GE Water Heater Age Lookup
GE water heaters - built under license by Rheem, Bradford White, or Midea depending on the model - use a date code in the serial number. Enter yours and we'll tell you exactly when it was built and how old it is. Free and quick, no account needed.
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Finding Your GE Serial Number
Check these four spots on your GE water heater
Common Locations
What to Look For
- White or metallic manufacturer sticker
- Labeled "Serial No." or "S/N"
- Typically 8–12 characters long
- Usually near the model number
Can't find it? Try removing access panels or checking behind the temperature dial.
GE Serial Number Examples
Don't worry if yours looks different - GE has multiple formats and our system can decode most variations.
About GE Water Heaters
General Electric was formed in 1892 by the merger of Edison General Electric and Thomson-Houston, and the appliance business has belonged to Haier since 2016. GE has not built its own water heaters in a long time. Depending on the model and the year, a GE badged unit was made by Rheem, by Bradford White, or by Midea, and identifying which one built yours matters far more than the GE name when you need a part or a specification.
The range was conventional gas and electric tanks plus the GeoSpring hybrid heat pump. GeoSpring deserves a correction, because it is still described as if it were current: it was made between 2012 and 2017, in retail and Pro versions, and it is discontinued. Support runs through GE Appliances rather than the original Louisville assembly line.
Serial formats follow whoever built the unit, not the badge. The most common is MMYY at the front, sometimes followed by a plant letter, which is the Rheem convention, so 0619A12345 is June 2019. Others open with a letter pair. Rather than matching the plate against a GE chart, enter the serial above and let the tool identify the format, since two GE heaters of the same age can look nothing alike.
Where to find the serial
GE water heaters have the rating plate on the upper third of the tank. GE exited the water heater business and GE Appliances was acquired by Haier in 2016 - GE-badged units were built under license by Rheem, Bradford White, or Midea depending on the model and era. Look for SER NO. on the silver foil sticker, often printed as 'GE MMYYLXXXXX' on the rating plate.
What the serial actually looks like
Why the age is worth knowing
Any GE water heater in service today is approaching or past its expected 10-12 year service life since GE exited the category in 2016. Warranty coverage (originally 6-12 years depending on model) has long since expired for most units. Replacement parts route through whichever manufacturer actually built your unit - Rheem for most tanks, Bradford White for some, and Midea for the GeoSpring-era heat pumps.
Quick answers for this brand
Does GE still make water heaters?
GE never built its own water heaters - GE-badged units were made under license by Rheem, Bradford White, or Midea depending on the model. GE Appliances was acquired by Haier in 2016, and the traditional GE-badged tank lines wound down around that time, so warranty and parts service runs through the actual builder rather than GE.
Who actually made my GE water heater?
It depends on the model: most GE-badged tanks were built by Rheem, some by Bradford White, and the heat pump units by Midea. The GeoSpring hybrid was produced from 2012 to 2017 and is discontinued. The serial format follows whichever manufacturer built the unit.
Where do I get parts for a GE GeoSpring hybrid?
GeoSpring parts are increasingly hard to find as the line has been discontinued for years. Rheem and A.O. Smith both make modern hybrid heat pump units that use similar technology and may have cross-compatible parts. For a unit past 8 years, replacement with a current model is usually more practical than chasing GeoSpring parts.
Need a plumber?
Get free quotes from licensed local pros, no commitment required.
Share this tool with friends!
Know someone with an aging water heater? Send them a free check.