How to Find a Goodman Furnace Manufacture Date From Model and Serial Numbers

Determining the manufacture date of a Goodman furnace helps with warranty claims, part compatibility, maintenance planning, and resale valuation. This article explains how to decode Goodman model and serial numbers, shows examples across different eras, and provides tips for locating, verifying, and documenting the manufacture date for U.S. homeowners and service professionals.

Serial Number Format	What It Indicates	Example
10-digit (Post-1994)	First two digits often year; next two digits week; remaining are plant and sequence	1203A12345 => 2012 Week 03
11-digit (Some Models)	First two digits year, next two week, others plant/sequence	14051234567 => 2014 Week 05
Older Formats (Pre-1994)	Use model prefix and revision letters; manufacturer records required	AB1234X

How Goodman Serial And Model Numbers Are Used To Determine Manufacture Date

Goodman and some sister brands (Amana, Daikin-owned lines) commonly encode manufacture date in the serial number. For most units made after the mid-1990s, the first two digits of the serial number indicate the two-digit year of manufacture and the following two digits often indicate the week number of that year. However, variations exist by plant, era, and model family.

The model number gives information about capacity, fuel type, product series, and revision codes, but it does not always include a straight manufacture date. Combining model and serial data improves accuracy, especially when serial formats vary across decades.

Where To Find The Serial And Model Numbers On A Goodman Furnace

The nameplate or rating plate on a Goodman furnace contains the model and serial numbers along with electrical specifications and safety listings. Typical locations include the furnace cabinet interior, the blower compartment, the access panel edge, or inside the front panel near the control board.

For furnaces in attic or closet installations, the plate may be on the unit’s exterior or behind an access door. For packaged units, the data plate can be on a side panel. Photographs of the entire plate are recommended for warranty or parts ordering.

Common Serial Number Formats And How To Decode Them

Modern Format (Typical: Post-1994)

Many Goodman serial numbers are 10 or 11 characters long. In these common formats: the first two digits equal the year of manufacture and the next two digits equal the week (01–52).

Example: Serial 1508123456 likely decodes to 2015, Week 08 (early February 2015). The remaining digits indicate the production plant and sequence number.

Alternate Modern Format

Some serials begin with a letter or plant code, then a two-digit year and two-digit week. In these cases the numeric pairs still typically give year and week but may be offset by the initial character.

Example: A serial like A141023456 might mean 2014, Week 10, with the leading letter as a plant identifier.

Older And Legacy Formats (Pre-1994)

Earlier Goodman units used less consistent serial conventions. Serial or model prefixes, suffix characters, and revision letters were common. For these, manufacturer records or dealer databases are often necessary to confirm the date.

When encountering short serials or mixed alphanumeric formats, a photograph of the entire data plate and model is useful when contacting Goodman or a licensed dealer.

Step-By-Step Guide To Finding The Manufacture Date

Step 1: Locate the data plate and photograph the full plate, including model and serial numbers and any barcode or label.

Step 2: Note the exact serial number characters in order; do not assume or replace letters and numbers that look similar (e.g., O vs 0, I vs 1).

Step 3: Check the first two numeric digits of the serial for a likely year and the following two for the week. If the first characters are letters, look for the first numeric pair in the sequence.

Step 4: Cross-reference the model number for product family and series; older units may require model-to-date crosswalks from Goodman or archived dealer resources.

Step 5: If the serial format is ambiguous, contact Goodman Consumer Support or a certified Goodman dealer with photos and plate information to get verification.

Examples Of Decoding Serial Numbers

Example 1: Serial 1217409876 — First two digits 12 = 2012; next two digits 17 = Week 17 (late April 2012). This indicates a manufacture date around late April 2012.

Example 2: Serial A080512345 — Leading letter A ignored for date parse; digits 08 = 2008; 05 = Week 05 (early February 2008). Always confirm with the dealer if plant codes are present.

Example 3: Older Serial AB234567 — No clear year/week encoding. Submit the full plate image to Goodman support for an official date look-up.

When The Serial Number Doesn’t Reveal The Date

Some Goodman units don’t follow the year/week front-loading, particularly units built before widespread electronic tracking and units produced at different plants. In these cases, the manufacturer or authorized dealer must perform a lookup.

Goodman’s parent company and parts databases can return build dates when provided with full model and serial numbers. Keep original installation records, receipts, or service tags as additional evidence of installation date.

Goodman Warranty Periods And Why Manufacture Date Matters

Goodman offers limited warranties that start from the date of installation or manufacture depending on the product and promotion. Knowing the accurate manufacture date is crucial for warranty eligibility, for diagnostics of parts life expectancy, and to establish whether extended warranties or registration deadlines were met.

For parts warranty claims, some warranties reference manufacture date when determining coverage for specific components. Always verify the warranty terms that applied when the unit was purchased and installed.

How Dealers And Technicians Verify Age And History

Licensed HVAC dealers use manufacturer portals, parts catalogs, and service history systems to confirm manufacture dates and factory configuration options. These systems account for plant codes and production sequence numbers that consumer-facing decoding may miss.

Technicians may also inspect internal component date codes (transformer, control board, burners) for corroboration, though those reflect component manufacture rather than final unit assembly.

Tips For Documenting And Preserving Furnace Age Information

• Photograph the data plate and store the images with the home’s maintenance records.
• Record the serial and model number in a digital note for easy access during service calls.
• Retain installation invoices and service tags; installers often place a service sticker with installation date on the unit.
• Register the product with Goodman when possible to simplify warranty verification and record-keeping.

Common Mistakes To Avoid When Decoding Dates

Do not assume all serial numbers use the year/week pattern; variations exist by era and plant. Avoid confusing similar characters (e.g., letter O vs number 0). Always verify with Goodman or an authorized dealer if the date influences warranty or safety decisions.

Do not use internal component dates as the sole indicator of the unit’s manufacture date. Component dates may predate final assembly or reflect replacement parts.

Where To Find Official Verification And Support

Contact Goodman customer support through the official website or call the manufacturer’s customer service line for date verification. Authorized Goodman dealers and installers can access factory databases for definitive build dates.

When contacting support include: clear photos of the data plate, the full model number, the full serial number, and the unit location. This information speeds verification and helps with parts ordering and warranty inquiries.

When To Consider Replacement Instead Of Repair

Knowing the manufacture date helps determine expected remaining life. Typical gas furnace service lives range between 15 and 25 years depending on maintenance and usage. If the unit is older than 15 years and repair costs exceed 30–50% of replacement, replacement may be more cost-effective.

Manufacture date also affects energy efficiency comparison. Newer furnaces offer higher AFUE ratings and may qualify for rebates, so documenting the age supports upgrade decisions.

Useful Resources And References

• Goodman Manufacturing official support and owner’s resources
• Authorized Goodman dealer locator and service networks
• HVAC forums and archived serial/model decoding references (use with caution and verify with official sources)

When in doubt, rely on Goodman or an authorized dealer for final verification instead of informal online decoders, especially for warranty decisions.

Quick Checklist For Finding A Goodman Furnace Manufacture Date

1. Locate and photograph the data plate and entire unit label.
2. Write down the full model and serial numbers exactly.
3. Try decoding first two digits as year and next two as week for modern units.
4. If ambiguous, contact Goodman support or an authorized dealer with photos.
5. Keep records of the verification for warranty and maintenance files.

Key Takeaway: For most Goodman furnaces manufactured in the last few decades, the serial number contains a year/week code near the front. When serial formats are unclear or when warranty validation is required, authenticated verification from Goodman or an authorized dealer provides the most reliable manufacture date.