General Electric (GE)®

How to determine the date of production/manufacture or age of GE® HVAC Systems.

The date of production/manufacture or age of a GE® HVAC unit can be determined from the serial number.

Parent:  Trane

Important Information:

If the central heating or cooling system in question truly bears the name "General Electric®" (GE®) then it can be assumed as very old and has exceeded the estimated useful service life. General Electric® is no longer manufacturing central heating and cooling systems. They sold this division to Trane in 1982. Most "newer" systems (after mid '80s and should they happen to have a GE® nameplate) will utilize Trane style numbering systems. This page is not intended and should not be used to determine the manufacture date of other GE® appliances such as window air conditioners, dehumidifiers, or other such appliances.

When GE® was manufacturing their own central heating and cooling systems, they utilized different numbering and letter formats over the years. The common style was strictly a numeric serial number typically comprised of 9 digits. The last 3 digits represent the manufacturing date.

The next two (and less common) styles used letter formats in the first OR last 2 serial number places. When used, the letters designated month and year of manufacture. See charts in the style samples below.

See also Trane® for a variety of serial number styles that may be used.

Sample Serial number styles: 

  • Style 1:    359592809
  • Style 2:    HM409295
  • Style 3:   409295HM
Back to Brand Listing

Style 1:   359952809

The Date of Manufacture can be determined from the serial number located on the data plate.

Typically comprised of nine-digit serial numbers that do not include any letters.

The first digit of the last three numbers represents the year, and the following two digits represent the week.

The decade must be “presumed”.

For example, a serial number of 359952809 represents a manufacturing date of 9th week of 1968, 1978, or 1988.

The decade can be estimated by age of the property (these are often original units in 1970's and 1980's era buildings). Other determining clues such as condition of the unit, style of the data plate, ANSI or CGA code dates, dates on service tags, and simple common sense can help to estimate the decade.

Style 2:   HM409295

The Date of Manufacture can be determined from the serial number located on the data plate.

Typically comprised of serial numbers beginning with two letters. (The number of digits can vary)

The first letter represents the month, and the second letter represents the year.

See Chart Below.

For example, a serial number of HM409295 represents a manufacturing date of August 1976.

 

Style 3:   409295HM

The Date of Manufacture can be determined from the serial number located on the data plate.

Similar to style 2 above, but typically comprised of serial numbers ending with two letters. (The number of digits can vary)

The first letter represents the month, and the second letter represents the year.

See Chart Below.

For example, a serial number of 409295HM represents a manufacturing date of August 1976.

 

Page last updated: 8/15/2019