Kenmore Water Heater Age Lookup
Kenmore water heaters were sold by Sears and built by major manufacturers, with the date encoded in the serial number. Enter yours to decode the true manufacture date for Power Miser and HydroSense units. Free and instant.
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Finding Your Kenmore Serial Number
Check these four spots on your Kenmore 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.
Kenmore Serial Number Examples
Don't worry if yours looks different - Kenmore has multiple formats and our system can decode most variations.
About Kenmore Water Heaters
Kenmore is a Sears house brand, launched in 1927, and Sears never manufactured water heaters. The first three digits of the model number identify who did. A 153 prefix is State Industries and a 449 prefix is A.O. Smith. On a Kenmore plate, those three digits are the most useful characters printed.
That also explains a common frustration. A Kenmore model number is a Sears catalog number, so it will not match anything in a manufacturer specification sheet, and there is no Kenmore parts book listing tank dimensions or burner ratings. The way through is to read the maker from the prefix, then match by capacity, fuel type, and ignition to the equivalent State or A.O. Smith model from the same year.
Serial formats follow the maker as well, which is why two Kenmore heaters of similar age can carry completely different looking serials. With the Sears retail network largely gone, parts now come from Sears Parts Direct, general appliance parts suppliers, or the original manufacturer's distribution.
Where to find the serial
Kenmore water heaters have the rating plate on the upper third of the tank. Older units (pre-2010) carry a Sears model number prefix like 153.xxxxxx that maps to the actual manufacturer (usually State Industries or A.O. Smith depending on the era). The serial decoding follows the manufacturer's format.
What the serial actually looks like
Why the age is worth knowing
Kenmore as a brand effectively ended for water heaters after Sears began closing stores in 2018. Existing Kenmore units are still serviceable through plumbing parts suppliers, though warranty coverage has expired on essentially all units in service. After year 10 these are end-of-life regardless of badge.
Quick answers for this brand
Where do I get warranty service on a Kenmore water heater now?
Sears Home Services still handles some Kenmore warranty work in markets where it still operates, but coverage is hit or miss. The actual manufacturer (State or A.O. Smith depending on your unit) typically won't honor warranty on a Kenmore-badged tank since the warranty was issued by Sears. For most units past 8 years, replacement is the more practical path.
How do I tell who actually built my Kenmore?
Look at the Sears model number prefix on the rating plate. Prefix 153 usually means State Industries, 449 often means A.O. Smith, and other prefixes map to different OEMs. The serial format will match the manufacturer's standard pattern - YYWW for State and A.O. Smith, slightly different for others.
What does Power Miser 6, 9, or 12 mean on a Kenmore?
Power Miser was Kenmore's main residential line, and the number after it is the tank warranty tier in years - Power Miser 6 is a 6-year tank, Power Miser 9 is 9-year, and Power Miser 12 is 12-year. That number tells you the warranty length, not the age or the gallon capacity. To date the unit and find out who built it, you still read the model prefix and decode the serial number.
Are Kenmore parts still available?
Standard parts (anode rods, dip tubes, heating elements, thermostats, T&P valves) are universal and easy to source from any plumbing supply or hardware store. Brand-specific parts like the original gas valve assembly are harder, but a competent plumber can usually fit a universal replacement that meets code.
Need a plumber?
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Know someone with an aging water heater? Send them a free check.