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It's a great day here in Northern Utah. Last week was a well-paid snoozer. The number of inspections performed was down, but the fee amounts made up for it--one was even as high as $685. This is the time of year when it pays to be able to provide the added services. All summer it was burdensome to perform the added services. I was too busy and didn't need the extra money. But when the inspection calls start to ease up, you can keep the same bottom line by doing more for each client. There are those of you wondering why not lighten the load in the summer and just do more added services all of the time? This is a good question but difficult to put into practice.
DATING
BRADFORD-WHITE
I always do my best
to provide accurate manufacturing dates for my clients on heaters,
A/C compressors and water heaters. This is usually a very easy
matter to find the year in the serial # on the label. The task
is rather straight forward on most units, but I had never been
able to crack the code on Bradford White water heating units.
A typical Bradford White serial # might be NA1234567. Looking at the # has always left me clueless to the year of manufacture. The numbers never identified the year. The alpha characters didn't help out any either. This left me looking for a date on the SRV valve. If that didn't work then I would look for a date on the flex line and see if that date corresponded to the amount of dust on the unit. More often than not it was obvious that the flex gas line had been reused. As a last resort, I would try to identify a year code on the gas valve. Sometimes this would work, but most of the times not. It was a rare inspection that I would find the date written on the unit with a magic marker.
I decided to take the water heater by the dip tube and call Bradford White directly to ask them for guidance. They were very helpful and I thought that all of you might be interested in my findings. Craig was the first contact in the Tech Support department and he was very helpful. Craig can be reached at 800-334-3393. He faxed me an information sheet that listed the date codes through 2010, but it only went back to 1990. He referred me to Joe Notte, Product Specialist, to gain approval to allow me to share the date code information publicly on the web with all of you. Joe was even more helpful and he immediately faxed along another data sheet with older date code identifications. Joe Notte can be reached at 800-523-2931 if more detailed product information is needed.
I was very impressed with the helpfulness of the individuals contacted at Bradford White. They were very courteous and helpful. I have contacted numerous product manufacturers in the past and most are curt at best. The moment that they find out that you are not an owner of their product, the customer service flys out the window. Permission was immediately granted by Mr. Notte for the reproduction of the pertinent information. Mr. Notte understands our industry and he has been called upon in the past to do Home Inspector association presentations in the Northeastern US. I have recreated the product code serial number identification chart below. I hope that you find it helpful in your daily inspecting.
1984-Present Units: The following two tables identify the manufacturing date on Bradford White water heaters. If you will identify the serial # of modern units on the ID sticker you will notice 2 alpha characters followed by a series of 7 numbers. Unlike the majority of other brands, Bradford White has opted to conceal the date from the consumers by using an Alpha code system. The first letter is the year code followed by the second letter which is the month code.
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A=1984 |
F=1989 |
L=1994 |
T=1999 |
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B=1985 |
G=1990 |
M=1995 |
W=2000 |
|
C=1986 |
H=1991 |
N=1996 |
X=2001 |
|
D=1987 |
J=1992 |
P=1997 |
Y=2002 |
|
E=1988 |
K=1993 |
S=1998 |
Z=2003 |
NOTE: The year column does not use the letters I, O, Q, R, U, V.
| A=JANUARY | D=APRIL | G=JULY | K=OCTOBER |
| B=FEBRUARY | E=MAY | H=AUGUST | L=NOVEMBER |
| C=MARCH | F=JUNE | J=SEPTEMBER | M=DECEMBER |
NOTE: The month column does not use the letters I, and N through Z.
ALSO NOTE: Due to a computer error there were some OA models manufactured. They are January of 1997.
Pre-1984 Units: Now to confuse the issue even more, the alpha characters are followed by a series of numbers. If there are 7 numbers then this Alpha scheme laid out in the table above works. If, however, there are only 6 numbers, then it is from the next earlier series. For example, FC123456 only has 6 numbers. That would take you back to March of 1969 instead of March, 1989. I have created the table for the 6 numeric series below.
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A=1964 |
F=1969 |
L=1974 |
T=1979 |
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B=1965 |
G=1970 |
M=1975 |
W=1980 |
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C=1966 |
H=1971 |
N=1976 |
X=1981 |
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D=1967 |
J=1972 |
P=1977 |
Y=1982 |
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E=1968 |
K=1973 |
S=1978 |
Z=1983 |
| A=JANUARY | D=APRIL | G=JULY | K=OCTOBER |
| B=FEBRUARY | E=MAY | H=AUGUST | L=NOVEMBER |
| C=MARCH | F=JUNE | J=SEPTEMBER | M=DECEMBER |
CPSC GE DISHWASHER ALERTNEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE....... October 18, 1999.... Release # 00-006
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), General Electric (GE) Appliances, of Louisville, Ky., is voluntarily recalling about 3.1 million GE and Hotpoint brand dishwashers, manufactured between April 1983 and January 1989. The dishwashers have a slide switch that allows consumers to choose between heat drying and energy saver functions. Over time, the slide switch can melt and ignite, presenting a fire hazard.
GE and CPSC have reports of 50 fires, seven of which spread beyond the dishwashers. In three cases, the structure of the house or apartment was damaged. No injuries have been reported.
The GE and Hotpoint dishwashers that are being recalled are model GSD500D, GSD500G, GSD540, HDA467, HDA477 or HDA487 with a serial number that has a second letter of A, M, R, S, T, V or Z (for example, BM12345). The model and serial numbers are located on a rectangular label that is on either the right or left front edge of the inner tub. The GE or Hotpoint brand name is on the front of the dishwasher.
