Ford Products water heater age decoder, Ford water heater manual sources, & company information.

Our photo at page top shows an oil fired Ford Products company water heater. Ford water heaters and hot water storage tanks were painted a characteristic blue such as the Ford water heater shown in our photograph from a New York home.

[Click to enlarge any image]

Ford Products Water Heater Age, Company Information, History, & Manuals

Ford brand oil fired water heaters included the 82 gallon blue colored oil-fired water heater shown at the top of this page. Ford Water Heaters also produced stone lined hot water storage tanks used on solar and side-arm-coil or tankless or indirect-fired water heating systems. Ford also produced tankless water heaters.

These water heaters were produced by the Ford Products Corporation, a U.S. company.

Trademarks & brands owned by the Ford Products Corporation included AquaBooster hot water storage tanks, Firecraft coal & woodburning stoves, boilers, fireplace inserts, and Aqua-Mite water heaters. Ford also produced solar water heaters and HVAC equipment - thanks to reader Tom for the Ford Solar Water Heater photo shown here.

This Ford Products Corp. water heater was controlled by a Sol-R-Master / Sol-R-Beam Master control system provided by Solar Resources International.

The company ceased operations in the early 1990s, perhaps 1992 or 1993.

In the patent research below you can see a history of Ford Products water heaters and related products.

Ford Products Water Heater Serial Number Formats

1. Typical Ford Products brand water heater serial number format is ABC 123456
   
   Our guess at decoding this format gives ABC NNWWYY where WW is the week of manufacture and YY is the year of manufacture.
   
   Example: FWX 283673 would give Week 36 of Year 1973

2. An alternative Ford Water Heater serial number format is given as A123456
   
   Our guess at decoding this format gives ADDDYYN where DDD is the day of the year (1-365) and YY is the year.
   
   Example: G128746 might be Day 128 Year 1974
   
   
3. An alternative Ford Hot Water Storage Tank serial number format is given in an example provided by reader Rebecca discussed in more detail below. In that format we have
   
   Ford water heater Serial Number is 69675273 where the 6 and the 73 are hand-etched onto the data tag, suggesting that the format of that Ford storage tank is
   
   MNNNNNYY
   
   or
   
   MMNNNNNYY for two-digit months
   
   Example using the numbers above would give June 1973

We are researching further the decoding of that serial number. CONTACT us if you have details or if you can provide photos of other Ford water heater or hot water storage tank data tags or manuals.

At our inspections we have found Ford Products water heaters sporting Beckett or Carlin-brand oil burners.

Ford Products HVAC equipment - a different product line, wears a separate four digit date code MMYY as a stand-alone number in the data tag's upper left area, to the left of the data tag's Serial number: 5678 and Model number, eg: CL36/95H

Ford Products produced "stone-lined" electric water heaters in the 1950's. Ford stopped doing business ca 1993.

Because A.O. Smith, a long-established U.S. water heater manufacturer, earlier in its history (1899) produced metal automobile frames for the Ford motor company we speculate that there may have been an AOS connection with the Ford Products Corporation water heater brand.

Patent research and other sources we reviewed suggest that while Ford Products water heaters may not have been sold past the mid 1980's, the company was still in existence in 1991 (Pooyan 1989, illustrated here)

• FORD WATER HEATER MANUALS [copies & citation in process] - copies and PDFs of Ford water heater manuals wanted. Use the page top or bottom CONTACT link.
• Ford Products Corporation - corporate history [under research]

Patents assigned to Ford Products Corporation can give a view of the company's products and history

• Chappell, Eugene L. "Range boiler or storage tank for domestic hot water and domestic hot water heaters." U.S. Patent 2,232,366, issued February 18, 1941.
• Green, Murray L. TANK CONSTRUCTION [PDF] U.S. Patent 3,360,895, issued January 2, 1968. Priority date 1965-10-22. Assigned to Ford Products Corporation. [Illustrated at the start of this article]
  
  Excerpt: It is the general object of the present invention to avoid and overcome the foregoing and other difficulties of and objections to prior art practices by the provision of a sturdy and economical barrier means at the base of the tank.
  
  Another object of the present invention is to provide a non-ferrous reinforcing lining to aid in preventing the deterioration of the stone lining.
  
  A further object of the present invention is to provide a barrier internally of the tank to prevent the loosening of the joint between the non-ferrous tank bottom and the steel shell of the tank.
  
  Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a reinforced stone lining in a tank which will negate the attack of a welded joint by water seepage.
  
  Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a reinforced stone lining in a tank which will provide a degree of flexibility when the tank breathes thereby minimizing the loosening effect at the welded joint of the tank.
  
  Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of constructing a stone lined tank having a portion of the stone lining reinforced.
  
