage, though current terms range across 1-, 6-, 8-, and 10-year tank periods depending on the model. Enter your serial at the Bradford White Warranty Center to see the exact coverage and expiration for your unit.
Check warranty by serial at Bradford White ↗
How long they last and when to replace
Bradford White states its water heaters can last 10 years or more with professional installation and proper maintenance, and recommends considering replacement once a unit reaches 10 years old.
Home inspectors generally treat 10 to 12 years as the typical service life for a tank water heater, and many flag units past 15 years for replacement. (Industry guidance, not a Bradford White figure.)
Gas tankless units often last 15 to 20 years with descaling and good water quality. This is a general industry estimate; Bradford White does not publish a tankless lifespan figure.
Watch for these replacement warning signs:
- Age of 10 years or more. Bradford White's own threshold for starting to plan a replacement.
- Rusty hot water. Discoloration from the hot tap can signal internal tank corrosion.
- Odors in the hot water. Persistent smells can indicate growth inside the tank.
- Rumbling or banging. Noise usually means sediment buildup, which cuts efficiency and stresses the tank.
- Leaks at the base. Water around the base needs immediate attention and often means the tank is failing.
Why the age matters
Bradford White recalls and your serial
The Bradford White Corporation recall we found tied to a specific serial range dates to August 2002, when the company recalled about 1,220 75-gallon power-vent gas water heaters whose flue baffles could cause excess carbon monoxide.
- Affected models
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MIITW75T6EN12MIITW75T6CX12TW375S76E3NTW375S763X - Affected serials
- Serials beginning with YD (all), and serials beginning with YE up to and including YE1395234.
- Hazard
- Defective flue gas baffles could lead to excessive carbon monoxide emissions.
- Remedy
- Bradford White inspects and replaces the flue baffle at no cost. Contact Bradford White Technical Support at (800) 334-3393.
Component recalls can also apply: a 2005 recall of Robertshaw R110 gas control valves (made July 25 to August 14, 2005) covered valves installed on Bradford White and many other brands. Separately, a recall for outdoor "Bradford & White" heaters belongs to Gas-Fired Products Inc., a different company, not Bradford White Corporation.
Read the official CPSC recall notice ↗ Recall list last checked 2026-05-30
Can't read the serial number?
If the rating plate is corroded, painted over, or missing, try these in order.
- Use the ANSI date on the rating plate as a floor: the unit cannot be older than that year, though it is usually a few years newer.
- Check a building permit, install sticker, or service tag for an installation date as a rough age.
- Contact Bradford White with the model number and dash number from the plate; their support can look up the build date.
Model number vs serial number
The model number does not contain the build date, but it does tell you the unit's size. In most residential Bradford White model names the two-digit number is the nominal tank capacity in gallons (for example, the 40 in MI40T6FBN is a 40-gallon tank). Suffix letters indicate venting and fuel, but those vary by product line, so confirm exact specs on the official spec sheet rather than guessing from the model string.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell the age of my Bradford White water heater?
Read the first two letters of the serial number on the rating plate. The first letter is the manufacture year and the second is the month (A is January through M is December, skipping I). Enter the serial in the decoder above for an instant date.
Where is the serial number on a Bradford White water heater?
On the rating plate, a rectangular label on the side of the tank, usually in the upper third next to the model number. Bradford White serial numbers begin with two letters.
My serial starts with a letter that could be two different years. Which is it?
Bradford White's year code repeats every 20 years, so a letter such as M can mean 1995 or 2015. Use the era markers on the unit to choose: a 10-character serial means December 2007 or later, a Defender Safety System label means 2003 or later, and the ANSI date on the plate is the earliest possible year.
Can I use the ANSI date on the label to find the manufacture year?
The ANSI Z21.10.1 date is a floor, not the build date. The unit cannot be older than that year, but it is usually a few years newer. Use it to pick the right 20-year cycle rather than as the exact date.
Does the model number tell you when a Bradford White was made?
No. The model number identifies size and configuration, not the date. Only the first two letters of the serial number carry the manufacture month and year.
Does Bradford White base the warranty on the manufacture date or the install date?
The limited warranty runs from the installation date. If you have no proof of installation, Bradford White starts it three months after the manufacture date encoded in the serial. Check the Warranty Center with your serial for exact coverage.
How long do Bradford White water heaters last?
Bradford White says 10 years or more with proper installation and maintenance, and suggests planning a replacement at 10 years. Inspectors generally treat 10 to 12 years as typical tank life. Tankless units often run 15 to 20 years, a general industry estimate.
My rating plate is damaged and I can't read the serial. What now?
Use the ANSI date on the plate as an earliest-possible year, check a permit or service sticker for an install date, or contact Bradford White with the model and dash number so support can look up the build date.
I have a Bradford White tankless. Does the same serial code apply?
Not always. Bradford White tankless units built after 2006 were often made by Rinnai or Bosch and use those brands' serial formats. If your tankless serial has no two-letter prefix, identify the maker on the plate and use that decoder.
Is it worth repairing a Bradford White that is 10 to 15 years old?
Bradford White suggests considering replacement at 10 years, and the risk of tank failure rises with age. Weigh the repair cost against the unit's age and any signs of corrosion, leaks, or sediment noise.
My serial starts with "OA". What does that mean?
That is a documented exception. Bradford White built a small batch of OA units in January 1997 because of a computer error. Treat an OA serial as January 1997.
Sources & verification
The serial and date-code rules and examples are sourced below — from manufacturer and inspector references — with recall data from the CPSC. Edge-case formats and broader context (lifespan, inspection, insurance, code) are separately sourced too. Confirm an individual unit with the official lookup.
The first two characters of the serial number are the year and month of manufacture; the year letter runs on a repeating 20-year cycle.
Year letters skip I, O, Q, R, U and V (a 20-letter alphabet); month letters run A=January through M=December, skipping I.
Confirms the first two serial characters encode year and month; documents the 'OA' exception (units built January 1997 due to a computer error).
Bradford White's limited warranty covers the glass-lined tank and component parts; the FAQ directs owners to the Warranty Center to confirm coverage and dates by serial number.
The warranty period begins on the date of installation; when the installation date cannot be verified, it begins three months after the date of manufacture.
Official tool to confirm manufacture date and warranty status from the full serial number.
Bradford White recommends considering replacement at 10 years or older, and lists rusty water, odors, rumbling/banging noise, and base leaks as warning signs.
The Defender Safety System is Bradford White's FVIR combustion design; corroborating sources date its residential rollout to 2003, making a Defender label a 2003-or-later era marker.
August 2002 recall of ~1,220 units (models MIITW75T6EN12, MIITW75T6CX12, TW375S76E3N, TW375S763X) for defective flue baffles causing excess CO; affected serials begin with YD or YE up to YE1395234.
2005 recall of Robertshaw R110 gas control valves (made July 25 to August 14, 2005) installed on water heaters from many brands (including Bradford White and A.O. Smith-family units); broken valve screws could leak gas (explosion/fire risk).
Inspector reference documenting the 20-year cycle, ANSI-date disambiguation method, the Defender 2003 marker, and the Rinnai/Bosch tankless serial-format caveat.