I have run into this a couple of times in just the past month. The date code portion of the serial number at the top of the manufacturer’s data plate (to determine year and week manufacture) is swapped where it is found at the bottom of the same equipment’s label, where they actually show the date. This particular outside section of the heat pump unit today is a “Grandaire” (ICP). If you look up the date code it should be Year ( 11) and Week (13), (building center.com) which corresponds to the serial number at the top of the data plate but at the bottom, next to the listed date it is reversed and the “X” is in the middle of the SN. kinda wonky.
Just wondering if any one else has run into this. I’ll need to go back in my records to find the other one I noticed this on recently to see if perchance may have been manufactured about the same time and or if it was a Grandaire or other “sub-brand” of ICP.
I can see that just wondering why the SN at the bottom of the label is “assbackards” from the one shown at the top (kind of dyslectic transposition of the SN). which could be interpreted as 11th week, 2013 if you go by the normal date code for ICP. Many times the labels are faded in our desert sunshine. but just wondering why the conflict on the same label?
Age of the equipment is important for our (my) clients. What I have found is the equipment is installed (put into use) within a couple months if not weeks of the manufacture date. (this has been the case even before the scamdemic). I say this because on new construction the date on the condensers are fresh out of the factory. And it is also good for clients to know how old the equipment is, gives them at least a rough idea if they may need to expect to shell out 10-15 grand on a new system. I have also debated on along with age of equipment, listing if the AC/Heat-Pump is R22 or 410a with a canned statement advising the problem and expensive nature for repair if R22. Probably more important than age in many respects.
Take the equipment in my photos above as an example; The Condenser is 11 years old but is R-22 and I’m going to take a guess that it was the cheapest way to go for a couple of reasons. Mainly because it would be a royal PITA to remove the inside section and air handler in the attic which is no way going to come out between the trusses (I advised them about this, probably going to have to drop the drywall). Now if that unit needs a recharge, it is going to be very expensive and seeing that the evaporator and air handler was manufactured in 1989, I would be going for a complete new system… So Yes, age is important at least to my clients.
As a past mfg rep for a major HVAC manufacturer, I often saw 2-4 yr old equipment leaving the factory for the 1st time AND then might set in a dealers warehouse another year or 2. Don’t get hung up on the data tag
What the heck? Attic opening should always accommodate for the size equipment.
This is my conclusion, anything R22 is old already. Time for an upgrade if it breaks Furthermore, I do not want to dive into cost of repairs or future events that have not happened. Tomorrow’s shingles could triple in price just like lumber…it’s just too much to weigh in on.
This is what they get from me.
I report on date of mfg and if it is near, at the end or past its expected useful life based on that date. Then I state I am unable to determine remaining useful life. That’s it.
If it has other problems, those get reported on. If it is a clean machine, I move on.
The tags read the same manufacturing date to me, Larry. March-2011 & X (Year)11 (Week) 13.
One tag represents the indoor unit. The other tag represents the outdoor unit.
Hope that helps.
No, you’re not “just asking”. You are (as usual) talking down to a group of other inspectors like a peacock strutting his stuff in a field.
This may surprise you, but the average civilian home buyer has “zero” idea how old anything is, and often times the rough rules- of- thumb all anyone has to go by.
In cold regions or States, people get concerned buying a home with a 40 year old furnace.
So, buying a 30 or 40 year old A/C scares many people, and they should be told how old something is. Then they can draw their own conclusions.
(And down here, plenty of residential HVAC systems are $10-15K, although most “average” homes are less.)
I had a quote this year to do a system replacement. Duel fuel propane furnace/ heat pump system. It came in at $12K plus and my house is around 2800 sqft. I went a different route with a different company and replaced only the furnace/air handler for $4k.
Not sure why @dandersen was flagged. If who ever flagged him did not like his tone or disagreed with the content, then the counter point could have been made.
Silencing those you disagree with or are offended by is silly business.
I had a similar incident about 5 years ago. He wanted to sell me this high seer variable speed Mercedes Benz system,…I looked at him and said “look around, I have a 1972 ranch with original windows, doors and insulation. Any conditioned air you blow into this house, is going right back out. May I see your Toyota Corolla options please”
Yep! The guy that came out and got the job was pretty straight forward with his bid and quote. He said that a lot of folks are going with “smart” units that are a fad. He said if the “mother board” on one of these units was faulty or bad, it was in around $1600 just to replace it not including labor. And that was just electronics…
Furthermore, I do not want to dive into cost of repairs or future events that have not happened. Tomorrow’s shingles could triple in price just like lumber…it’s just too much to weigh in on.
