Bradford White's serial number format is one of the most-searched aspects of the brand (12,100 monthly searches for "bradford white water heater age" alone). The date code uses a letter + digit format where the letter encodes the year and the digit encodes the month — using a non-alphabetical cycle. You can't guess this without the table.
The Bradford White date code format
Read the first 2 characters of your Bradford White serial number:
- Character 1 (letter): year — letters cycle through a specific 20-letter sequence (skips O, I, Q)
- Character 2 (letter): month — letters A-L in normal alphabetical order (A=Jan through L=Dec)
The year letter cycles through A-N, P-Z (skipping I, O, Q), then restarts. So you need the year of installation context to know which 20-year cycle the letter refers to.
Year letter decode (current cycle)
| Letter | Year | Letter | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 2004 / 2024 | N | 2017 |
| B | 2005 / 2025 | P | 2018 |
| C | 2006 / 2026 | R | 2019 |
| D | 2007 | S | 2020 |
| E | 2008 | T | 2021 |
| F | 2009 | U | 2022 |
| G | 2010 | V | 2023 |
| H | 2011 | W | 2004 (prior cycle) |
| J | 2012 | X | 2005 (prior cycle) |
| K | 2013 | Y | 2006 (prior cycle) |
| L | 2014 | Z | 2007 (prior cycle) |
| M | 2015 / 2016 |
Note: letters I, O, and Q are skipped (confusion with digits 1 and 0). The year letter cycles every 20 years, so newer units have started reusing letters from the 2000s cycle. Cross-reference with the install date or model number if ambiguous.
Month letter decode
| Letter | Month | Letter | Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | January | G | July |
| B | February | H | August |
| C | March | J | September (I skipped) |
| D | April | K | October |
| E | May | L | November |
| F | June | M | December |
Examples
- Serial RC123456 → year letter R = 2019, month letter C = March → March 2019
- Serial UF998877 → year U = 2022, month F = June → June
- Serial MA456789 → year M = 2015 or 2016 (need install context), month A = January → January 2015 or 2016
Where to find the serial number
The Bradford White serial number is on the data plate — typically on the side of the unit, near the gas valve on gas tanks or above the upper element access on electric.
Why date code matters
- Warranty status: see our Bradford White warranty hub
- Average service life: Defender/RG 12-18 years; M-I electric 13-15; Infiniti GR tankless 20+ with descaling
- Buying used homes: a 5-year-old Bradford White is genuinely worth more than the equivalent age Rheem entry-tier
Bottom line
The Bradford White date code is the brand's quirkiest user-facing feature. Year letter + month letter from positions 1-2 of the serial number gives you manufacture date. For warranty status combined with the date code see our warranty page.