Slant/Fin® HVAC age

How to determine the date of production/manufacture or age of Slant/Fin® brand Boiler 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: No Longer in Business. Per their website: "Slant/Fin Corp is no longer manufacturing or selling boilers or replacement parts. All Slant/fin boilers are Discontinued Models." - Mestek, Inc. acquired the Slant/Fin baseboard assets in April of 2021 and continues to market the baseboard line under the Slant/Fin trademark name.

Subsidiaries or other related brands: Mestek

The date of production/manufacture or age of Slant/Fin brand boiler equipment cannot be determined from serial number located on the rating data plate.

Example serial number styles/formats found:

Style 1: G0017649
Style 2: L43040967
Style 3: 444527
Style 4: Q70069

Slant/Fin utilized sequential serial numbers which varied in format. Unfortunately Slant/Fin closely guarded their numbering system and the manufacturing date could only be determined via contacting their technical assistance directly. Slant/Fin is no longer in business and can no longer be contacted for assistance with the manufacture date of these systems.

If an ANSI or CGA code compliance date is present on the rating plate, it may assist you in narrowing down a year range for the system. Additionally, the date stamp on the gas valve may be of assistance, but may only provide an approximate year the gas valve was replaced.

You may also be able to use our Hints & Tips page for other helpful clues in determining an approximate manufacture year range.

Slant/Fin® History¹

1949 - Company founded by Mel Dubin focusing on baseboard radiators with an original design as a locked, slanted fin - hence the name Slant/Fin
1965 - Slant/Fin grows to become a nationally-known company and proudly begins operations at its (then) newly constructed location in Greenvale, NY. Slant/Fin markets a marriage between boilers and baseboards for high performance and long-lasting quality. Slant/Fin also expands its baseboard line to begin offering Hydronic boilers - introducing the Galaxy gas boiler and Malibu oil boiler.
1975 - Slant/Fin revamps its advertising to focus more on style and appearance - featuring a new vinyl clad leathertone baseboard.
1980 - Slant/Fin expands their line to include the Fine/Line and Multi/Pak series baseboards, and earns trend-setter status in portable heat with the most dependable (at that time) portable baseboard heater built for safety, comfort and durability.
1985 - Slant/Fin expands factory and introduces the economically-priced and service-friendly XL-2000 oil boiler and the Caravan cast-iron modular boiler system.
1990 - Introduces "The Kicker" - a 14 ½ inch multi-purpose fan convection heater that outputs the heat of a 12 foot hot water baseboard. Also introduces the Victory power-vent gas boiler.
1995 - Introduces the Liberty boiler - considered unique in shape and performance which frees contractors from virtually all but once-a-year cleaning and burner service.
2000 - Introduces budget-friendly Base/Line 2000 baseboard which helps contractors win more jobs without compromising on performance or ease of installation. The company focuses on service from this point forward.
2005 - Introduces the Domestic Hot Water Generator - ideal for the Lynx or VSL Slant/Fin boilers to transfer heat with nearly 100% efficiency. The whisper-quiet "Eutectic" earns Slant/Fin recognition for the industry’s quietest boiler.
2010 - Creates the Victory VSPH power vented boiler - which vents directly through the wall with no chimney required and introduces higher efficiency to the standard cast iron boiler.
2015 - Launches the premium Decorator Series - the only residential baseboard offered in decorator colors with a hand-painted powder coat including choices of shell white, cloud grey, rubbed bronze, almond, mirror black, flat black, mineral bronze, and bright white. Slant/Fin also introduces the CHS Series condensing high efficiency stainless steel boiler.
2018 - Expanded the Decorator Series powder Coated baseboard with Revital/Line - an aluminum baseboard replacement cover which slips directly over the back panel of most residential baseboard installed in homes.
2021 - Experiencing supply chain issues and financial difficulties resulting from the global COVID-19 pandemic, Mestek, Inc. purchases the Slant/Fin baseboard assets. Slant/Fin enters into negotiations with U.S. Boiler for the remaining boiler assets.
2022 - In January, it is announced that Slant/Fin will begin company layoffs while negotiations continue with U.S. Boiler. Slant/Fin plans to continue some manufacturing of a line of boilers with 175-200 employees that were expected to remain. By September of 2022 it is revealed the U.S. Boiler negotiations fell apart and will not continue.
2023 - In February, Slant/Fin releases electronic communications stating : "After March 1st Slant/Fin will no longer offer Tech Support. We stopped shipping Slant/Fin Boilers in Aug of 2022. We continued to offer Tech Support through February to allow a chance to sell the boilers and have contractor installation issues resolved. We will continue to support boiler issues with warranties using the forms on our website. Thank you for your support of our products through the years."
2024 - Slant/Fin places the following written notice on their website: "Slant/Fin Corp is no longer manufacturing or selling boilers or replacement parts. All Slant/fin boilers are Discontinued Models. Slant/Fin can no longer warranty Beckett, Hydro-Level and Diversified Heat Transfer parts on boilers. All of Slant/Fin's replacement part warranties will expire Aug 1, 2024. For replacement boiler parts, please contact Parts4Heating.com. For Slant/Fin baseboard please contact Mestek"

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: 08/02/2024

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