  The aforementioned objects of the present invention, and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds, are achieved by providing a stone lined tank comprising a steel outer shell, said tank being provided with an upper head portion, a bottom head being provided with a non-ferrous metal lining disposed in the lower portion of the tank, said bottom head having a lower edge in communication with the lower edge of the steel outer shell, a barrier plate disposed around the lower portion of the tank between the steel outer shell and the lower edge of the lined bottom head and extending upwardly therefrom, a welded seam joining the lined bottom head to said barrier plate and said steel outer shell such that the barrier plate is disposed between the interior of the tank and the steel outer shell, and a stone lining disposed around the interior of said steel outer shell surrounding said barrier plate.
• Pooyan, Samad. "Arrangement for securing and sealing a coil assembly to a boiler." U.S. Patent 5,020,480, issued June 4, 1991. Assigned to Ford Products Corporation. [Illustrated above]
  
  Excerpt: A tankless hot water heating coil assembly is releasably sealed in place with respect to the fire tube of a boiler:
  
  by extending a tubular tankless sleeve up from an opening through a top plate of the boiler; by positioning an O-Ring type seal atop an upper edge of the tankless sleeve by forming a groove in the O-Ring type seal and positioning the groove around the upper edge of the tankless sleeve;
  
  and by extending threaded fasteners through openings in a tankless coil plate which carries the tankless coil assembly and through tubular fastener positioning members secured about and to the outer wall of the tankless sleeve proximate the upper edge thereof.

 

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2023-02-04 by InspectApedia Publisher - Where is the water heater re-set button?

@Jeff,

Where is the water heater re-set button?

Thanks for asking: the result is we've put together the water heater reset control or button locations information on this new page

WATER HEATER RESET BUTTONS & CONTROLS

You will see your question and our expanded response there.

On 2023-02-04 by Jeff

@InspectApedia Publisher,

Is there a reset button on these old Ford Steel hot water tanks

On 2023-01-30 by InspectApedia Publisher - Typical weight of an empty 120 Gallon residential electric water heater

@MC,

You might check the manuals and specifications above on this page.

• Typical weight of an empty 120 Gallon residential electric water heater is between 325 and 400 pounds.
• A commercial electric water heater in the same 120 gallon size may be much heavier: over 750 lbs.
  

On 2023-01-30 by InspectApedia Publisher

RE-posting from private email:

I’m removing a Ford electric water heater from 1976 this Saturday I just like some information about the water heater such as weight and

what would be a good drop in replacement for the 120 gallon I was considering a 60 gallon A.O. Smith please contact me back ASAP. Will be getting it done on Saturday looking for specs as well. - MC

On 2023-01-19 by InspectApedia Editor

@Brian,

Could you post a clear photo of the data tag for us to take a look?

On 2023-01-19 by Brian

My water heater is serial # 4902. 52 gal. electric. How old do you think it is?

On 2022-12-11 by InspectApedia (Editor) - 44 year old Ford Water Heater

@Greg,

I would be nervous, too - oil burners run plenty hot. I've seen the back of a heater burn right through.

Thank you for the discussion and photo.

On 2022-12-11 by Greg

@InspectApedia (Editor), Unfortunately no manual or any other documentation other than the service tags going back maybe 15 or so years. One of the tags indicates that the burn box is basically disintegrated, so while the tank has lasted and still gets nice and hot, I was nervous about the integrity of the other components.

On 2022-12-11 by InspectApedia (Editor)

@Greg,

I agree that the presence of a sacrificial anode in a water heater suggests that metal parts need protection, and since your Ford water heater is oil-fired we'd not be thinking about protecting electric heating elements.

Do you still have the owners' manual for the Ford heater? If so I'd like to scan it to build a PDF copy.

On 2022-12-11 by Greg

Just replaced my oil fired Ford Water Heater. Based on the serial number, looks like it is 44 years old (older than me). I assume it is just a steel tank inside? I can't find any information on the model, 3016E. Maybe it's copper lined, but I don't think it is stone lined based on the fact that I can move it myself and it had anode rods in it.

On 2022-09-01 by InspectApedia-911 (mod) - Ford water heater serial number decoding guide at the top of this page

@Anonymous by private email, CR

You'll find a Ford water heater serial number decoding guide at the top of this page.

That EnergyGuide sticker was first put on water heaters in the U.S. in 1980 so you can reasonably assume it was made after that.

On 2022-09-01 by Anonymous by private email

Hello, I bought a house that came with a Ford water heater that looks to be from the 80’s. I’ve included a picture of the tag with the serial number and model number. My best guess is the heater was made in 88 or 83??? Any insight? - CR by private email

Here's another sticker from my Ford water heater - showing the Energy Star data

...

