How old is my Carrier HVAC?
Carrier serial numbers encode the date in the first four digits: the first two are the week of manufacture and the next two are the year, followed by a letter and five digits.
The same decoder works for: Bryant, Payne, Day & Night, Heil, Tempstar, Comfortmaker, Arcoaire, ICP, International Comfort Products.
Free. The serial is on the metal nameplate or rating label, usually near the bottom of the unit.
Carrier serial-number formats
| Era | Format | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 1980–present | a 10-character serial — two-digit week, two-digit year, a letter, then five digits (used since 1980) | high |
Worked examples
0118A12345
→ manufactured around January 2018 (about 8 years old). Read as a 10-character serial — two-digit week, two-digit year, a letter, then five digits (used since 1980). Decoded value 01 (position group 1), year 2018 (digits "18", pivot 80), month ~January (approximated from week 1) → manufactured around January 2018, about 8 years old.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find the age of my Carrier unit?
Carrier serial numbers encode the date in the first four digits: the first two are the week of manufacture and the next two are the year, followed by a letter and five digits. Enter the serial from the unit's nameplate into the decoder on this page and it returns the manufacture date and age instantly. Always confirm against the manufacture date printed on the nameplate.
Where is the serial number on a Carrier HVAC?
The serial number is printed on the metal data plate or rating label, usually near the bottom or on the side of the unit. It is labeled "Serial," "Serial No.," or "S/N." Do not confuse it with the model number.
Is the Carrier serial-number date exact?
It identifies the manufacture date, not the install date — a unit is often installed weeks or months after it was built. Verify against the manufacture date on the nameplate when one is printed.
Developers & AI agents: the Carrier decode rules are available as JSON.
Serial-number decoding is approximate. Results are estimates based on published manufacturer formats; always verify against the manufacture date printed on the unit nameplate. ApplianceAge is a CarWhere tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any manufacturer. Brand names are used only to identify the equipment a serial belongs to.