How to Age Goodman HVAC

How to Age Goodman HVAC- Furnace, Air Conditioner, and Heat Pump

Finding your Goodman AC age is quite simple if you know where to look. Finding your Goodman furnace age is the exact same process.

Goodman HVAC equipment has to be by far the most popular brand I see daily. I don’t track the percentages, but I would guess well over 50% of the HVAC equipment I see as a home inspector is Goodman.

This is partly due to the brand’s low cost and widespread availability- even through internet sales where most brands of HVAC equipment are not available, Goodman is. When things are cheap and easy to get your hands on, you’ll no doubt see more of it.

Aging your Goodman air conditioning, furnace, or heat pump is easy if you know where to look on the label. Goodman is not the only brand that decodes their equipment like this either, aging Daikin HVAC equipment uses the same system.

The first 4 digits will give everything you need to know to age a piece of Goodman AC, Furnace, or Heat Pump. The first two digits will be the year of manufacturing, and the second two digits will be the month.

How to age a Goodman Gas Furnace?

A Goodman gas furnace will have the data label inside the upper compartment (usually along the left-hand side). Find the Serial Number, and look for the first 4 digits.

Goodman Furnace Age
The data label on a Goodman furnace will be located inside the upper cabinet.

How to age a Goodman AC?

Goodman places their data label on their air conditioners along the bottom of the cabinet down where the line set connects to the condensing unit. These labels can be tricky to read sometimes as the sun will fade them out to the point you can’t read them.

The rules for a Goodman A/C unit are the same as a Goodman furnace. The first two digits of the serial number are the year the unit was manufactured, and the second two are the month.

The image below shows an A/C unit that was produced in 04-2021.

Aging Goodman AC unit
The data label on a Goodman air conditioner is located along the base of the cabinet near the line set.

How to age a Goodman Heat Pump?

Aging a Goodman Heat Pump is exactly the same as aging a Goodman AC unit. The data plate will be in the same place as well (along the base of the unit). The unit pictured below was manufactured on 05-2013.

Goodman Heatpump Age
The data label on a Goodman Heat Pump is located along the base of the cabinet near the line set- just like their A/C units.

How Long Does Goodman HVAC Equipment Last?

In my world, Goodman HVAC equipment can catch a bad wrap for quality or a lack thereof.

In my opinion, I don’t think it’s that bad. Is there better stuff available? Sure. But for what you pay for Goodman equipment I don’t think you can gripe too much.

The truth is, most of the time a poorly performing HVAC system can be traced back to a shotty install. And since you can buy Goodman on the internet with no restrictions, a lot of this equipment gets installed by hacks that either do not know what they are doing or just don’t care if they do a bad job.

The most common HVAC installation errors I run across are:

  • Poorly fitted filters racks so the evaporator coils become clogged with gunk.
  • Air Ducts that are not properly sealed (see my review of Aeroseal to help with duct sealing).
  • Little to no insulation in the attic or walls of the home. (Link to my DIY Attic Insulation Article)
  • Improperly sized ductwork (you’d be shocked at how many homes do not have proper sized ducts).
  • Improperly sized HVAC equipment (you’d also be shocked at the amount of equipment that gets sized incorrectly).

All that said, most folks get around 20 years for a gas furnace, 10-12 years for a heat pump, and 12-15 years for an air conditioner before having to replace it. Of course, that is assuming your install or house is not completely screwed up.

Frequently asked questions

The data plate for a Goodman furnace is located inside the furnace along the upper left side. The first four serial number letters will be the year (first two) and the month (second two).

Example: 1107528954 would be manufactured in July of 2011, or 07 2011.

A Goodman air conditioner unit has the data label along the base of the outside condenser where the connections are made.

The first four serial number letters will be the year (first two) and the month (second two).

Example: 1004541123 would be manufactured in April of 2010, or 04 2010.

A Goodman Heat Pump unit has the data label along the base of the outside condenser where the connections are made.

The first four serial number letters will be the year (first two) and the month (second two).

Example: 1004541123 would be manufactured in April of 2010, or 04 2010.

Gas furnaces typically have a lifespan of about 20 years. Some furnaces last much longer, and some do not make it to 20 years.  There are many factors that come into play in terms of the life expectancy of HVAC equipment.  Quality of installation and general maintenance are two big factors when it comes to long service life.

The typical lifespan for an air conditioner in a home is 10 to 15 years. These numbers can vary greatly depending on how well your home is insulated, and where you live.

EXAMPLE: An air conditioner in Florida will not last as long as one in Michigan. Typically, the more it runs, the shorter the lifespan.

A heat pump is used year-round, so its lifespan is typically less than an air conditioner. Most people get around ten years with a heat pump. 

If your home has a second-stage gas backup heat source, this lifespan number may creep up a bit as the heat pump will not run in the cold winter months.

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