How to find an appliance model number

The model number is the first thing anyone needs to help you. Parts stores, repair techs, manual sites, warranty registration. Without it nobody can do anything useful. Here's where to find the nameplate on each major appliance.

Dishwasher

Open the door. Look at the top edge of the inner door panel, the part that faces up when the door is open. It's almost always there on a white or silver sticker. If not, check the inside of the side panel near the hinge.

What to look for: a model number (something like KDTM404KPS or SHEM3AY55N) and a serial number underneath it. Write down both.

Refrigerator

Open the fridge. The nameplate is usually on the upper left side wall, just above the top shelf, or on the ceiling of the fresh food compartment. Sometimes it's on the wall next to the produce drawer.

On side-by-sides it's often on the left wall of the fresh food side. On French door models it's commonly on the ceiling.

If you can't find it inside, pull the fridge out and check the back. Some manufacturers put a duplicate sticker on the rear.

Washing machine

Front loaders: open the door and look at the inside lip of the door opening, near the door seal. It's a sticker on the metal frame.

Top loaders: lift the lid. The nameplate is either on the underside of the lid or on the back lip of the tub opening. Some put it on the back of the control panel, in which case you have to look behind the washer.

Dryer

Same as a top-load washer, mostly. Open the door and check the inside of the door frame or the inside of the door itself. Some are on the back of the dryer near the vent, which is fun if it's pushed against a wall.

HVAC (central air or heat pump)

Two nameplates to know:

• Outdoor unit: there's a metal data plate on the side of the condenser, usually near the refrigerant line connections. It lists the model, serial, and the refrigerant type.
• Indoor unit (air handler or furnace): check the access panel or just inside the cabinet door. Furnaces have it on the inside wall of the burner compartment.

Bring a flashlight. These are almost always in dim spots.

Water heater

Look on the side of the tank, usually near the top, on a paper or metal label. It lists the model, serial, capacity, and the date of manufacture (sometimes encoded in the serial number).

If it's a tankless unit, the nameplate is on the side or bottom of the wall-mounted box.

Range / oven

Slide-in and freestanding ranges: pull the bottom warming drawer out and look inside the cavity, or open the oven door and check the inside of the door frame.

Wall ovens: open the door, look at the inside of the door frame or the front edge of the cavity opening.

Microwave (over-the-range)

Open the door and check the inside of the door frame, or look under the vent grille at the bottom front.

A tip for photos

If you're going to take a picture (because the lighting is bad and squinting is hard), get close enough that the model number fills most of the frame. The serial number is usually right under it on the same sticker. One photo of both is enough.

If you don't feel like writing all this down, the photo-to-manual flow in ManualVault does the reading for you. Snap the nameplate, it pulls the model number, fetches the manual. manualvault.io.