Evidence-led route update
Coleman HVAC date-code evidence
If you need to estimate a Coleman unit’s manufacture age, read the split year and month letter used by the common York-family format.
Combine the split York-family year digits
In a common modern style, characters 2 and 4 form the year while character 3 is a month letter. The verified Coleman/York style combines characters 2 and 4 for the year and uses character 3 as the month letter. That is a position-based rule, so copying a different brand’s prefix would be unsafe. Coleman HVAC is represented by the verified York-family style in which characters 2 and 4 form the year and character 3 supplies the month letter. The split positions are why a generic front-prefix read would be unsafe.
Worked example: W0K5896070
W0K5896070 — The verified decoder reads this fixture as October 2005. The date is a manufacture estimate, not an installation date.
When an older Coleman unit needs a different York read
Older and manufactured-home Coleman equipment can use another York-family format. Preserve the full plate and use official support or a qualified professional when the serial positions do not match.
Model number vs. serial number
The Coleman model identifies the manufactured-home or HVAC product context and the serial supplies the split date evidence; provide both for support. Check the furnace, outdoor unit, heat pump, or packaged-unit plate and record the complete model and serial for support.
Limits and official support
Older Coleman and manufactured-home equipment can use another York-family format. If the result affects warranty, registration, parts, safety, or replacement decisions, use the complete model and serial with the manufacturer or a qualified professional. SerialAtlas is an independent reference, not an official warranty lookup or warranty coverage decision.
Open Coleman HVAC support routeHow to read a Coleman HVAC serial number
In a common modern style, characters 2 and 4 form the year while character 3 is a month letter. SerialAtlas removes spacing and punctuation, then applies only the documented rule families mapped to Coleman HVAC. The lookup remains in the browser.
Equipment covered
- air conditioners
- heat pumps
- furnaces
- air handlers
- packaged systems
Commercial, imported, very old, specialty, and private-label equipment can use a different code. Confirm the full rating plate before accepting a result.
Where to find the rating plate
- Outdoor condenser or heat-pump cabinet, usually near the service valves
- Inside the furnace or air-handler access panel
- On the packaged-unit rating plate
- Near the electrical disconnect or wiring diagram
Why more than one date can appear
Two-digit years and repeating letter cycles can point to more than one era. SerialAtlas ranks the plausible dates but keeps materially different alternatives visible. Label design, refrigerant, installation records, and product literature can resolve the era.
Inspector Handbook open reference data (CC BY 4.0). Independently implemented and reviewed August 8, 2026.
Open reference sourceWhat this result does not prove
A manufacture date is not an installation date, warranty decision, recall match, condition assessment, or replacement recommendation. Confirm high-stakes decisions with the manufacturer or a qualified professional.