How Old Is My Cast Iron Sink? (5 Ways To Tell)

 

A cast iron sink can be a great feature in a home.

These sinks have been around for a long time, and sometimes because of that, you may see that they are starting to show some wear and tear.

If you believe that your sink is starting to fall apart a bit and it may be time for replacement, you should try to determine how old it is.

There are some easy ways to determine how old the sink is.

This can help you make some decisions about the future of your sink and what you should do with it.

 

How Old Is My Cast Iron Sink? (5 Ways to Tell)

 

1. Call the Manufacturer

Most sinks will have a logo on them somewhere.

Not only is this good for identifying the type of sink you have, but it also helps them to sell their product a bit more.

This is why there is almost always some stamp or logo on a sink that will let you know who makes it.

If you can find that information, but you have no idea what the model is, you may be able to contact the original manufacturer.

They are going to have a record of all of the sinks that they have produced through the years.

Chances are they can send you a copy of this via email, or you can send them a few pictures and have them identify it.

Of course, you will have to find a customer service representative who is quite helpful in order for them to identify the sink for you.

This is something that may take a bit of time and a few phone calls, but you should be able to get them to do this for you.

 

2. Look for Serial Number on the Bottom

Another great way to find out the age of your cast iron sink is to look for a serial number on the sink’s bottom.

This number should then be enough information for you to get the year that it was originally manufactured.

Sometimes the serial number of a product has the year built into it, and you simply need to research how the company decides on their serial numbers.

Other times, right next to the serial number, you will see the actual year printed on the side of the sink.

Most of the time, the serial number is going to be located under the actual sink.

You will have to get under the sink and look on the front, back, or side to find the actual serial number and year.

Use a flashlight when you are doing your search, as you are going to have a hard time seeing what you are doing while working under the sink.

Truly, the best way to identify the sink is going to be to find these numbers.

Take your time and look very carefully so that you don’t miss it.

 

3. Ask a Professional

Have you ever thought to ask a professional how old your cast iron sink is?

A professional who is capable of identifying the age of the sink may not be a plumber.

In fact, you may be better off talking to an antique dealer so that you can get a more accurate number.

Typically, those who are collectors or enjoy learning the history of older things may have an idea about your sink and its style.

Most of the time, these types of professionals are very good about knowing what was in style during a certain period.

They will know certain shaping and finishing techniques and be able to associate them with a time period.

Of course, for most people, knowing the exact date of the cast iron sink is not all that important.

It is more important to have a better idea of the general period.

This lets you know how many good years your sink may have left before needing to be replaced.

 

4. Check for a Sticker

If you think your sink is close to 50 years old, the chance of finding a sticker on it could be tough.

However, sometimes the sticker is preserved because it is in an area of the sink that does not see much use.

Look on the bottom and sides of the sink for a sticker.

The sticker could have some information about the manufacturing date, and you never know but the sticker could also potentially show the installation date of the sink.

This sticker method is probably going to be the least likely method of finding the age of your cast iron sink.

If you can see remnants of a sticker, you may be able to pull enough information off of the sticker to get the year that your sink was built.

 

5. Research Other Sinks for Sale

Last but certainly not least is this trick that we have used to source out the date on a cast iron sink by comparing it to others.

People may be trying to sell an old sink, and they have to put some information with the sink in order to sell it.

Therefore, you can search sinks for sale to try and find the exact age of yours.

Although this method may seem like it is working backward, it is actually a great way to find out more about products.

You can look at pictures that will help you determine which of the cast iron sinks is going to look the most like yours.

You will have an easier time if you have some information about the sink.

If you can at least get the manufacturer, you will be able to narrow down listings for other sinks for sale.

These listings can be found on websites like eBay and other similar options, sometimes even Craigslist or Facebook.

Finding the one that most closely resembles yours could give you an excellent indication of the age of your sink.

 

What to Look for to Determine the Age of a Cast Iron Sink

 

Cast iron sinks tend to last for a very long time.

Most of them should work for at least 50 years or so.

Certainly, this is quite a bit of time, and that means that most people will never need to replace a cast iron sink in their home.

However, you can start to look for some breaking down of the material, and you may see scratches as well.

The other thing to look for to help you determine the age is the overall style of the sink.

Like all things that are in our kitchen, the sink has a specific style to it.

Today’s sinks are made with very clean lines and sharp edges.

There are many different types on the market, but they certainly have a more modern look than something that was purchased 40 to 50 years ago.

Don’t pay much attention to the faucet on the sink when you are trying to determine the age.

Remember that the faucet will be a completely different fixture and could have been installed sometime after the original sink was installed.

 

Is a Cast Iron Sink with Scratches Old?

 

Cast iron sinks tend to get scratched.

This happens as a result of the pots and pans that you use rubbing against the sink.

There is no way to avoid this, and it is going to happen over time.

The good news is that most of these scratches are simply at the surface.

You can purchase specific cleaners that will help you remove these scratches within just a few minutes.

The cleaners are something that you should keep around your kitchen when you own a cast iron sink.

If you have tried a cleaner like this and you find that the sink truly is scratched, then you will have to go through a process to fix this scratch.

Unfortunately, the project is a bit involved, and it can mean that you will have a hard time getting the sink to look perfect again.

The first part of the process involves sanding down the area where the scratch is.

You will have to make sure your sink stays completely dry throughout this process.

Next, you will have to purchase a cast iron sink repair kit.

The kit will have some epoxy and some finish as well to try and get the sink to blend in and look like new again.

Take your time with this project and make sure that you follow all the necessary steps.

Sometimes the scratch will look better than it did initially; however, if you are not careful, it could end up looking worse.

You won’t want the epoxy to bunch up and be rough in the area where you are fixing the scratch.

As we mentioned, nine times out of ten, the scratch is just a pot mark that needs to be cleaned.

 

Why Are Cast Iron Sinks So Expensive?

 

A cast iron sink is expensive because it is heavy.

When you are using heavy material like this, you are going to have to do quite a bit more work to manufacture it and to get it installed.

With the weight of a cast iron sink, it is hard for a person to install it on their own.

This means that you will need more people to install the sink, and the delivery costs will be higher.

The cast iron sinks are built to last for a long time, and this will also lead to higher pricing.

Overall, there are some very legitimate reasons behind the pricing of the cast iron sinks.

They are not simply inflated because they are popular to purchase.

 

Does My Cast Iron Sink Have Extra Support?

 

One of the things to keep an eye on in addition to the age of your cast iron sink is the support that it has.

Sometimes the sink is in great shape, but the support and the counter start to deteriorate.

With the weight of a cast iron sink, it is very important to have something in place that helps to hold the sink up.

If you think about the weight of a sink bearing down on the cabinets and counters for 50 years, this is quite a burden.

Always keep an eye on the sink and make sure that it is not sagging.

Over time, you may need to place some supports under the sink so that it does not start to fall.

Of course, if you are putting a new sink in, talk to the installer about supports for the weight of the sink.

 

Conclusion

The age of your cast iron sink does not need to remain a mystery.

You will be able to find the age and the model number at some point.

Using our five ways, you should have no issues determining if your sink has plenty of life in it or if you will need to consider a replacement soon.