System age
How old is my HVAC system?
The serial number on the rating label says when your AC, heat pump or furnace was made. Enter it or photograph the label: see its age, the life it usually has left, and what replacing it costs where you live.
- Most US brands
- Photo of the label works
- Free
Questions
About the age finder
Works offline
After the page has loaded once
Where is the serial number?
On the rating label: on the side or back of the outdoor unit, and inside the front panel of a furnace or air handler. It is usually marked S/N or Serial No., next to the model number (M/N).
Why does it say 'could also be'?
Some makers encode only the last digit of the year, or reuse year letters every 20 years. Entering the year the house was built rules out readings that are too old.
How long do AC units and furnaces last?
Central air conditioners and heat pumps typically last 10 to 20 years, gas furnaces 15 to 25. Salt air, heavy use and skipped maintenance shorten that.
My system uses R-22. Do I have to replace it?
No. It can keep running, but R-22 hasn't been produced or imported in the US since 2020, so a leak repair and recharge is expensive. Weigh any major repair against replacement.
Is the serial number sent anywhere?
No. The decoding rules come with the page and run in your browser, and a photo of the label is read on your device.