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Quaker Water Heater Age by Serial Number — Free Lookup

A.O. Smith

Also works for A.O. Smith-built labels: State, Reliance, American, Whirlpool, U.S. Craftmaster, Kenmore, GSW and John Wood.

How Old Is Your Quaker Water Heater?

Quaker is a private-label trade name produced on A.O. Smith lines, so its serial numbers carry the same date code as State, Reliance, and American units: year, then week, in the first four digits. Enter your serial in the free decoder above for an instant answer, or follow the guide below to read it yourself.

Where to Find the Serial Number

Check the rating plate on the side of the tank — a silver or white sticker, usually in the upper half, that lists the model number and serial number together. The date lives in the serial, not the model number. On older tanks the sticker can fade; a phone photo with the contrast bumped usually makes the first four digits readable.

How the Quaker Serial Format Works

The date code is year, then week, in the first four digits:

Worked example — 1406A009312:

  • 14 = 2014 (year)
  • 06 = week 6 (early February)
  • A and the remaining digits = factory and production sequence
  • Result: manufactured in week 6 of 2014

Letter prefixes. Some serials start with letters, or insert a letter inside the date block — these are factory codes, not part of the date. Skip leading letters and read the first four digits you find. For example, AC0308F011206 decodes to week 8 of 2003.

The two-digit year can point at two decades — 14 is 2014 on most units but could be 2004 on an older one. Compare the unit's condition and model line; our decoder lists every plausible year instead of guessing.

Why Your Quaker Water Heater's Age Matters

  • Lifespan. Tank water heaters average 8–12 years of service. Past that, internal corrosion makes tank failure — and a flooded floor — far more likely.
  • Warranty. Quaker tanks carried standard warranty tiers counted from the manufacture date. The serial tells you whether a repair might still be covered.
  • Replacement planning. A unit past 10 years is on borrowed time. Knowing the date lets you shop for a replacement calmly instead of during an emergency.

Sources

Brand ownership and serial format verified against the InterNACHI water heater dating chart and A.O. Smith's manufacturing-date guidance.

Frequently asked questions

Who makes Quaker water heaters?
Quaker is one of the older private-label trade names on the InterNACHI water heater dating chart, produced by the A.O. Smith manufacturing family (American Water Heater / U.S. Craftmaster). Its serials use the same year-week date coding as State, Reliance, and American units.
How do I tell the age of a Quaker water heater from the serial number?
The first two digits of the serial are the year and the next two are the week of manufacture. For example, serial 1406A009312 means week 6 of 2014 — early February 2014. Letters before or inside the serial are factory codes; read the date from the leading digits.
Where is the serial number on a Quaker water heater?
On the rating plate — a silver or white sticker on the side of the tank, usually in the upper half, that lists the model and serial numbers together. If it has faded, photograph it and boost the contrast; the first four digits are all you need.
How long does a Quaker water heater last?
Tank-style units average 8–12 years. Flushing sediment regularly and replacing the anode rod on schedule can push a unit toward the longer end, while hard water shortens it.
My Quaker serial starts with letters. How do I read it?
Leading letters are factory or production-line codes, not part of the date. Skip them and read the first four digits you find as year and week — for example, AC0308F011206 decodes to week 8 of 2003.