Rheem® HVAC age

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

The industry average service design life for most forced air furnaces is 15-20 years, and the industry average service design life for most air conditioning condensing units is 10-15 years. The average service design life of boilers can vary from as little as 10 years to as many as 50 years depending on the type and quality of materials used in their manufacture. Routine upkeep/maintenance, regional weather/climate, and location/placement of the mechanical systems will all play critical roles in the longevity of these systems.

Parent Company: The Paloma Group

The date of production/manufacture or age of Rheem brand HVAC equipment can be determined from the serial number located on the rating data plate. Rheem has used multiple serial number styles over their production history.

Example serial number styles/formats found:

Style 1: W291013412
Style 2: CB5D302F099903346
Style 3: 7351 M2806 16735
Style 4: OR177 M2807 00097
Style 5: 0804B10488
Style 6: 123451872

Legend: Year is RED; Month is GREEN; Week is BLUE

Style 1: W291013412

Year of manufacture can be determined by using the 4^th & 5^th positions of the serial number

Week of manufacture can be determined by using the 2^nd & 3^rd positions of the serial number

Style 2: CB5D302F099903346

Year of manufacture can be determined by using the 3^rd & 4^th numbers following the middle letter of the serial number

Week of manufacture can be determined by using the 1st & 2nd numbers following the middle letter of the serial number

Note: The middle letter is the factory code (typically F, M, G, W, or N)

Style 3: 7351 M2806 16735

Year of manufacture can be determined by using the 3^rd & 4^th numbers following the middle letter of the serial number

Week of manufacture can be determined by using the 1st & 2nd numbers following the middle letter of the serial number

Note: The middle letter is the factory code (typically F, M, G, W, or N). The serial number may or may not contain spaces.

Style 4: OR177 M2807 00097

Year of manufacture can be determined by using the 3^rd & 4^th numbers following the middle letter of the serial number

Week of manufacture can be determined by using the 1st & 2nd numbers following the middle letter of the serial number

Note: The middle letter is the factory code (typically F, M, G, W, or N). The serial number may or may not contain spaces.

Style 5: 0804B10488

Year of manufacture can be determined by using the 3^rd & 4^th positions of the serial number

Month of manufacture can be determined by using the 1st & 2nd positions of the serial number

Note: This is a common water heater style serial number that was also used on some older HVAC systems.

Style 6: 123451872

Year of manufacture can be determined by using the last 2 digits of the serial number

Week of manufacture can be determined by using the 4^th & 3^rd from last digits of the serial number

Note: This is an older discontinued style from mid 1970's and prior, and was a common water heater style serial number that was also used with older HVAC systems.

Rheem® History¹

1925 - Company founded by brothers Richard and Donald Rheem. Originally manufactured steel drums primarily for the oil refinery industry.
1931 - Rheem began manufacturing automatic gas-fired storage water heaters after 1930 acquisition of Republic Steel who manufactured boilers and related storage tanks.
1936 - The company expanded overseas to Sydney, Australia. This plant originally made steel shipping containers and drums, but expanded into water heaters by 1939.
1951 - Rheem purchased the "Wedgewood" line of household (small) appliances.
1954 - Develops "glass lining" for its water heaters.
1956 - Introduces "Rheemaire" central air conditioning and heater systems for homes. This eventually became one of the company's primary business areas.
1959 - Rheem purchased the Ruud Manufacturing Company, further expanding their water heater production.
1960's - Rheem diversifies further to include manufacture of bathroom fixtures and consumer musical instruments such as electric organs.
1968 - Rheem introduced its "Imperial" forced air gas furnace.
1968 - A plant was opened in Bergum (Burgum in Frisian) in the Netherlands. The plant was initially successful but had to close its doors by the end of 1983.
1970 - Rheem opens its air conditioning division in Ft. Smith, Arkansas.
1971 - Rheem built its water heating division headquarters in Montgomery, Alabama.
1979 - Rheem added heat pumps to its product line.
1983 - Rheem introduced the Richmond Water Heaters brand, aimed at hardware stores and home-improvement centers.
1984 - Rheem was acquired by Pace Industries, Inc. and discontinued manufacture of shipping containers by 1985 - ending 60 years of manufacturing steel drums and similar shipping containers.
1985 - Rheem expands through acquisition of RayPak, Inc., which expanded the business into swimming pool heaters as well as commercial boilers.
1988 - Rheem was acquired by Paloma Industries, Ltd., a privately held Japanese company with headquarters in Nagoya, Japan.
1990 - In a somewhat confusing era and chain of acquisitions, Rheem acquires the "Weatherking" line from Addison Products. Addison's Orlando, Florida operation was not part of the transaction. Addison Products Weatherking Division (Orlando) was later acquired by Heat Controller in 1995, and renamed Addison Products Co., a division of Heat Controller Inc. It was later acquired again and owned by Fedders in 2004 until their bankruptcy in 2008. (See Addison history for further info)
1992 - Rheem introduced the smallest gas furnace line in the industry.
1994 - Rheem was the first residential HVAC company to begin using scroll compressors throughout their lineup, and all air conditioners and heat pumps continue to use Copeland Scroll Compressors.
1997 - The company was first to introduce a 14 SEER remote condensing unit.
1998 - Rheem introduced the Modulating 90 Plus gas furnace. The company also began supplying Home Depot with a line of GE branded water heaters.
2009 - Rheem and Ruud were the first to sell a Hybrid Heat Pump Water Heater, which was more than twice as efficient as similar electric water heaters. Also in this year, Rheem was first to produce a complete line of 14 SEER condensing units and heat pumps.
2010 - Rheem introduced a condensing Tankless Water Heater, and the first integrated heating and water heater system with one warranty and manufacturer.
2012 - Rheem launched the first commercial integrated heating and water heater system.
2013 - Acquired Heat Transfer Products Group (HTPG), a standalone company which produces the Russell, Witt, ColdZone and Kramer commercial refrigeration brands.

¹Excerpts from various industry sources

Every effort is undertaken to offer you correct and concise information to assist you in determining the age or manufacture date of HVAC/R equipment. Users relying on this information do so at their own risk.

Page last updated: 12/01/2023

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