At a glance
- The model number usually appears on a rating label near a door opening, cabinet wall or another manufacturer-specified location.
- Match the label location to the brand and appliance type, and read the model field rather than a part number.
- Call about the symptom immediately; a missing or unreadable model tag does not prevent your technician from starting the discussion.
The Rating Label Identifies the Appliance
The model number identifies the appliance design, while the serial number identifies the individual unit. A stopped cycle, cooling loss or unusual sound starts the repair conversation; the label helps your technician find the matching reference and parts information.
Call now even when the tag is hidden or unreadable. A photograph of an accessible label is helpful during the discussion, but you do not need to move an appliance, remove a panel or decipher a faded sticker to request help. Read the field marked model rather than numbers printed on a removable component.
Whirlpool Labels Sit Near Openings and Interior Walls
Whirlpool lists accessible rim or interior-wall locations for several major appliances in its model and serial locator. Use the appliance type to choose the first place to look.
| Whirlpool appliance | Location listed by the manufacturer |
|---|---|
| Refrigerator | Inside the refrigerator, on a wall |
| Washer | Inside, on the rim |
| Dryer | Inside the dryer door, on the rim |
| Dishwasher | Inside the dishwasher, on the rim |
| Range | Inside the oven drawer, on the oven rim |
| Microwave | Inside the microwave, on the rim |
Look through a normal door or drawer opening only when the appliance is safe to approach. Let hot cooking surfaces cool, and do not dismantle a microwave or pull a connected range away from the wall to search for a tag.
Maytag Laundry Labels Depend on the Machine Type
Maytag identifies different label positions for front-load, top-load and combined laundry appliances in its rating-label reference. For washer repair on a Maytag appliance, the loading style helps select the correct location.
| Maytag laundry appliance | Manufacturer-listed label location |
|---|---|
| Front-load washer | Inside the door, on the opening's rim |
| Top-load washer | Beneath the lid, on the tub rim |
| Dryer | Inside the door, on the opening's rim |
| All-in-one washer/dryer | Door frame, just inside the door |
| Stacked laundry appliance | Inside the dryer door |
A Maytag washer repair technician uses the full model field to identify the machine, including its final characters. During Maytag washing machine repair, that detail helps distinguish machines with similar exterior controls. Do not substitute a series name printed across the console for the rating label.
KitchenAid Kitchen Labels Use Door and Wall Locations
KitchenAid lists the dishwasher door's left edge, a refrigerator's left interior wall and the inside of microwave and oven doors in its model locator. Those positions differ from an assumption that every brand uses the same spot.
A dishwasher label photo should show the complete model and serial fields rather than only the brand. Keep an open dishwasher door clear of foot traffic while taking a picture. If the label is obscured or damaged, describe the controls and symptom during the call and leave identification to your technician.
Model Families Narrow the Reference and Parts Search
A model family helps your technician select the relevant documentation, but the full model number is needed to distinguish variations. Maytag washer repair services involve different machines even when the controls look alike; a top-load model and a front-load model need their own references.
For a Maytag washer repair service request, explain whether the machine stops while filling, draining or spinning. Maytag washer repair begins with that symptom discussion rather than an obligation to locate the sticker. If requesting Maytag washer and dryer repair together, describe each machine separately and share both labels when readily accessible. For Maytag dryer repair, say whether the drum stops or the clothes stay wet; the dryer's own tag identifies it.
Your technician matches the findings to the relevant model rather than assuming an advertised feature name identifies all parts. One of our local appliance repair partners lays out the work and price before repairs proceed. The Maytag appliance repair page describes service symptoms in more detail.
GE Serial Letters May Identify the Build Date
GE explains that the first two serial-number letters identify the manufacturing month and year in its appliance-age reference. The first letter represents the month and the second the year; the year letters repeat, so the model and surrounding information help distinguish possible dates.
Use GE's method for the appliances covered by that reference rather than applying the letter chart to Maytag, Whirlpool or another brand. The model number and serial number answer different questions, and a purchase date may differ from a manufacturing date. Call to discuss repair or replacement without waiting to establish an exact build year.