On 2022-09-02 by InspectApedia-911 (mod) - 1986 Solar Water Heater by Ford Corp

@Cinda Gobeille,

AO Smith, Rheem, Bradford White, and other store brands (Richmond- Home Depot) and others provide replacement 120g solar water heaters; you'll usually keep the same size as was specified in your original design.

Take a look at this AOS SOLAR WATER HEATER SPECIFICATIONS SHEET [PDF] for a nice example

I haven't found a factual description of the components of your Ford solar water heater tank. We're researching that question further.

The tank liner is usually "glass" - a glass coating inside of a steel tank. (Historically the first solar water heater tanks were usually painted black to improve heat absorption; later some models used a black EPDM liner.)

I wouldn't replace a water heater until I saw that the tank was leaky.

In my OPINON, warranties for water heater life are these days more of a marketing tool than a promise about how long the heater will last. Factors, primarily water chemistry, temperature, and volume used are what determine the heater's life as much as its liner.

On 2022-08-31 by Cinda Gobeille

I installed a 571F 120 gallon Solar Water Heater by Ford Corp. in 1986. I would like to know the makeup of the lining and how long these water heaters last. If I need to replace what size and model would I get? Would I still need this size now that I no longer burn wood?
Thank you.

On 2022-07-02 by InspectApedia-911 (mod) - Ford Aqua Coil water heater replacement

@Jim,

Policy on Purchase Orders

Sorry, but we cannot provide Ford brand water heater that you asked about.

We do not sell anything. No products, no services.

InspectAPedia.com provides building and environmental diagnostic and repair information.

In order to absolutely assure our readers that we write and report without bias we do not sell any products nor do we have any business or financial relationships that could create such conflicts of interest.

InspectAPedia is an independent publisher of building, environmental, and forensic inspection, diagnosis, and repair information for the public - we have no business nor financial connection with any manufacturer or service provider discussed at our website.

We very much welcome critique, questions, or content suggestions for our web articles. Website content contributors, even if it's just a small correction, are cited, quoted, and linked-to from the appropriate additional web pages and articles - which benefits us both.

Working together and exchanging information makes us better informed than any individual can be working alone.

A brief summary about InspectAPedia.com can be read at ABOUT InspectApedia.com - https://inspectapedia.com/Admin/About_InspectApedia.php

About buying a new Ford-brand water heater:

The Ford Water Heater Co. is no longer in business and has not been since 1992.

On 2022-07-02 by Jim

My tank for my solar unit is Ford Aqua Coil water heater. Tank leaks. Model # AC 40-5. Serial # is S231929. It has developed a leak a couple off years ago. So I need a new one. Do you still make this unit? If so, where can I purchase one? Thank you in advance. James McGowan Rockford IL

On 2022-01-17 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator (mod) - Ford Products "Aqua Coil Water Heater"

@Sandi,

Normally I wouldn't replace a water heater until it failed.

However in a home that is left for periods unattended you want to be sure to avoid the possibility of extensive leaks and water damage. That means turning these devices off, including the water supply to them, when you're away.

On 2022-01-16 by Sandi

We have a Ford Products "Aqua Coil Water Heater" that was installed in a seasonal home in 1987. It is working fine, but we are wondering if we should have it replaced because of its age. Sandi

Reader comment: Photos of 1971 Ford Solar Water Heater

...

[Click to enlarge any image]

Not sure if you would want any information from ours or not. Our home was built in 71. I just came across your information and I'm going to look for a serial number to try and decode the date made. - anonymous by private email 2021/10/27

... reader follow-up included the photos shown here.

Moderator reply:

That would be great, and it would be helpful to see a photo of the heater and photos of any data tags

On 2019-09-13 by Rebecca

Thank you so much for this information! Our house was built in 1973 and it seems as though the house was built after the tank was installed (based on how much we had to disassemble our house to get it out lol) so I am going to assumed it was manufactured in 1972/1973 at the latest.

The 6 and 73 etched in may indicated that it was installed June 1973? It was installed in our home in New Hartford, Connecticut, USA.

All other surrounding equipment has been replaced so we really only have the year our house was built to go off of. Thank you again for your help, if you stumble across any other info let me know but no worries if you can’t.

On 2019-09-12 by (mod) - Clues for narrowing down the guess of the age of a water heater

I'll see if I can find something further;

Besides identifying the water heater brand, model, and serial number there are other clues that can help make a reasonable guess at the age of a water heater or other utilities or mechanical systems found in a building:

1. Location:
   
   What are the country and city of the tank location?
2. Service Tags:
   
   Are there any service tags or data tags giving ages of surrounding equipment?
3. Building Age:
   
   What is the age of the building itself? (Your building was built in 1973 - a water heater installed new in that year is likely to have been made sometime between 1970 and 1973).
4. Building modifications:
   
   When were modifications, renovations, additions or equipment replacements made.

