The rating plate is usually a sticker on the side of a tank or the front of a tankless unit. On older heaters it may be faded or partly hidden by a jacket or straps, so use a flashlight and take a photo you can zoom into. Don't remove covers or move the heater to read it.
Fill in from your rating plate
| Field | What it means | Your heater |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Who made the heater | |
| Model number | Identifies parts and the manual | |
| Serial number | Often encodes the manufacture date | |
| Type | Tank, tankless, or heat pump | |
| Fuel | Natural gas, propane or electric | |
| Capacity or flow | Gallons, or gallons per minute for tankless | |
| Input | BTU per hour, or watts and voltage | |
| First-hour rating | Tank hot water delivery in a busy hour, if listed | |
| Venting type | Atmospheric, power vent or direct vent, if listed |
Labels you may see
- BTU/hr
- The gas input rate, a key figure when checking whether the gas line can supply the heater.
- Wattage
- The element rating on an electric heater, tied to the circuit it needs.
- Recovery
- How many gallons the tank can heat per hour by a stated temperature rise.
- Clearances
- Minimum distances to combustibles listed for safe installation.
Finding the manufacture date
- Photograph the serial.Capture the full serial number clearly.
- Look up the format.Manufacturers publish how their serial numbers encode the date; the format varies by brand and era.
- Confirm with a plumber.If the format isn't clear, a plumber can read it during a visit.
Questions this worksheet helps answer
- Is this heater gas or electric, tank or tankless?
- Roughly how old is it?
- Can my gas line or circuit support a different replacement?
- Which parts fit this model?
Common questions
The label is unreadable. What now?
Note the brand and whatever you can read, measure the tank height and diameter, and photograph the gas control or element covers. A plumber can usually identify it on site.
Does the plate tell me if the heater is up to code?
No. Code items like strapping, venting and the relief valve line depend on the installation, not the label.
Why does input matter for a replacement?
A unit with a higher gas input may need a larger gas line or different venting than your current heater.
General information for Orange, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.