Consumers should stop using the recalled dishwashers immediately. Keep the dishwasher door unlatched to prevent the flow of electric current from the latch to the slide switch. GE is offering consumers a rebate toward the purchase of a new dishwasher. Contact GE at (800) 599-2929 anytime or www.geappliancerecall.com for information on how to participate in the rebate program.
Here is the GE side of the recall. It can be found with full color pictures at: http://geappliances.com/product/recall/index.html
Thank you for visiting the General
Electric dishwasher recall site. In cooperation with the U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission, GE Appliances is conducting
a voluntary safety recall of certain GE and Hotpoint dishwashers
that were manufactured between April 1983 and January 1989. 
The
slide-type switch for the "heated dry/energy saver"
function can melt or ignite, presenting a fire hazard. GE and
the CPSC have received reports of 50 incidents with seven cases
of fire escaping the dishwasher. In three cases, the structure
of the house or apartment was damaged. No injuries have been reported.
Only certain GE and Hotpoint dishwashers that were manufactured between April 1983 and January 1989 were affected. In order to determine if your dishwasher is affected, you will need to know the model and serial number of your GE or Hotpoint dishwasher. To find out if your model is affected, please follow the directions below.
Open your dishwasher door completely so that you can see inside. The rectangular tag showing the model and serial number is located either on the right or left inside edge of the tub as shown below.
The only models that are affected by the recall are the GE and Hotpoint dishwashers that were manufactured between April 1983 and January 1989. The affected GE and Hotpoint dishwashers have the following model and serial numbers:
MODEL NUMBERS:
SERIAL NUMBERS - Serial Numbers must contain A, M, R, S, T, V, Z as the second character.
Note: The second character of your recalled dishwasher's serial number must contain one of the listed letters. Here is an example: FM234567
If the model and serial number matches the above description, then your dishwasher is affected by this recall.
Please write your model and serial number down. You will need this information for the on-line rebate form. General Electric offers several options for dishwashers impacted by this recall.
GE is voluntarily offering qualified consumers four rebate options:
NOTE: To qualify for these rebates you must provide:
This program is available only to those consumers who purchase new dishwashers from retail stores. It is not available to those customers who purchase appliances directly from GE Appliances through bulk or special orders. Call 1-800-599-2929 to discuss your options if this applies to you.
If your dishwasher is affected by this recall you can obtain a rebate certificate packet by completing the following online form. Once you submit the form, your rebate certificate packet will be mailed to you in 2-3 weeks, however, you can purchase your new dishwasher at your earliest convenience. Remember to remove the serial label from your old dishwasher prior to disposing of it. You will be required to mail your serial label once you receive your rebate certificate packet.
This is a strange recall. Instead of providing new switches, they are just giving rebate coupons to those with the affected units. Here is what Ken Salvo in New Jersey had to say about this recall program.......
I just got a heads up on a GE/Hotpoint dishwasher recall. Visit their site at www.GE.com for details. It applies to 1983-89 dishwashers, due to the risk of a fire in the control panel. Their program sucks IMO..makes you buy a new unit even though the old may be working fine. They say that, due to the average useful life (familiar term?) it's not worth repairing them. They tell you to stop using the unit NOW. Wait until the next house fire. The smartypants lawyers will eat them for breakfast for not offering immediate repairs, after knowing that there was an increased risk. I can hear the jury hanging GE out to dry. How did this get through? Corporate greed I guess. Ken Salvo in NJ
AII ANNUAL
MEETINGDon't forget to register for the Annual Meeting coming up on November 10-13 in Las Vegas. There are many opportunities to learn new information and also refresh on some of the basics. Don't miss meeting, socializing and learning from fellow inspectors across the nation as well as vendors who will be there offering their services and products to better your business.
The speakers this year are very knowledgeable in their fields and include Bates Fountain who will be speaking about "Environmental Consideration for the Inspector." Fred Gohringer will be presenting "Inspecting Older Homes." The seminar on "Marketing to Mortgage Brokers," will be presented by Elizabeth Fustell who is not only a mortgage broker but also a home inspector so she knows what it takes to get your foot in the door. Mike Watson will be speaking on "Siding Identification." Gary Gazda will be speaking on "Continuity in Home Inspection Reports." These are just a few of the seminars that are being presented.
Even if there weren't any great seminars to attend, if there were no vendors and you don't like the socials, you should come to learn from and share with other AII™ Inspectors. You won't find a better group of inspectors anywhere! For this reason alone, make your reservations today!
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: There will be a free seminar on Wednesday, November 10th being presented by HUD/FHA. They will be speaking about the new regulations they have made. This should prove very useful for gaining some business in this area. Please let me know if you would like to attend so they know how many people will be there.
We will be having our Board of Directors Meeting on Wednesday, November 10th as well. ALL MEMBERS are welcome to attend. Following the Official Welcome Reception for the national conference, AII™ will hold our annual dinner at the top of the Riviera.
For all of you who intend to register, you need to let me (Sarah) know by tomorrow, Monday, October 25, if you will be coming to the conference. We need to know how many people there will be in attendance. You can call the office (800/877-4770) if you have not already confirmed, or e-mail Sarah Harrison at aiiexecdir@aol.com -- Hope to see you in Vegas!!
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