howoldisthat

Terms of Use

Last updated October 5, 2026.

These terms cover your use of howoldisthat.com, including the age checkers, the camera scanner, the equipment report and the embeddable widget (together, the "site"). The site is run by Graham Calihan ("we", "us"). By using the site you agree to these terms. If you do not agree, please do not use it.

1. The results are estimates

The site reads dates and specifications from serial numbers, model numbers and date codes using formats that manufacturers, recall notices and industry references have published. Those formats change, sources sometimes disagree, labels get misread, and a code can fit more than one date. Every result is an estimate.

  • A build date is not an install date, and age alone does not tell you the condition of a unit.
  • Lifespans are typical ranges from published references, not predictions for your unit.
  • Warranty estimates are rough. Only the manufacturer can confirm coverage.
  • The recall check covers a curated list only. A result with no match does not mean there is no recall. Check cpsc.gov and the manufacturer.

Confirm anything important with the label, your paperwork, the manufacturer or a qualified professional before you act on it.

2. Not professional advice

Nothing on the site is professional, engineering, inspection, legal, insurance or financial advice. The site does not inspect anything. Repair-or-replace guidance, maintenance tips and other suggestions are general information.

3. Safety

Water heaters, furnaces, air conditioners and appliances involve gas, high voltage, refrigerant, scalding water and heavy parts. Tires and car batteries affect vehicle safety. Do not open, test or repair anything you are not qualified to work on. Turn off power and gas before working on equipment, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and local codes, and hire a licensed professional when in doubt. If you smell gas, leave the building and call your gas company or 911 from outside. You are responsible for how you use the information on the site.

4. Third-party links and partner links

The site links to other websites, including manufacturers, recall notices, parts stores and other retailers. We do not control those sites and are not responsible for their content, products, prices, availability or policies. Check part numbers and compatibility with the seller before you buy.

Some links are partner (affiliate) links. If you buy through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Partner links are marked where they appear. Whether a store has a partner program does not change what the checker reports.

5. Trademarks

Brand names, model names and trademarks shown on the site belong to their owners. We use them only to identify the products a serial or model number belongs to. How Old Is That is independent and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any manufacturer, retailer or government agency named on the site.

6. Using the site and the widget

  • You may use the site for personal and professional purposes, including copying results into your own reports.
  • Businesses may embed the checker on their own websites using the code on the widget page, without changing it or removing the credit link. We may change or stop the widget at any time.
  • Do not overload the site, scrape it in bulk, try to break its security, or use it for anything unlawful.
  • The site’s text, design and code belong to us. Facts, such as what a serial format means, are not owned by anyone, and our sources are credited on each page.

7. What you send us

If you send feedback (for example through "Was this right?") or a message, you let us use it to improve the site, including adding or correcting decoding rules. Do not send personal information you do not want stored. The privacy policy explains what we keep.

8. No warranty

The site is provided "as is" and "as available", without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including warranties of accuracy, completeness, fitness for a particular purpose, merchantability and non-infringement. We do not promise the site will be available, error-free or secure.

9. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent the law allows, we are not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages, or for any loss of property, data, profits or money, arising from your use of the site or reliance on its results, even if we were told such damage was possible. Our total liability for any claim about the site is limited to one hundred U.S. dollars ($100). Some places do not allow these limits, so some of them may not apply to you.

10. Indemnity

If someone brings a claim against us because of how you used the site or because you broke these terms, you agree to cover our reasonable costs of dealing with it, to the extent the law allows.

11. Governing law and disputes

These terms are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and applicable U.S. federal law, without regard to conflict-of-law rules. Any dispute about the site or these terms will be handled in the state or federal courts located in Kentucky, and you and we agree to those courts’ jurisdiction. Either side may still bring an eligible claim in small claims court. Before filing anything, please contact us through theAbout page so we can try to resolve it informally.

12. Changes

We may update the site and these terms. The date at the top shows the latest version. Using the site after a change means you accept the updated terms.

13. Contact

Questions about these terms can go through the form on the About page.