How to find your appliance model number
The model and serial number tag is the key to the right part, the right repair guide and any recall. Here's where to look on each appliance, and why to photograph it today.
Almost every appliance repair starts with the same question: what's the model number? Parts sites, repair manuals, customer service lines and repair technicians all need it. So do recall notices, which often list affected units by model and serial number.
The number lives on a sticker or metal plate, usually somewhere you'd never look on a normal day. Below are the most common spots, based on manufacturers' own help pages. Exact placement varies by brand and model, so check a few places before giving up.
Model number vs. serial number
The tag usually shows both, clearly labeled.
- Model number: identifies the product and version. You need it for parts, manuals and repair guides. GE Appliances notes its model numbers always begin and end with a letter, which helps you pick it out on the tag.
- Serial number: identifies your exact unit. It often encodes the manufacture date. Rheem, for example, uses the first four digits of its water heater serial numbers for the month and year it was made. You'll need it for warranty claims and to check a recall.
Some newer tags include a QR code that, when scanned, brings up information about your product.
Where to look, appliance by appliance
| Appliance | Common tag locations |
|---|---|
| Refrigerator | Inside the fresh-food section on a side wall near the top (often the left wall, or the right on side-by-sides), or on the liner near the crisper drawers |
| Dishwasher | On the edge of the tub frame when the door is open, usually on the left side, or under the control panel |
| Top-load washer | Under the lid near the hinge or on the tub rim, or on the back of the control panel |
| Front-load washer | Inside the door, on the rim of the opening |
| Dryer | Inside the door, on the rim of the opening, or on the back of the cabinet |
| Range or oven | On the oven frame with the door open, or on the frame behind the storage drawer |
| Cooktop | A rating plate on the underside |
| Over-the-range microwave | On the front frame, visible with the door open |
| Water heater | On the front of a tank-type heater. On tankless models, the front or the right-hand side |
| Furnace | A rating plate most often inside the blower compartment door |
For an outdoor air conditioner or heat pump, check the outside of the cabinet for a data label. If it's faded, your HVAC company's invoice or the original installer's paperwork may list the model.
Take a photo of every tag
The best time to find a model number is before something breaks. Spend fifteen minutes going room to room:
- Find each tag. Use the table above and a flashlight. A phone flashlight held at an angle makes faded print easier to read.
- Photograph it. Get the whole tag in focus. Take a second shot zoomed in if the print is small.
- Save them together. Make a phone album called "Home appliances." Add the purchase date and where you bought it if you know.
- Write the key numbers down. Keep a paper copy with your manuals or on your home emergency card in case your phone isn't handy.
- Register the product. Registering with the manufacturer gives it your contact details for safety notices. Update them if you move.
Check for recalls
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) posts recalls at cpsc.gov/Recalls, and you can search recalls and safety reports at SaferProducts.gov. Recall notices often list the affected model numbers and serial number ranges, so having your tag photos makes checking quick. CPSC also offers recall email alerts you can sign up for on its site.
If your appliance is on a recall list, stop using it if the notice says to, and follow the remedy it describes. Contact the company named in the notice for the repair, replacement or refund it offers.
Warranty and service calls
Have the model and serial numbers ready when you call for warranty service or book an appliance technician. The tech can bring the likely parts on the first visit, which can save a second trip. If you're weighing a repair, our guides to a refrigerator not cooling, dryer not heating and washer that won't spin cover the safe checks to try first, and our appliance repair pros page explains what to ask when you call.
Common questions
What's the difference between a model number and a serial number?
The model number identifies the product line and version, so it's what you need for parts and manuals. The serial number identifies your individual unit and often encodes when it was made, which matters for warranties and recalls.
Why does the part store want the full model number?
Small differences in the model number can mean different parts. Give the whole number, including letters and any dashes or suffix at the end.
How do I check if my appliance has been recalled?
Search by brand and product type at cpsc.gov/Recalls or SaferProducts.gov, then compare the model and serial numbers listed in any recall notice with the ones on your tag.
What if the tag is worn off or missing?
Check your owner's manual, purchase receipt, installer's invoice or the product registration email. The manufacturer's customer service line may also help if you describe the appliance.