Supported Whirlpool example
CB2501800
Supported Whirlpool-family example from the current decoder data. The year code and production week are both used, but the decade still needs context because Whirlpool cycles repeat.
Appliance age hub
How Old Is My Appliance? Serial Number Age Lookup
Use the decoder below to estimate appliance age fast, then use the brand shortcuts and format notes to narrow the right serial-number path.
- 1Choose the appliance brand.
- 2Enter the serial number exactly as shown on the product label.
- 3Review the age estimate and follow the brand or appliance-type links if you need more detail.
This page is the main appliance-age hub for refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, ranges, ovens, and other major appliances where the serial number usually carries the strongest date clue.
Select the appliance brand, then enter the full serial number exactly as printed on the label.
Built for fast serial/model research.Useful for appliance age estimates, replacement research, and claim documentation.Results may vary by brand, model family, and available serial data.
How appliance age is usually determined
Most major appliance brands hide the production date in the serial number instead of the model number. The site decoder applies the supported brand logic first, then leaves the result marked as estimated when the manufacturer reuses year codes across decades or product families.
What you need before decoding
Bring the brand, model number, serial number, and product category when possible. The serial number is usually the critical input, but the model family helps when decade cycles repeat, when the label is worn, or when the brand is a private-label OEM platform such as Kenmore.
Common appliance serial number formats
| Pattern | Common Format | What It May Indicate | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whirlpool family | 9 or 10 characters; year code then production week | Character 2 or 3 often maps the year and the next two digits often map the production week. | Estimated decade. Whirlpool cycles repeat. |
| GE family | Opening letters for month and year | Character 1 commonly maps month and character 2 commonly maps year. | Estimated decade. GE year letters repeat. |
| Samsung appliances | 11-char or 15-char serial with year/month positions | 11-character serials commonly use characters 4-5. 15-character serials commonly use characters 8-9. | Estimated when year letters repeat. |
| LG appliances | Year digit + 2-digit month | Character 1 commonly stores the year digit and characters 2-3 commonly store the month. | Estimated decade. LG uses a repeating year digit. |
| Frigidaire / Electrolux | Two factory letters, then a year digit and week digits | The first numeric character after the opening factory code often points to year, with week digits after it. | Estimated decade. Product line matters. |
| Bosch / Thermador / Gaggenau | FD code | The first two numeric FD digits point to year and the next two digits point to month. | Higher confidence when the FD code is present. |
| Kenmore | OEM-dependent by model prefix | The model prefix routes the serial to Whirlpool, GE, LG, Frigidaire, or another supported OEM path. | Estimated until the OEM is confirmed. |
Real-world decoding examples
Supported Bosch example
FD911100449
Supported Bosch FD example. The FD digits resolve the manufacturing year and month more directly than most appliance serial systems.
Illustrative Samsung pattern
XXXXXXXABXXXXXX
Illustrative 15-character Samsung appliance pattern. The current decoder checks the year in position 8 and month in position 9, but the exact decade can still vary by code cycle.
Illustrative GE pattern
AZ123456
Illustrative GE-family format. The opening letters are typically the useful date positions, while the rest of the serial is production sequence.
Find serial numbers by appliance type
Refrigerators
- Inside the fresh-food section side wall
- Behind the crisper drawers on some models
- See the refrigerator guide for brand-specific shortcuts
Washers and dryers
- Under the lid or around the door opening
- Rear cabinet label on some units
- Use the washer or dryer lookup page for more location notes
Dishwashers and cooking products
- Inner door frame or tub lip for dishwashers
- Oven frame, lower drawer opening, or trim edge for ranges and ovens
- Use the dedicated category pages below if the label is hard to spot
What if the serial number does not decode?
- Try the full serial without spaces or punctuation if the label mixes letters and numbers.
- Bring the model number into Smart Lookup when the serial label is worn, partial, or missing.
- Check for private-label brands such as Kenmore where the OEM manufacturer changes the decoding rule.
- Use the product category to avoid mixing appliance logic with electronics logic on brands that span both.
- If the decoder returns an estimated result, compare it with installation date, condition, or model-family age.
FAQ
Can I tell appliance age from the serial number?
Usually yes. The serial number is the strongest date source for most appliance brands supported by Item Assist, but some brands repeat codes across decades and need model-era context.
Is the model number the same as the serial number?
No. The model number identifies the product family, while the serial number identifies the specific unit and is more likely to contain manufacture timing.
Why does my serial number not decode?
The most common reasons are a worn label, a missing OEM context, a private-label brand, a partial serial, or a product line that uses a less common format.
Where is the serial number label located?
Refrigerators usually place it inside the cabinet, dishwashers usually place it on the inner door frame, laundry appliances place it around the opening, and ranges or ovens place it on the frame or behind the drawer.
Can this be used for insurance claims?
It is useful for age estimates, replacement research, and claim documentation, but claim files should still note when a result is estimated or when the manufacturer reuses codes across decades.
Research Paths
Appliance Age Lookup
Popular Appliance Brands
Appliance Type Lookups
HVAC Age Lookup
Electronics Serial & Model Lookup
Need a claim-ready replacement summary?
Use the decoder above to start.