U.S. Craftmaster Water Heater Age Lookup
U.S. Craftmaster tank heaters, gas and electric, carry their build date in the serial number. Enter yours to decode the exact manufacture date and current age. Free with instant results.

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Finding Your U.S. Craftmaster Serial Number
Check these four spots on your U.S. Craftmaster 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.
U.S. Craftmaster Serial Number Examples
Don't worry if yours looks different - U.S. Craftmaster has multiple formats and our system can decode most variations.
About U.S. Craftmaster Water Heaters
U.S. Craftmaster water heaters are a brand of American Water Heater Company, one of the United States' largest domestic water heater manufacturers and a wholly owned subsidiary of A.O. Smith Corporation. The U.S. Craftmaster name has a history intertwined with the broader story of American residential water heating, rooted in the brands built by Mor-Flo Industries, which merged various legacy companies into American Water Heater Company in 1997. GSW Limited acquired American Water Heater Company in 2002, and A.O. Smith completed the acquisition of GSW in 2006, bringing U.S. Craftmaster firmly under the A.O. Smith umbrella alongside sister brands such as American, Craftmaster, State, and Whirlpool-branded water heaters. The U.S. Craftmaster brand is sold primarily through wholesale plumbing distributors to professional plumbing contractors and the building trade rather than through retail channels.
U.S. Craftmaster manufactures a full range of residential tank-type gas and electric water heaters in standard capacities from 30 to 80 gallons, suitable for single-family homes, small multifamily units, and light commercial applications. The product lineup emphasizes practical reliability and broad availability rather than premium features, making U.S. Craftmaster a common choice in new residential construction and straightforward replacement scenarios. Gas models use atmospheric or power-vent configurations with standard pilot or electronic ignition systems, while electric models feature dual-element designs for balanced recovery. Construction follows American Water Heater Company's standard practices, including glass-lined tank protection, magnesium anode corrosion defense, and foam insulation for energy retention. The units comply with applicable federal and regional energy efficiency requirements for residential water heaters.
Warranty coverage on U.S. Craftmaster units is typically six years on the tank and parts, reflecting the brand's position in the professional plumbing market. Service support is handled through American Water Heater Company's network of authorized service agents and parts distributors, with broad availability of replacement components through plumbing wholesalers nationwide. Technical documentation, installation guides, and service manuals are available through A.O. Smith's professional resources portal. U.S. Craftmaster serial numbers use the same week-and-year encoding format shared across the American Water Heater Company product family: the first two digits represent the two-digit year of manufacture and the next two digits represent the production week of that year, with the remaining characters forming the unit's unique sequential serial identifier.
Where to find the serial
U.S. Craftmaster rating plates sit on the upper third of the tank. The serial is labeled SER NO. and follows the standard YYWW format used across the American Water Heater / A.O. Smith family.
What the serial actually looks like
Why the age is worth knowing
U.S. Craftmaster typically carries 6-year tank warranties on standard models with 9-year and 12-year upgrades available. These are value-tier builder-grade tanks - in service for a typical 10-12 years, sometimes less if installed in hard water without anode rod maintenance.
Quick answers for this brand
Is U.S. Craftmaster a real brand or a rebadge?
U.S. Craftmaster is a brand name owned by American Water Heater Company (an A.O. Smith subsidiary). The tanks are real and built in Johnson City, Tennessee, sharing the production line with American, Craftmaster, and various house brands. The serial format is identical across these brands.
How is U.S. Craftmaster different from Craftmaster?
The two names are used in different distribution channels but the underlying tanks are essentially the same. Some markets see one name more than the other depending on which wholesale distributor handles the territory. Internal components and warranty terms are very similar.
Are parts for a U.S. Craftmaster easy to find?
Yes - because U.S. Craftmaster shares parts with American Water Heater, Whirlpool, Craftmaster, and several other brands from the same plant, parts are widely available through plumbing supply houses. Generic universal parts (anode rods, thermostats, T&P valves, elements) also fit without issue.

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