Water heaters date-code guide

Bradford White serial number lookup

Bradford White uses two leading letters: a repeating 20-year code for year and a separate month letter. SerialAtlas shows plausible cycles instead of hiding the ambiguity.

Parent: Bradford White Corporation
Common code: The first letter is a repeating year code and the second letter is the month code.
Reviewed: August 8, 2026

Instant equipment lookup

Decode the manufacturing date

Runs on this device

Equipment type

Manufacturer or brand

Using The first letter is a repeating year code and the second letter is the month code.

Serial number

Type exactly what is printed. Spaces and dashes are ignored.

Optional: add model number for capacity cluesAdd model

Model number

Model decoding is labeled as a clue unless the exact format is documented.

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EQUIPMENT DATA

MODEL24ABC636A003

SERIAL5019X30312

WeekYear

See exactly how the code was read

SerialAtlas highlights the date characters, names the matching rule, and shows alternative interpretations when the code is ambiguous.

Current age calculated automatically
Confidence and rule source shown
Optional model-capacity clue

How to read a Bradford White serial number

The first letter is a repeating year code and the second letter is the month code. SerialAtlas removes spacing and punctuation, then applies only the documented rule families mapped to Bradford White. The lookup remains in the browser.

Try this documented-style examplePB47429651Load example

Equipment covered

gas tank water heaters
electric tank water heaters
heat-pump water heaters
selected commercial units

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

Upper or lower side of the tank jacket
Near the gas control valve on gas models
Behind an electrical access panel
Side or bottom edge of a tankless cabinet

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.

Source and verification

Inspector Handbook open reference data (CC BY 4.0). Independently implemented and reviewed August 8, 2026.

Open reference source

What 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.