HVAC age lookup by serial number
How old is your furnace, air conditioner or heat pump? Choose the equipment, pick the brand and enter the serial number from the rating plate.
Serial number age lookup
Choose your brand
Many HVAC brands are made by the same company and share a serial format. Bryant and Payne decode like Carrier, Amana and Janitrol like Goodman, and so on. Each brand page explains its code with worked examples.
- AirEase Decoder available in the tool
- Amana Same code as Goodman
- American Standard Same code as Trane
- Arcoaire Decoder available in the tool
- Armstrong Air Decoder available in the tool
- Bryant Same code as Carrier
- Carrier Week (2 digits) + year (2 digits) + plant letter + 4–5 digits
- Coleman Decoder available in the tool
- Comfortmaker Decoder available in the tool
- Concord Decoder available in the tool
- Daikin Decoder available in the tool
- Day & Night Decoder available in the tool
- Ducane Decoder available in the tool
- Frigidaire (HVAC) Decoder available in the tool
- Goodman Year (2 digits) + month (2 digits) + 6 digits
- Heil Decoder available in the tool
- Intertherm Decoder available in the tool
- Janitrol Same code as Goodman
- Lennox Decoder available in the tool
- Luxaire Decoder available in the tool
- Maytag (HVAC) Decoder available in the tool
- Miller Decoder available in the tool
- Nordyne Decoder available in the tool
- Payne Same code as Carrier
- Rheem Decoder available in the tool
- Ruud Decoder available in the tool
- Tempstar Decoder available in the tool
- Trane Year (2 digits) + week (2 digits), 10 characters (2010–present)
- York Decoder available in the tool
Where to find the serial number
- Air conditioner or heat pump: on the rating plate on the outdoor unit, usually on the side panel over the electrical connections.
- Furnace: inside the lower blower compartment door, or on the side of the cabinet. Turn off the power before opening it.
- Air handler or indoor coil: on the cabinet side or behind the access panel.
Each piece of equipment has its own serial and date. In many homes the furnace and the AC were replaced at different times, so it's worth checking both.
How long HVAC equipment lasts
| Equipment | Typical life |
|---|---|
| Furnace | 15–20 years |
| Air conditioner | 12–17 years |
| Heat pump | 10–15 years |
Installation quality, sizing, filter changes and climate matter more than the brand name. Heat pumps sit at the lower end because they run for both heating and cooling. See how long furnaces last and how long AC units last for the details.
Older air conditioners and R-22
If your AC or heat pump was built before about 2010, it probably uses R-22 refrigerant, which hasn't been produced or imported in the US since 2020. The system can keep running, but a refrigerant leak becomes an expensive repair. The age lookup is the quickest way to tell whether you're likely to be affected; the rating plate lists the refrigerant to confirm.
Frequently asked questions
How old is my AC unit?
Find the serial number on the outdoor unit's rating plate, choose the brand above and enter it. Most brands put the year and the week or month in the first few characters; Lennox and York put them in the middle.
How do I find the age of my furnace by serial number?
The furnace rating plate is usually inside the lower blower door. Turn off the power at the furnace switch, remove the door and copy the serial. Then choose Furnace and your brand above.
Are my furnace and AC the same age?
Not necessarily. They're separate units with separate serials and were often replaced at different times. Check each one.
Does the HVAC serial number decoder work for heat pumps?
Yes. Heat pumps from these brands use the same serial format as their air conditioners. Choose Heat pump so the result uses heat pump lifespans.