How Old Is My Rheem Furnace?

How Old Is Your Rheem Furnace?

The easiest way to determine your furnace's age is to identify your furnace serial number, visit Rheem’s “How Old Is My Furnace” webpage, and type your serial number into the search bar.

If you still need help determining your furnace's age, contact your local HVAC contractor for assistance or continue reading below.

You could argue that our residential HVAC systems are the backbone of our household's climate. Utilizing your central HVAC system allows homeowners complete control over their home's climate, regardless of where they live.

In fact, a study conducted in 2020 by the US EIA Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) states that approximately 66% (or 76 million) of US homes use central air conditioning/furnace equipment.

The Rheem Manufacturing Company has been serving American homes for the greater part of 100 years. They originally started manufacturing water heaters in 1925. Since then, they have designed and manufactured several types of water heaters, including but not limited to gas water heaters, tankless water heaters, electric water heaters, and solar water heaters.

In 1950 they started manufacturing HVAC products and quickly became one of the most well-known names in the HVAC industry for their overall quality and function. Rheem HVAC is a privately held manufacturer that produces home comfort equipment, including air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps, water heaters, indoor air quality products, and more!

Rheem is also one of the only global brands to offer residential and commercial HVAC and water heating products, which makes them a one-stop shop for all of your HVAC solutions.

At Fire & Ice, we are a proud Rheem dealer, and we have serviced, repaired, replaced, and installed thousands of Rheem heating in cooling systems throughout Columbus and the surrounding areas.

In this article, we will go over how long a Rheem furnace lasts, how to identify the age of your Rheem furnace, the benefits of knowing how old your Rheem furnace is, and when it’s time to replace your Rheem furnace.

Let’s dig in!

How Long Does a Rheem Furnace Last?

As a general rule of thumb, a residential HVAC/ furnace can last between 10 to 15 years; however, some Rheem furnaces have been known to last up to 20 years! Now, you may ask yourself, “How does a furnace last two decades?”

Well, I’m here to tell you that several factors determine your Rheem furnace life expectancy, such as the sizing of the equipment, installation, routine maintenance, and how often you use it.

Four Factors That Help Your Rheem Furnace Last Longer

1. Sizing of Your Rheem Furnace
   The sizing of your furnace can play a big role in how long your furnace will last. Did you know that almost half of all installed HVAC systems are improperly sized?
   
   One of the best ways to ensure that your Rheem furnace is properly sized is to ask your HVAC professional if they completed a Manual J Load calculation. This calculation is required by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) for all new furnace installments.
   
   Unfortunately, many local HVAC contractors like to cut corners and leave this step out because they “think” they know proper sizing. Undersizing or oversizing HVAC equipment can have several consequences, like high monthly energy bills, high humidity, and a shorter lifespan of your HVAC system.
   
   
2. Installation of Your Rheem Furnace
   Contrary to popular belief, the HVAC contractor you hire for your installation matters more than your chosen brand. Your HVAC system is the gateway to your overall comfort; because of this, you want to select a trustworthy, dependable contractor.
   
   If you're having trouble finding an HVAC contractor, download our “HVAC Contractor Checklist.”  Our HVAC contractors checklist covers the hard-hitting questions homeowners should ask their chosen HVAC contractor, such as their hiring practices, training, certifications, equipment, safety, installation, and testing.  
   
   
3. Routine Maintenance for You Rheem Furnace
   Did you know that you are supposed to have routine maintenance performed on your HVAC system at least twice a year? This service is typically completed once in the spring and fall before the summer and winter seasons are in full swing.
   
   Investing and keeping up with your HVAC routine maintenance has several benefits, including:

●     A longer lifespan

●     Increased energy efficiency

●     Keeps your warranties intact

●     Ensures your HVAC is ready for the next season

●     Detecting potential problems before they become detrimental to your system

●     Clean filters

However, suppose you are a customer who needs to remember to schedule their HVAC maintenance. In that case, you can invest in one of our maintenance agreements. Our maintenance agreement promises routine maintenance on your system (two times a year), filter changes, and running diagnostics to ensure the proper function of your HVAC system.

4. How Often You Use Your Rheem Furnace
   How frequently you use your furnace also plays a role in its longevity. In this instance, you can think of your HVAC system like miles on a car. The more miles you drive, the more wear and tear on your vehicle; the same goes for your furnace.
   

If you are using your furnace every minute of every day, then the more “miles” it has, thus, decreasing its overall lifespan. Luckily, if you live in Ohio, you only use your residential furnace about six months out of the year (if that).

