WeatherKing® HVAC age

How to determine the date of production/manufacture or age of WeatherKing® brand HVAC Systems.

The industry average service design life for most forced air furnaces is 15-20 years, and the industry average service design life for most air conditioning condensing units is 10-15 years. The average service design life of boilers can vary from as little as 10 years to as many as 50 years depending on the type and quality of materials used in their manufacture. Routine upkeep/maintenance, regional weather/climate, and location/placement of the mechanical systems will all play critical roles in the longevity of these systems.

Parent Company: WeatherKing is currently a registered trademark name of Rheem owned by The Paloma Group

See Also Rheem (1990 and current residential serial number styles)

See Also Addison (1960~1995 serial number styles)

History (important information to assist in determining age of manufacture):

In 1960, Addison purchased WeatherKing, Inc. in Orlando, Florida. WeatherKing was a pioneer in the development of water-source and air-source heat pumps for the warm climate of the South. The company was originally established as "WeatherKing of Florida, Inc." but renamed in 1965 to WeatherKing, Inc." by Addison Products.

Circa 1988-1990, Addison Products sold the residential "WeatherKing" brand line (but not the Orlando manufacturing facility), and sold off its Michigan manufacturing facilities to Rheem Mfg. In 1990, Addison moved into a new facility in Orlando to focus on commercial HVAC systems and continued to manufacture commercial products under the "WeatherKing" brand.

In December 1995, Addison Products was acquired by Heat Controller. The new company was called "Addison Products Co., a division of Heat Controller Inc."

After 1988, all residential products bearing the name "WeatherKing" will have been manufactured by Rheem. Any commercial systems bearing the "WeatherKing" name will have been manufactured by Addison Products up until circa 1995.

Addison no longer manufactures systems under the WeatherKing name; however, WeatherKing remains a registered trademark and active residential brand of Rheem Manufacturing.

The date of production/manufacture or age of Rheem brand HVAC equipment can be determined from the serial number located on the rating data plate. Rheem has used multiple serial number styles over their production history.

Example serial number styles/formats found:

Style 1: W291013412 (Rheem style)
Style 2: CB5D302F099903346 (Rheem style)
Style 3: 7351 M2806 16735 (Rheem style)
Style 4: OR177 M2807 00097 (Rheem style)
Style 5: 28607168189 (Addison style pre-1990)
Style 6: 009920304091 (Addison style post-1990)

Legend: Year is RED; Month is GREEN; Week is BLUE

Style 1: W291013412 (Rheem style)

Year of manufacture can be determined by using the 4^th & 5^th positions of the serial number

Week of manufacture can be determined by using the 2^nd & 3^rd positions of the serial number

Style 2: CB5D302F099903346 (Rheem style)

Year of manufacture can be determined by using the 3^rd & 4^th numbers following the middle letter of the serial number

Week of manufacture can be determined by using the 1st & 2nd numbers following the middle letter of the serial number

Note: The middle letter is the factory code (typically F, M, G, W, or N)

Style 3: 7351 M2806 16735 (Rheem style)

Year of manufacture can be determined by using the 3^rd & 4^th numbers following the middle letter of the serial number

Week of manufacture can be determined by using the 1st & 2nd numbers following the middle letter of the serial number

Note: The middle letter is the factory code (typically F, M, G, W, or N). The serial number may or may not contain spaces.

Style 4: OR177 M2807 00097 (Rheem style)

Year of manufacture can be determined by using the 3^rd & 4^th numbers following the middle letter of the serial number

Week of manufacture can be determined by using the 1st & 2nd numbers following the middle letter of the serial number

Note: The middle letter is the factory code (typically F, M, G, W, or N). The serial number may or may not contain spaces.

Style 5: 28607168189 (Addison style pre-1990)

Year of manufacture can be determined by using the 2^nd & 3^rd positions of the serial number

Month of manufacture can be determined by using the 4^th & 5^th positions of the serial number

Note: This is a pre-1990's style from Addison Products.

Style 6: 009920304091 (Addison style post-1990)

Year of manufacture can be determined by using the 3^rd & 4^th digits of the serial number

Note: This is a post-1990's style from Addison Products.

WeatherKing® History¹

Originally established as WeatherKing of Florida, Inc. as a pioneer in the development of water-source and air-source heat pumps for the warm climate of the South.
1960 - Company acquired by Addison Products.
1965 - Renamed to WeatherKing, Inc.
1990 - In a somewhat confusing era and chain of acquisitions, Rheem acquires the "Weatherking" line from Addison Products. Addison's Orlando, Florida operation was not part of the transaction. Addison Products WeatherKing [commericial] Division (Orlando) was later acquired by Heat Controller in 1995, and renamed Addison Products Co., a division of Heat Controller Inc. It was later acquired again and owned by Fedders in 2004 until their bankruptcy in 2008.
WeatherKing® remains an active residential brand of Rheem Manufacturing.
(See Addison history and Rheem history for further info)

¹Excerpts from various industry sources

Every effort is undertaken to offer you correct and concise information to assist you in determining the age or manufacture date of HVAC/R equipment. Users relying on this information do so at their own risk.

Page last updated: 12/03/2023

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