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How Old Is My Carrier Air Conditioner?
The first two digits of a modern Carrier-family serial number are the week of the year and the next two are the year. Type the serial number from your air conditioner's data plate below.
Where the serial number is on a air conditioner
On the outdoor unit (the condenser), look for the data plate on the side panel, often near the electrical box where the power cables go in. The indoor coil or air handler has its own plate with a different serial number.
How to read a Carrier serial number
The first two digits of a modern Carrier-family serial number are the week of the year and the next two are the year.
10 characters (4 digits, a letter, 5 digits), 1980s to today
WW YY L #####
- Digits 1 and 2 are the week of the year (01 to 52).
- Digits 3 and 4 are the year: 19 means 2019.
- The letter after them is the factory.
Example: 0519E28045
Older 7, 8 and 9 character serials from the 1960s to 1980s use several different codes. Published guides disagree on them, so we do not decode them yet.
How long does a air conditioner last?
Most air conditioners last 12 to 17 years. Yearly servicing, the local climate and how hard it works all move it within that range. Past 12 years, it is worth getting a replacement price before the unit fails, so you aren't forced into a rushed decision.
Air conditioners made before 2010 almost always use R-22 refrigerant, which is no longer produced in the US. If an older unit leaks, replacing it is often cheaper than recharging it.
Questions
How do I find the age of my Carrier air conditioner?
The first two digits of a modern Carrier-family serial number are the week of the year and the next two are the year. You'll find the serial number on the data plate. On the outdoor unit (the condenser), look for the data plate on the side panel, often near the electrical box where the power cables go in. The indoor coil or air handler has its own plate with a different serial number.
How long does a Carrier air conditioner last?
Like most air conditioners, a Carrier typically lasts 12 to 17 years with regular servicing.
Related
How sure are these dates? Published guides agree on this code, but we have not yet checked it against an official record. How we test the decoder.
Keeping an older air conditioner going
- Ac condenser coil cleaner: Dirty outdoor coils make an older unit work harder.
- Furnace air filter: The indoor filter matters for cooling too.
- Smart thermostat: Cuts run time on any system, old or new.