Bottom line: If you invest your time, energy, and money into ensuring you have successful sizing and installation, as well as investing in regular maintenance and how often you use your Rheem furnace, they can last up to 20 years.

How To Identify Your Rheem Furnace Age by Serial Number

First, we must locate our Rheem furnace serial number; depending on your system, they can be located in a few places. For split systems (an outdoor and indoor unit), you can find your serial number on the outside unit in the top left-hand corner. On the indoor unit, you will find the serial number on the tag inside the front top cover of your furnace.

Now that you have located your serial number, the best way to determine the age of your Rheem furnace is by looking it up on their website database. Below are two of the most common ways your serial number will be printed on your HVAC equipment, so let’s go over the styles of Rheem serial numbers and how to read them.

Before we continue, it’s important to note that these ARE NOT model numbers. Rheem’s serial and model numbers are separate entities; in this article, we only focus on the serial numbers.

Serial Number Style #1

This style is the most common for Rheem furnaces. It typically includes the manufacture date found on all Rheem furnaces, air conditioners, boilers, and water heaters.

Example Serial #: W352012345

In this case, the first two numbers are “35”, indicating that this furnace was manufactured on the 35th week of the year, which falls in September.

The next two numbers indicate the year, so in this instance, the number “20” means it was manufactured in 2020.

Therefore, this Rheem furnace was manufactured in September 2020. 

Serial Number Style #2:

The second most common style of the serial number follows after the middle letter of the serial number.

Four letters (M, N, F, & G) represent the location where the equipment was manufactured, for example, Fort Smith, Arkansas; Montgomery, Alabama; Oxnard, California; or Eagan, Minnesota.

Example: #AB6D307-M-0999

In this string of letters and numbers, you only need to focus on the middle letter and the last four digits.

The M indicates that the furnace was manufactured in Montgomery, Alabama. Then like the first example, the first two numbers represent the week of the year, and the last two numbers represent the year your Rheem HVAC equipment was manufactured.

Thus, this furnace was manufactured in Montgomery, Alabama, in March 1999

Nevertheless, if you are having trouble finding your serial number or your serial number or your number doesn't look like the ones above, you may have an older furnace. If so, you can ask your local HVAC contractor to decode it for you on their next visit.

What Are the Benefits of Knowing Your Rheem Furnace Age?

Let's say you already have a Rheem furnace; whether you bought it brand new several years ago or moved into a home with one already installed, it's important to know its age. There are several benefits of knowing the exact age of your furnace, including insurance benefits, general maintenance, and future planning.

Insurance Benefits- If you have homeowners insurance and want to add your HVAC system to your coverage, they will ask you for the serial number. Without the serial number, your HVAC system cannot be insured.

General Maintenance- If you know the age of your system, you’ll learn how often you should be getting routine maintenance on your system. Typically it is twice a year; however, if you have an older HVAC system, it's better to be safe than sorry.

Future Planning- If you know the age of your system, and they last roughly 20 years, then you know when your furnace will be on the fritz. Knowing the age of your system can help you plan and save money for a new whole-home comfort system.

When Should I Replace My Rheem Furnace?

Like all technology, your furnace will reach a point where it's on its last leg. This means your system will become less energy efficient, more prone to breakdowns, and you’ll find yourself spending more money on repairs than you would on a brand-new system.

However, before your furnace gets to that point in its life, some signs and symptoms will indicate that it's getting close to retirement.

●     Odd Noises can be a sign of a system failure. If you hear any thumping, grinding, screeching, banging, or other concerning sounds, it could be coming from inside your system.

●     Increased Electric Bills also indicate that your furnace is on its last leg. When you have an older system, it will work harder to keep up with your temperature demands. Not to mention the older the furnace is, the less energy efficient it is, which costs homeowners more money. 

●     Poor Indoor Air Quality can be another sign that your furnace is on the fritz. In fact, about half of all illnesses are caused or brought on by poor indoor air quality. On top of that, an older furnace could generate ozone and fossil fuels, which are bad for you, your family, and the environment!

●     Frequent Repairs can also be a tell-all sign that your system is about to fail. If you call your trusted HVAC company more than twice a year and continue spending money on repairs, investing in a new furnace may be more financially sound.

Putting It All Together

Whether you're a homeowner in the market for a new Rheem furnace or you're searching for a reliable and trustworthy HVAC contractor, look no further.

Our knowledgeable and trusted HVAC technicians and installers at Fire and Ice go through over 200+ hours of continuing education each year, are full-time W2 employees, NATE certified, and use state-of-the-art tools.

If you have any questions or if you’re ready to start your HVAC journey with Fire & Ice, then call or click below; we look forward to serving YOU!