When Was My Worcester Bosch Boiler Installed?

If you have moved into a new property, inherited an older heating system, or your Worcester Bosch boiler has started playing up, finding out its age is usually the first step.

Knowing how old the unit is tells you two critical things: whether it is still covered by a manufacturer guarantee, and whether an expensive repair is worth the investment.

Fortunately, Worcester Bosch boilers carry a data badge that lets you pinpoint the exact month and year the appliance rolled off the assembly line. Here is how to find and decode it.

Step 1: Locate the Serial Number Data Badge

The serial number is printed on a white barcoded sticker (the data badge). On Worcester Bosch boilers, this is usually found in one of four locations:

1. Underneath the boiler: Look directly under the casing near the pipework and valves. Many models feature a small drop-down or pull-out plastic tab containing the barcode.
2. Behind the front drop-down flap: Lower the front panel or flap covering the pressure gauge and temperature dials.
3. On the top or side casing: Common on older floor-standing or compact system boilers.
4. In the Benchmark Logbook: Check the back pages of your installation and servicing manual. The Gas Safe engineer who fitted the boiler should have stuck a duplicate serial label inside the commissioning sheet.

Step 2: Find Your 3-Digit FD (Factory Date) Code

Worcester Bosch uses an internal 3-digit FD (Fertigungsdatum / Factory Date) code to record the exact build date. Rather than guessing calendar math, find the 3-digit FD code inside your serial number, then match it to the lookup table below.

How to locate those 3 digits depends on which generation of serial number you have:

Format A: Continuous 23-Digit Number (Pre-July 2010)

Common on classic Greenstar Juniors, older CDi units, and legacy Ri models. The numbers run together without dashes.

• Example: 7716130155 684 2205631
• Where to look: Count past the first 10 digits (the appliance model code). Digits 11, 12, and 13 are your FD code.
• In this example, the code is 684 (which corresponds to April 2006).

Format B: Segmented 4-Group Number (July 2010 – ~2015)

Common on earlier Greenstar i, Si, and CDi Compact models. The serial is split by dashes or spaces into four groups.

• Example: 5570 – 006 – 000334 – 7716130137
• Where to look: Look at the second group of 3 digits.
• In this example, the code is 006 (which corresponds to June 2010).

Format C: Modern 23-Digit Formats (2015 to Present)

On newer appliances (including the Greenstar 2000, 4000, 8000, and later i-series), the FD block format shifted or was replaced by internal digital tracking.

• If your serial number is a modern 23-digit block starting with digits like 773… or 871…, the simplest and most accurate route is to skip decoding by hand and plug the 23-digit number straight into the Worcester Bosch Official Guarantee Checker.
• It instantly pulls the recorded manufacture date and registration history directly from Worcester’s master database.

Worcester Boiler Manufacturing Date Table

Find the 3-digit code located in your serial number below to see the manufacturing month and year:

Alternative Ways to Check Your Boiler’s Age

• The Worcester Guarantee Portal: If you have the 23-digit serial number, you can plug it directly into Worcester Bosch’s online guarantee checker. If the installer registered the warranty, it will state the registration date and policy end date.
• The Gas Council (GC) Number: Located on the data badge in a 47-XXX-XX format. While this does not give an exact build date, it identifies the specific generation of the appliance. If the GC number belongs to a non-condensing boiler discontinued before 2005, your boiler is well over 18 years old.

What Does Your Boiler’s Age Mean?

Boilers rarely fail overnight; efficiency drops, internal seals degrade, and components wear out gradually. Here is how to assess what your boiler’s age means for running costs and reliability:

Need Help With Your Boiler?

Notice: We are an independent, local heating company providing installations, repairs, and servicing strictly within Lincolnshire. We are unable to provide technical advice or manual serial number look-ups over the phone for properties outside our operating area.

If you are outside our region or need manufacturer assistance, please contact Worcester Bosch technical support directly on 0330 123 3366.

Worcester Bosch Boiler FAQs

1. Where is the serial number if I can’t see a sticker on the boiler casing?

On modern Worcester models (such as the Greenstar i, CDi, or 4000/8000 series), the data badge is often hidden behind a drop-down control flap or on a small plastic slide-out tray tucked underneath the bottom panel near the hydraulic connections. If the label has peeled or faded, check the commissioning checklist in the back of your Benchmark logbook or the manufacturer manual left by your installer.

2. Does the manufacturing date match the date my boiler was installed?

Not necessarily. The FD code pinpoints the exact month and year the boiler was assembled at the factory. Boilers often sit in merchant stock or warehouse distribution for a few months prior to fitting. Your manufacturer guarantee runs from the official commissioning date registered with Gas Safe and Worcester Bosch, not the assembly date on the chassis.

3. Can I find the age using just the Gas Council (GC) number?

The GC number (formatted as 47-XXX-XX) identifies the appliance model and production run, but not the specific build date. It is still useful for establishing a baseline age: if your GC number corresponds to a non-condensing appliance discontinued prior to the 2005 building regulation updates, the unit is at least 20 years old regardless of serial number condition.

4. What is the typical lifespan of a Worcester Bosch boiler?

Most modern Worcester condensing boilers have an expected design life of 12 to 15 years, provided they receive an annual service and the system water is kept clean with inhibitor and magnetic filtration. After roughly 10 to 12 years, key mechanical components, (such as diverter valves, expansion vessels, and circulation pumps) naturally begin to suffer wear and tear.

5. Is it worth repairing a Worcester boiler that is more than 10 years old?

It depends entirely on the nature of the fault. Routine fixes like replacing a pressure relief valve, auto air vent, or pump head are generally cost-effective. However, if a 10+ year-old unit suffers a catastrophic failure, (such as a leaking primary heat exchanger, an internal chamber burn-through, or a combined PCB and gas valve fault) the repair bill often approaches a substantial chunk of a new installation cost, making replacement the more sensible long-term investment.