Short answer: the manufacture date is encoded in the serial number on every appliance — you just need to know the formula for your brand. It's usually on a label inside the door, on the door frame, or on the back. Knowing the age matters most when you're deciding whether to repair or replace.
Where to find the label
Before decoding anything, find the label:
- Refrigerator: inside the fridge compartment — upper left or right wall, or on the door frame. French-door models sometimes have it in the freezer drawer instead.
- Washer: inside the door rim (front-load), under the lid near the drum (top-load).
- Dryer: inside the door frame, on the back panel, or on the control panel.
- Dishwasher: on the door jamb (the side edge of the door when it's open).
- Oven/range: behind the bottom drawer, on the door frame, or on the back.
- Microwave: inside the door frame or on the back.
You'll see both a model number (tells you the product line) and a serial number (tells you when it was made). You want the serial number.
How to decode the serial number by brand
Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Amana, JennAir
The serial number format is typically a letter, a number, and more letters/numbers — for example CR3016565.
- Position 1 (letter): manufacturing division code — ignore for date purposes.
- Position 2 (letter or number): this encodes the year.
- Position 3 (number): this encodes the week.
Whirlpool uses a repeating letter cycle for the year:
| Letter | Year | Letter | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| F | 2001 | R | 2010 |
| G | 2002 | S | 2011 |
| H | 2003 | T | 2012 |
| J | 2004 | V | 2013 |
| K | 2005 | W | 2014 |
| L | 2006 | X | 2015 |
| M | 2007 | Y | 2016 |
| N | 2008 | Z | 2017 |
| P | 2009 | A | 2018 |
After Z, the cycle restarts. If your letter doesn't match, search [your model number] manufacture date decoder — Whirlpool has a lookup tool.
GE, Café, Hotpoint
GE serial numbers use two letters near the start to encode date. The format is typically ZW123456G where the first two letters are the date code.
- First letter = year of manufacture.
- Second letter = month.
GE year codes (also a repeating cycle):
| Letter | Years (cycle repeats every ~12 years) |
|---|---|
| Z | 2001, 2013 |
| L | 2002, 2014 |
| D | 2003, 2015 |
| T | 2004, 2016 |
| R | 2005, 2017 |
| S | 2006, 2018 |
| F | 2007, 2019 |
| H | 2008, 2020 |
| V | 2009, 2021 |
| Z | 2010, 2022 |
Month codes: A=January, L=February, D=March, T=April, R=May, S=June, F=July, H=August, V=September, Z=October, B=November, G=December.
LG
LG serial numbers are usually 9 characters. The fifth character encodes the year (0=2000, 1=2001 ... 9=2009, A=2010, B=2011, etc.) and the sixth character encodes the month (1–9 = Jan–Sep, A=Oct, B=Nov, C=Dec).
Example: 602MRYZ4B7S → position 5 = Y (2020?... LG also adjusts the cycle), position 6 = 4 (April). For LG, the easiest route is to plug the serial number into LG's product registration site or search LG serial number date decoder.
Samsung
Samsung serial numbers are 15 characters. The manufacture date is the 8th character for year and the 9th character for month, using a letter-code scheme (A=2001 or 1996, cycling forward).
Samsung's easiest decode: enter the serial number at Samsung's official support site — it returns the manufacture date directly.
Bosch, Thermador, Gaggenau
Bosch uses a FD (Fabrication Date) number printed separately on the label — not encoded in the serial number. It reads FD YYWW where YY is a two-digit year and WW is the week number. FD 1832 = manufactured in week 32 of 2018. Straightforward.
Frigidaire, Electrolux
The serial number format is typically NF63330xxx. The first two characters encode week and year. The first character (letter) gives the year (A=2001, B=2002... cycling), and the second character (digit) gives the quarter (1–4). Not as precise as week-based codes, but gets you within a few months.
Why the age matters
Knowing the manufacture date is directly useful for two decisions:
1. The 50% rule on repairs. If a repair costs more than half the cost to replace the appliance, replacement usually makes more sense — especially if the unit is past 80% of its expected lifespan. Our repair vs. replace guide walks this math with real numbers.
2. Parts availability. Appliances over 10–12 years old start having parts discontinued. An 11-year-old fridge that needs a specific control board might have that board backordered or unavailable — which turns a $200 repair into a replacement. Knowing the age ahead of time helps set realistic expectations before a tech visits.
Expected lifespans for reference:
| Appliance | Typical lifespan |
|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 10–15 years |
| Washing machine | 10–12 years |
| Dryer | 10–13 years |
| Dishwasher | 9–12 years |
| Oven / range | 13–15 years |
| Microwave | 9–10 years |
When you're ready to get a second opinion on whether repair makes sense for your specific unit and age, GUIFIX offers a flat $75 service call with a written quote before any work begins — and same-day appointments across all our markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find the age of my appliance?
Every appliance has a serial number on a label — usually inside the door, on the door frame, or on the back. The manufacture date is encoded in that serial number, but the format varies by brand. For Whirlpool-family appliances, the first two characters of the serial number give the week and year. For GE, it's two letters near the beginning.
Where is the serial number on a refrigerator?
On most fridges, the serial number label is on the inside wall of the fridge compartment — usually the upper left or right side. On French-door models it may be on the door frame. Some older models have it on the back.
How old is too old to repair an appliance?
As a rule of thumb, if an appliance is past roughly 80% of its expected lifespan and the repair costs more than 50% of replacement value, replacement usually wins. Fridges and ovens last 10–15 years, washers/dryers 10–12 years, dishwashers 9–12 years, microwaves 9–10 years.
Does appliance age affect repair cost?
Directly — older models can have discontinued parts that cost more or take longer to source. An appliance under 8 years old almost always has affordable, in-stock parts. Beyond 10–12 years, parts availability drops and sometimes disappears entirely.
Appliance still broken?
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