John Wood Water Heater Age Lookup
John Wood is a well-known Canadian brand covering gas, electric, and power-vent water heaters. Punch in your serial number to find out when it was made and how old it is. Free for homeowners and plumbers.
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Finding Your John Wood Serial Number
Check these four spots on your John Wood 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.
John Wood Serial Number Examples
Don't worry if yours looks different - John Wood has multiple formats and our system can decode most variations.
About John Wood Water Heaters
John Wood water heaters were a well-established Canadian brand manufactured by GSW (General Steel Wares) for over a century. In 2006, A.O. Smith acquired GSW and its brands, including John Wood, integrating them into its North American water heater portfolio. John Wood units were distributed primarily in Canada and are recognizable by their distinctive serial number formats, which changed over the brand's long history. Whether your John Wood heater carries an older hyphenated serial or a newer alphanumeric code, the manufacture date is encoded in the first four significant digits.
Where to find the serial
John Wood water heaters are Canadian-made tanks (now part of A.O. Smith) sold primarily in Canada and northern US markets. The rating plate is on the upper third of the tank with the serial in a black bordered box labeled SER NO. or NO. DE SÉRIE.
What the serial actually looks like
Why the age is worth knowing
John Wood residential tanks come with 6 to 12 year warranties depending on the model line. The construction is solid and many units run 12-15 years in service, especially in the softer water common in much of Canada. Watch for the anode rod after year 6 in hard-water areas.
Quick answers for this brand
Is John Wood still a Canadian company?
John Wood was acquired by GSW Limited in the 1990s and then became part of A.O. Smith when GSW was acquired in 2006. Manufacturing for many John Wood branded units is now in Fergus, Ontario or Johnson City, Tennessee depending on the model. The brand identity remains Canadian even though ownership is American.
How is John Wood different from GSW?
Both brands are part of the A.O. Smith Canadian operations and tanks come off similar production lines. John Wood is the better-known retail brand in Canada while GSW serves the wholesale and house-brand channels. Serial format and warranty handling are essentially the same.
Where do I get parts for a John Wood in the US?
John Wood parts route through A.O. Smith's North American distribution, so any plumbing wholesaler that handles A.O. Smith can typically order John Wood specific parts. Generic universal parts (anode rod, T&P valve, elements) fit without issue and are available at any hardware store.
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