Coleman Serial Number Lookup
Coleman heating and cooling equipment comes from the same company and plants as York, so it uses York's serial code. Since late 2004 the year is split around a month letter. Enter yours to decode it.
Part of the hvac age lookup
Serial number age lookup
Where to find the serial number on Coleman equipment
- Outdoor AC or heat pump: on the rating plate on the side of the cabinet.
- Furnace: inside the blower compartment door or on the side of the cabinet. On manufactured-home furnaces installed in a closet, the label is often inside the lower front panel.
- Air handler: on the cabinet side or behind the access panel.
The serial is ten characters. Since late 2004 it follows a letter–digit–letter–digit pattern, such as W1E8123456. Older Coleman serials start with three or four letters.
How the Coleman date code works
October 2004 to today
| Character | Meaning | Example (W1E8123456) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plant | W |
| 2 + 4 | Year, split around the month | 1 + 8 = 2018 |
| 3 | Month letter | E = May |
| 5–10 | Sequence | not part of the date |
Before October 2004
The first letter is the plant, the second is the month letter and the third is a year letter that repeats every 21 years (for example L = 1981 or 2002).
- Year
- Month
- Not part of the date
- Month
- Year
- Not part of the date
Worked examples
| Serial | Built | Format |
|---|---|---|
| W1E8123456 | May 2018 | Plant letter + year digit + month letter + year digit (Oct 2004–present) |
| N0K9123456 | September 2009 | Plant letter + year digit + month letter + year digit (Oct 2004–present) |
| W2B3654321 | February 2023 | Plant letter + year digit + month letter + year digit (Oct 2004–present) |
| CDLP123456 | April 2002 or April 1981 | Plant letter + month letter + year letter (1971–Sept 2004, letters repeat every 21 years) |
Example serials are made up to show the format; they don't belong to real units.
| Letter | Month | Letter | Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | January | G | July |
| B | February | H | August |
| C | March | K | September |
| D | April | L | October |
| E | May | M | November |
| F | June | N | December |
The month letters skip both I and J. Most other brands skip only I, so don’t use a generic A–M chart for Coleman.
Coleman’s place in the York family
Coleman, York and Luxaire are sister brands with shared engineering and factories, so a Coleman and the equivalent York unit decode identically. The Coleman name also has a long history in manufactured housing: many mobile and manufactured homes were fitted with Coleman-brand furnaces and air conditioners designed for closet installation. If you live in a manufactured home and the furnace says Coleman or Evcon, it may be one of those dedicated models. The age code still works, but replacement furnaces for manufactured homes must be approved for that use.
How long Coleman equipment lasts
| Equipment | Typical life |
|---|---|
| Central air conditioner | 12–17 years |
| Heat pump | 10–15 years |
| Gas furnace | 15–20 years |
Closet-installed furnaces in manufactured homes often have tighter airflow and combustion-air arrangements, so a clean filter and an unobstructed return-air path matter even more.
What to do with your result
Under 10 years: check the registered warranty; parts are often covered for 10 years.
10 to 15 years: maintain and compare any major repair against a replacement.
Over 15 years: plan the replacement. For manufactured homes, make sure any new furnace is HUD-approved for manufactured housing.
Frequently asked questions
How do I read a Coleman serial number?
On units built since October 2004, skip the first letter (the plant). The 2nd and 4th characters together are the year and the 3rd is the month letter. W1E8123456 is May 2018. Older units use a plant letter, a month letter and a year letter.
Is Coleman HVAC the same as the camping company?
No. Coleman heating and air conditioning is part of the York family of HVAC brands. The camping gear brand is a separate business.
What do the Coleman month letters mean?
A is January through H for August, then K for September, L for October, M for November and N for December. I and J aren't used.
How long does a Coleman furnace last?
Around 15 to 20 years for a gas furnace in a site-built home. Furnaces in manufactured homes often run in tighter spaces and may need replacing sooner.
Sources and accuracy
The York / Coleman / Luxaire decoder is built from these references and cross-checked between them. Facts are restated in our own words; any mistakes are ours.
Status: being verified against real data plates. Rules last reviewed 2026-10-18; page updated 2026-11-03. Not affiliated with York / Coleman / Luxaire. Report a wrong result.
Part of the hvac age lookup
This page covers one brand. For all furnace, air conditioner and heat pump brands, go to the hvac age lookup.