Where to find the model number on a water heater

A tank water heater's label is hard to miss once you know what to look for: a large sticker on the front or side of the tank, dense with numbers. The model and serial number are near the top of it. Tankless water heaters, which hang on a wall, carry a smaller label on a side panel or the front cover.

Where the label usually is

Most water heaters: look on the outside of the tank for the big label, on the front or a side.

By brand

• Rheem, RuudThe rating label is on the front of the tank.
• A.O. SmithThe label is near the bottom of the water heater.
• GE, Café, MonogramThe label is on the side of the tank, left or right.
• NavienLook on the right side of the unit; a second label is on the front cover.
• RinnaiThe label is on the left side panel.

Each brand's spot is from that maker's own "where is my model number" page or manual, linked under Sources. Models vary, so if it isn't there, check the other spots above.

How to find and record the numbers

1. 1. Make it safeThe pipes on top can be hot, so keep your hands off them. The label is on the outside: no need to open the burner or element covers.
2. 2. Look in the usual spot firstLook on the outside of the tank for the big label, on the front or a side.
3. 3. Find the two numbersLook for the words Model (or M/N, Mod.) and Serial (or S/N, Ser.). The model is the product; the serial is your one unit.
4. 4. Take a sharp photoUse the flashlight at an angle so the label doesn't glare, and get the whole label in the frame. A photo beats copying by hand: 0 and O, 1 and I, 5 and S are easy to mix up.
5. 5. Keep it where you'll find itSave the photo with the appliance's name, or write both numbers on the receipt or in your home records.

Model number or serial number?

The model number names the product: every unit of that model shares it, and it's what you need for the manual, replacement parts and recall searches. The serial number is your one unit. Makers use it for warranty claims, and many build the date it was made into it, which is how you can tell an appliance's age without the receipt. Each maker uses its own code for the date, so look up your brand's pattern or ask the maker before you trust a guess.

What you'll use it for

The rating label tells you the tank's size in gallons and whether it's gas or electric, and the serial number usually encodes when it was made, which is the number people really want: an older water heater is the one to plan around before it leaks. The model number finds the manual, which covers the flushing schedule, the anode rod and the relief valve test, and the parts that fit. A plumber quoting a replacement will ask for a photo of this label.

If the label isn't there

Walk all the way around the tank: insulation blankets, shelving and the wall often hide the label. If there's an insulation wrap, the label may be under it. Look near the bottom as well (A. O. Smith puts it there). A permit or the installer's invoice will list the model too.

Questions people ask