Which brands this covers
The same serial layout is used across the Electrolux family’s North American brands:
- Frigidaire
- Electrolux
- Older Gibson, Kelvinator, Tappan, White-Westinghouse and Philco appliances
- Kenmore models built by Frigidaire. Their model numbers start 253, 417, 587, 790 or 970; see the Kenmore page
Where the serial number is on a Frigidaire appliance
Frigidaire and Electrolux publish the same location guide.
- Upper left wall of the fresh-food section (Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Frigidaire top-freezer; Samsung French-door and side-by-side; newer LG models)
- Upper right wall (LG on most models; Frigidaire French-door and side-by-side; Whirlpool and Maytag side-by-side)
- On the rim, trim or frame of the door opening, often at the top (Whirlpool, Maytag, LG, Samsung, Frigidaire, GE)
- Under the lid, on the tub rim or the back of the opening (Whirlpool, Maytag, Frigidaire, LG, GE near the right hinge)
- Rim of the door opening, often at the top (Whirlpool, Maytag, Samsung; LG and Frigidaire say the top)
- Right edge of the tub frame (GE, Frigidaire, Samsung)
- Side or top edge of the door, or its inside (LG, GE, Frigidaire, Bosch, Samsung)
- Oven frame or side trim, seen with the door open (Whirlpool, Maytag, Frigidaire, GE, LG)
- Frame of the storage drawer, with the drawer pulled out (Whirlpool, Maytag, Frigidaire, LG, GE)
- Under the cooktop or behind the control panel on some models (GE; Frigidaire and Maytag cooktops underneath)
Basis: Official manufacturer help pages (Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, GE, LG, Samsung, Frigidaire, Bosch) and Sears PartsDirect for Kenmore. Diagrams are simplified; your model's exact spot can differ.
| Appliance | Where Frigidaire says to look |
|---|---|
| Top-freezer fridge | Upper left side wall of the fresh-food compartment, visible with the door open |
| French-door or side-by-side fridge | Upper right side of the fresh-food compartment |
| Upright freezer | Interior side trim, visible with the door open |
| Chest freezer | Left exterior wall, above the access panel |
| Range | Interior side trim of the oven (door open); the left side panel when opened; or the storage-drawer panel |
| Wall oven | Interior side trim of the oven, door open |
| Cooktop | Underside of the cooktop base, when lifted |
| Dishwasher | Inside of the door, or the right side of the tub, with the door open |
| Front-load washer | Along the trim of the door |
| Top-load washer | Back of the tub opening, under the lid |
| Dryer | Top of the door opening |
| Laundry center | Along the trim of the dryer door |
Basis: official (Frigidaire and Electrolux Owner Center, “Where can I find my model and serial number?”).
Note that the fridge label sits on different sides depending on the style. It’s on the left in top-freezer models and on the right in French-door and side-by-side models.
How to read the date
A Frigidaire or Electrolux serial is usually two letters followed by digits:
| Position | Meaning | LA81503430 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Factory | L |
| 2 | Product type | A |
| 3 | Last digit of the year | 8 |
| 4–5 | Week of the year (01–52) | 15 |
| 6–10 | Unit sequence number | 03430 |
Basis: electrical-forensics.com’s Electrolux date-code page, which matches the other independent decoding references checked. Frigidaire and Electrolux don’t publish a decoder.
Week to month
| Weeks | Month (approx.) | Weeks | Month (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01–04 | January | 27–30 | July |
| 05–08 | February | 31–35 | August |
| 09–13 | March | 36–39 | September |
| 14–17 | April | 40–43 | October |
| 18–22 | May | 44–48 | November |
| 23–26 | June | 49–52 | December |
Basis: our estimate. Each week is assigned to the month holding most of its days, counting from January 1. The exact split shifts by a few days from year to year, so treat a week at a boundary as either month.
Worked examples
These real serials are documented by electrical-forensics.com. The decade for each was settled from other evidence about the unit.
- Refrigerator LA81503430: 8, week 15 → April 1998
- Dryer 4D72904857: 7, week 29 → July 2017
- Range VF71042765: 7, week 10 → early March 2007
- Cooktop 3F91400621: 9, week 14 → early April 2009
- Dishwasher TH00257759: 0, week 02 → January 2000
On a unit built in 2026, the third character is 6.
The decade problem and how to settle it
electrical-forensics.com puts it bluntly: “The first digit of the year (the decade) is not in the serial number or model number!” A 4 could be 1994, 2004, 2014 or 2024.
For a used appliance you’re looking at today, usually only two decades are realistic. To choose between them:
- Look up the model number on Frigidaire’s or Electrolux’s owner site. If manuals, parts and registration exist for that exact model, it narrows the era.
- Check the manual’s print date, usually on the front or back cover. It should sit close to the build year.
- Look for a printed date. If the label or a separate sticker shows a full manufacture date, trust it over the decoded digit.
- Ask for paperwork: receipt, delivery note or registration record.
- Compare the design. Controls, finishes and features change a lot over 10 years.
Still unsure? Contact Frigidaire or Electrolux support with the model and serial number.
What the age means if you’re buying used
The build year is the starting point for judging remaining life. Our lifespan guides cover refrigerators, washing machines, dryers and dishwashers.
For a price check, see used refrigerator prices or what a used appliance is worth. Warranty coverage normally runs from the original purchase date, not the build week.
Limitations
- The decade is never in the serial, so every decode needs a decade check.
- No official Frigidaire or Electrolux decoder was found as of September 2026. The rule comes from independent references that agree with each other and with documented units.
- The week gives the build date only. It says nothing about hours of use, repairs or storage conditions.
- If a serial doesn’t fit the two-letters-then-digits pattern, don’t force the rule. Contact Frigidaire or Electrolux support with the model and serial.
Next steps
- Enter the serial in the checker above.
- Run the model through the recall check.
- Inspect the unit with the used appliance buying checklist.
Checked against the sources below on 26 September 2026.