Those answers let us put a floor under the possible age.

Your Ford water heater Serial Number is 69675273

Where the 6 is hand inscribed and

where the 73 is hand inscribed using a vibrating type etching tool.

That 6 at the start and a 73 at the end of the Ford Hot Water Storage Tank suggest it may have been manufactured in June 1973.

Energy Star GENERAL comments include the following:

Typical electric-resistance tankless water heaters have Energy Factors that range from 0.96 to 0.99. Using the DOE test procedure for calculations, an electric-resistance tankless water heater with an Energy Factor of 0.99 would consume 4,435 kilowatt-hours per year.

This is a savings of 8.7% in comparison to the typical fifty-gallon electric-resistance storage water heater with an Energy Factor of 0.904 at the Federal standard. Both electric-resistance storage and tankless water heaters present limited individual energy savings potential.

Definition of Water Heater Energy Factor:

Energy Factor is the ratio of useful energy output to the total amount of energy delivered to the water heater. The perfect electric-resistance water heater could not exceed an Energy Factor of 1.0 due to this technology’s physical limitations.

The best electric-resistance storage water heaters achieve an Energy Factor of 0.95 and the best electric-resistance tankless water heaters achieve an Energy Factor of 0.99. This technology has little to no room for improving its current energy savings.

Source: ENERGY STAR® Residential Water Heaters: Final Criteria Analysis [PDF] (2008), U.S. Energy Star government program, Retrieved 2019/09/12, original source: https://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/prod_development/new_specs/downloads/water_heaters/waterheateranalysis_final.pdf
Website excerpt:

ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible,and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions.

On 2019-09-12 by Rebecca

We no longer have the tank. I am attempting to get a rebate for replacing it with a new tank, but unfortunately we don’t have the old tank to reference and I’m unable to find any info online. The only info we have is from the attached picture.

On 2019-09-12 by (mod) - Energy Factor for a Ford Hot Water Storage Tank - Water Heaters

Rebecca

You'd need to take a look at the Ford water heater MODEL identification and of course the yellow label normally stuck onto water heaters.

For other readers, the U.S. DOE energy.gov provides this explanation of water heater energy factor:

Use the energy factor to determine the energy efficiency of a storage, tankless or demand-type water heater, or heat pump water heater.

The energy factor (EF) indicates a water heater's overall energy efficiency based on the amount of hot water produced per unit of fuel consumed over a typical day. This includes the following:

Recovery efficiency – how efficiently the heat from the energy source is transferred to the water

Standby losses – the percentage of heat loss per hour from the stored water compared to the heat content of the water (water heaters with storage tanks) Cycling losses – the loss of heat as the water circulates through a water heater tank, and/or inlet and outlet pipes.

The higher the energy factor, the more efficient the water heater. However, higher energy factor values don't always mean lower annual operating costs, especially when you compare fuel sources.

Product literature from a manufacturer usually provides a water heater model's energy factor. Don't choose a water heater model based solely on its energy factor. When selecting a water heater, it's also important to consider size and first hour rating, fuel type, and overall cost.

On 2019-09-12 by Rebecca - find the Energy Factor for a 120 gallon, stone lined, Ford Electric Water Heater

Where can I find the Energy Factor for a 120 gallon, stone lined, Ford Electric Water Heater that was put into a house built in 1973? I no longer have the tank but the serial number is 96752.

On 2019-05-17 1 by (mod) -

Thanks for the note Tom.

Is certainly worth asking a local waste recycling or metal recycling company if they'll pick it up.

I'll add your photo to the article above on this page along with a thank-you for the contribution.

On 2019-05-12 by Tom

They did make the solar water heaters, above it said this was being investigated. Trying to figure out if there is enough copper inside that a recycler might take it after I figure out how to get it out of the house. See picture.

Posted IMAGE LOST by older version of Comments code - now fixed.

On 2019-04-19 by (mod) - Does Ford Water Heater Co. still make solar water tanks?

Robert

The Ford Water Heater Co. is no longer in business and has not been since 1992.

Ford's blue stone-lined water heaters, sometimes left in place when they are no longer serviceable because of the weight and trouble of removing the stone lined tank, are no longer available nor are Ford solar water heaters or Ford hot water tanks.

On 2019-04-17 by Robert Adams

do they still make solar water tanks

On 2019-04-15 by (mod) -

RE-posting from Anonymous

Ford still makes water heater? I have one but no longer works.
Model SLD82.
SERIAL# 513684.
UL, 80, GALLON.
THANK YOU.

Moderator Reply:

Sorry no you'll want a current water heater brand

...

Continue reading  at WATER HEATER LIFE or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

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FORD PRODUCTS WATER HEATER AGE & MANUALS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to WATER HEATERS

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