Appliance type guide
Refrigerator Serial Number and Label Guide
Find the refrigerator label first, then choose the actual manufacturer path. Refrigerator serial formats are brand-specific, so the product type alone cannot determine a manufacture date.
- 1 Choose the matching category and brand.
- 2 Enter the full serial number exactly as printed on the label.
- 3 Review the date estimate, notes, and fallback links if the serial does not decode.
This page is a refrigerator label and routing guide. It compares supported brand formats, explains private-label OEM cases, and shows when a model number can narrow a repeating serial-year cycle.
Use the refrigerator brand and serial number exactly as shown 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.
Why refrigerator decoding starts with the brand
There is no refrigerator-wide date code. A Whirlpool-family serial can encode a repeating year letter and production week, while LG commonly uses an opening year digit and two-digit month. Frigidaire adds factory letters before its year and week positions, and Kenmore may need a model prefix before the correct OEM decoder is known.
Photograph both the model and serial fields before moving drawers or replacing an interior label. If the decoder returns several candidate years, use model-era evidence or Smart Lookup rather than choosing the newest year by assumption.
Verified refrigerator examples
These sanitized examples are tied to current regression fixtures and show why model context matters.
| Label Field | What It Usually Means | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Frigidaire BA10515647 | Year digit 1; production week 05 | Serial alone allows 1991, 2001, 2011, or 2021. Model FFTR2045VS0 narrows the tested result to week 05 of 2021. |
| Kenmore model prefix 795 + LG serial 410KR00219 | 795 routes to LG; opening 4 + 10 | The route returns October with candidate years 2004, 2014, or 2024 until model-era evidence selects a decade. |
What the serial number can tell you
A refrigerator serial number is only meaningful after the manufacturer is known. Supported Whirlpool, GE, LG, Samsung, Frigidaire, Bosch, and OEM-routed Kenmore paths use different positions and return different levels of precision.
What the model number can tell you
The model number identifies the refrigerator family and may expose the original manufacturer on a private-label unit. It can also narrow an ambiguous serial cycle when the repository has matching model-era evidence.
Common refrigerator serial number formats
Whirlpool-family refrigerators
~ Estimated decade. Whirlpool cycles repeat.
9 or 10 characters
Year code position changes by serial length, followed by a production week.
GE-family refrigerators
~ Estimated decade. GE cycles repeat.
Opening month/year letters
The first letters usually carry the useful timing code.
LG refrigerators
~ Estimated decade. Use model era if needed.
Year digit + month digits
Character 1 is commonly the year digit and characters 2-3 are commonly the month.
Samsung refrigerators
~ Estimated if the year letter repeats.
11-char or 15-char serial
Year and month positions depend on serial length.
Kenmore refrigerators
✓ Estimated until the OEM is confirmed.
OEM-dependent
The model prefix may route the serial into Whirlpool, GE, LG, or another supported OEM pattern.
Refrigerator serial number examples
BA10515647 + FFTR2045VS0
The tested serial/model pair resolves to week 05 of 2021. Without the model, the serial year digit remains decade-ambiguous.
795.74053.410 + 410KR00219
The 795 model prefix selects LG logic. The serial returns October and the candidate years 2004, 2014, or 2024.
Where to find the serial number
Inside the fresh-food compartment
- Check the left or right side wall first
- Look behind the crisper drawers on bottom-freezer designs
Interior trim areas
- Some brands place the tag on the ceiling liner
- Others place it near the deli drawer or lower frame opening
Fallback spots
- Rear service label or kick plate on some units
- Original paperwork or registration card if the interior tag is unreadable
Common problems
- The label is hidden behind produce drawers or trim pieces.
- The brand is known, but the refrigerator is a private-label or Kenmore OEM build.
- The serial number is readable but the year code repeats across decades.
- Only the model number is available after a repaint or interior liner replacement.
- The refrigerator family has multiple product lines that use different serial layouts.
FAQ
Do all refrigerator brands use the same serial date format?
No. Select the manufacturer before interpreting any positions. Product type alone does not determine the serial rule.
Why does a Kenmore refrigerator need its model prefix?
Kenmore is a private-label brand. The prefix can identify the OEM family whose serial logic should be used.
Can a refrigerator model number resolve the decade?
Sometimes. It can narrow a repeating serial cycle only when reliable model-era evidence overlaps one candidate year.
Where should I look on a French-door refrigerator?
Start on the interior side walls of the fresh-food compartment, then check behind lower drawers and interior trim. Manufacturer guidance differs by model.
Why did the decoder return several possible years?
Some brands reuse year codes. Keep every candidate until the model generation, installation record, or another reliable source resolves the cycle.
What should I do when the interior label is unreadable?
Check registration records, manuals, purchase documents, or Smart Lookup with the model number. Do not reconstruct missing serial characters.
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Use the decoder above to start, or try Smart Lookup if the serial label is worn or missing.