In the Payne serial number, the first and second digits are the week, and the third and fourth numbers are the year. This serial number style is similar to Carrier and Bryant and has been used in the last 30 years or so. Previously, it was a series of letters and numbers, as explained below.
Unfortunately, Payne’s HVAC age is not easily decoded from the data tag, unlike other brands. Their serial number style has changed several times, and here we provide several excellent sources for decoding every style from the Payne serial number.
Payne Serial Number Location
Serial numbers contain several important information about your product, including the date of manufacture. Payne serial number is located in the data plate or sticker information of your air conditioner or heat pump.
How to Read Payne Serial Number
As we stated above, Payne serial number has many different styles. The sequence of letters and digits in the Payne serial number nomenclature reflects specific information about the unit. The figures below analyze some typical serial numbers.
#2814X68489 – Ten characters serial number begins with four numerical digits followed by one letter and ends with five numerical digits.
In order to determine the Payne HVAC age from the above serial number, look for the first 4 digits number. The first two digits are the week (1-52), and the second two digits are the year. The unit was manufactured in 2014, Week 28.
#870308663 – Nine characters, all numerical serial numbers.
The first two digits are the year, and the second two digits are the month. The unit was manufactured in 1987, Month 03.
#F467666 – Seven digits serial number that begins with a letter and is followed by six numerical digits.
This style of serial numbers is used from 1970 to 1979. The first letter is the month, and the second digit is the year. Use the guide below to decode the Payne serial number:
| Year | Month |
| 0 = 1970 | A = January |
| 1 = 1971 | B = February |
| 2 = 1972 | C = March |
| 3 = 1973 | D = April |
| 4 = 1974 | E = May |
| 5 = 1975 | F = June |
| 6 = 1976 | G = July |
| 7 = 1977 | H = August |
| 8 = 1978 | I = September |
| 9 = 1979 | J = October |
| K = November | |
| L = December |
There are serial numbers used prior to 1970. The format is 7 digit all numerical serial numbers. The year of the manufacture is on the first digit number.
Today’s Payne HVAC units don’t require reading the serial number to determine the age of manufacture; they print it the year at the bottom of the data plate.
About Payne HVAC
Back in 1945, Dresser Industries acquired Payne and Day & Night, and Bryant was already a part of them. Payne, Day & Night, and Bryant bought themselves out of Dresser Industries and formed Affiliated Gas Equipment (AGE) in 1949. Carrier purchased AGE in 1955 and then formed the BDP Company in 1974 from Bryant, Day & Night, and Payne.
United Technologies bought Carrier in 1979, and Payne separated from BDP in 1996 to form Payne Heating & Cooling but is still owned by Carrier.
However, each company is its own company, doing its research and manufacturing except as might be contracted with other companies. So Carrier doesn’t really manufacture Payne. Payne® has more than 400 distributor locations in the United States and Canada.
Serial number is important to determine the age of your heating and cooling unit. In contrast, the model number is needed to identify the size or capacity. If you have a new system installed, you may need the Payne serial number in hand to register the unit.
Payne’s serial number is similar to Carrier and Bryant. If you cannot find or decode the Payne serial numbers, drop your comment below, and we will be happy to help you.
