Bradford White serial number Mystery

[Its.me.again]

The tank model is MINS30T6LX13.
The serial number is BD6142865.

Is this thing a 1985 or a 2005?
It is a 30 gallon, "tall" propane with a side feed cold inlet and a top exit for the hot.

It was in my boyfriend's mobile home when he bought it, but we took it out and replaced it with an electric hot water tank. We think that the propane water heater was leaking raw propane at the control valve.

The mobile was a 1987 year model, but it was placed on its own land plot in the early 2000's. The mobile was vacant for 3 years before he bought it in 2010.

Could a 1985 hot water tank last 25 years, considering it may have had at least 5 years of drained non-use?

Damm that company for not just being normal and stamping a normal month/date manufacture number.

[jadnashua]

Depending on the luck of the draw, a tank can last that long. It depends on both the water quality, use, and luck.

Few of them stamp an easily readable date. Have you tried their website to decode the date?

[jimbo]

As you already know, a first letter B means 1985 OR 2005. Here is the dope from BW warranty query:

Serial Number	Message *
BD6142865	Model: MIMS30T6LX13 Type: RES GAS Manufactured: Apr 26, 2005 Warranty Length: Tank 6 years-Parts 6 years Warranty expired: Jul 31, 2011 Locate a Contractor Click Here for your Warranty Example