Step 1: Find the model and serial label
Kenmore labels sit where the real manufacturer put them, so check the usual spots for that appliance type.
- 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)
- Ceiling of the fresh-food section (GE, Kenmore, KitchenAid quad-door)
- Beside, behind or under the crisper drawers (GE, Kenmore)
- Outside, low on the front (a second label on Samsung; GE bottom front edge on some models)
- On the rim, trim or frame of the door opening, often at the top (Whirlpool, Maytag, LG, Samsung, Frigidaire, GE)
- Outside, lower right front corner (some GE models)
- Under the lid, on the tub rim or the back of the opening (Whirlpool, Maytag, Frigidaire, LG, GE near the right hinge)
- Back of the control panel or the back panel (GE, LG; Samsung top-loaders on the back)
- Outside, lower corner of the cabinet (some GE models)
- Rim of the door opening, often at the top (Whirlpool, Maytag, Samsung; LG and Frigidaire say the top)
- Left or right side of the drum opening (GE). Ventless Whirlpool and Maytag dryers: behind the water tank
- Left edge of the tub frame (Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, GE, Samsung)
- 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 Sears PartsDirect says to look |
|---|---|
| Refrigerator | Upper side wall inside the fresh-food compartment; along the ceiling; on the frame behind the crisper drawers; inside the freezer on some models |
| Front-load washer | Along the door opening |
| Top-load washer | Under the lid |
| Dryer | Inside the door opening, or on the back panel |
| Dishwasher | Rim of the tub or inside edge of the door; sometimes behind the kickplate |
| Range or wall oven | Around the oven door frame (open the door); inside the drawer compartment or on the frame behind the drawer |
Basis: Sears PartsDirect model-number and Kenmore age guides.
Step 2: Match the model prefix to the real manufacturer
The prefix is the three digits before the dot or space in the model number. In 110.20622991, the prefix is 110.
| Prefix | Built by | Typical products | Decode with | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 106 | Whirlpool | Refrigerators | Whirlpool rule | Appliance411, electrical-forensics, Sears PartsDirect |
| 110 | Whirlpool | Washers, dryers (Appliance411 also lists dishwashers) | Whirlpool rule | All sources agree |
| 664, 665 | Whirlpool | Cooktops, wall ovens (664); dishwashers, ranges, wall ovens (665) | Whirlpool rule | Appliance411, electrical-forensics (one site says 665 is GE; the others disagree) |
| 103, 911 | Roper (a Whirlpool brand) | Cooktops, wall ovens and others | Whirlpool rule | Appliance411, electrical-forensics |
| 596 | Amana | Refrigerators | Depends on the serial style; see below | Appliance411, electrical-forensics |
| 253 | Frigidaire (ex-Gibson line) | Refrigerators, air conditioners | Frigidaire rule | All sources agree |
| 417 | Frigidaire (ex-Kelvinator line) | Laundry and others | Frigidaire rule | All sources agree |
| 587 | Frigidaire (ex-D&M) | Dishwashers | Frigidaire rule | Appliance411, electrical-forensics |
| 790, 970 | Frigidaire | Ranges, refrigerators and others | Frigidaire rule | All sources agree |
| 795 | LG | Refrigerators | LG rule | All sources agree |
| 796 | LG | Washers, dryers | LG rule | Appliance411, Sears PartsDirect |
| 721 | LG (ex-Goldstar) | Microwaves | LG rule | All sources agree |
| 363 | GE (Appliance411 also lists LG) | Dishwashers, refrigerators, microwaves | GE rule | Appliance411, electrical-forensics, Sears PartsDirect |
| 362 | Disputed: Roper or GE | Ranges | Check the serial style | Appliance411 says Roper; electrical-forensics says GE |
| 401, 402, 592 | Samsung | Microwaves (401); washers (402, 592) | Samsung rule (table on how old is my refrigerator) | Appliance411; Sears PartsDirect for 402 |
“All sources agree” means Appliance411, electrical-forensics.com and the other Kenmore prefix references checked for this page all give the same maker.
Step 3: Decode the serial with that maker’s rule
| Maker | Where the date sits in the serial | Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| Whirlpool, Roper | Year character right after the 1–2 letter plant code, then a 2-digit week | Letters: 1990s or 2020s; digits: 2010s or 1980s |
| Frigidaire | 3rd character = last digit of the year; 4th–5th = week | 10 years |
| LG | 1st digit = last digit of the year; 2nd–3rd = month | 10 years |
| GE | 1st letter = month; 2nd letter = year | 12 years |
| Samsung | 15 characters: 8th = year, 9th = month. 11 characters: 4th = year, 5th = month | 20 years |
| Amana / Maytag legacy | Serial ends in two letters: year, then month | 24 years |
Each maker’s page has the full code table. This page only tells you which one to use.
Amana-built 596 models: if the serial ends in two letters, use the Maytag legacy rule. If it starts with letter + letter/digit + week digits, use the Whirlpool rule. Sears PartsDirect describes 596 serials as a year digit followed by a two-digit week, so check which pattern your serial actually shows. The Amana guide covers both formats.
Worked examples
- Model 110.xxxxxxxx washer, serial RA01xxxx. Whirlpool built it. R is the plant, A is the year and 01 is the week. Sears PartsDirect reads this as the first week of 1991 or 2021.
- Model 106.xxxxxxxx refrigerator, serial FM644xxxx. FM is a two-letter plant code, 6 is the year and 44 is the week. Sears PartsDirect’s reading: week 44 of 1986 or 2016. For a fridge on today’s used market, 2016 is the likely one.
- Model 795.7xxxxxxx refrigerator, serial 512xxxxx. LG built it: 5 is the year and 12 is the month, so December 2015 or December 2025.
- Model 253.xxxxxxxx refrigerator, date digits 823. Frigidaire built it: 8 is the year and 23 is the week, so June of a year ending in 8, most likely 2008 or 2018 (Sears PartsDirect’s example). On Frigidaire serials that begin with two letters, these digits are the 3rd to 5th characters.
The decade problem
Every maker’s code repeats, so a Kenmore serial usually leaves two plausible years. Settle it with:
- The full model number. Search it in Kenmore’s manual finder or on Sears PartsDirect. The manual’s print date should be close to the build year.
- Paperwork. A Sears receipt, delivery ticket or protection-agreement record.
- The unit’s design. Controls and styling from decades apart look very different.
What the age means for a used Kenmore
Once you have a year, compare it with typical service life for refrigerators, washers, dryers or dishwashers. Knowing the real maker also matters for repairs. Parts sites look up Kenmore parts by the full model number, and the real maker tells you which brand’s service information applies.
Limitations
- Some prefixes were used by more than one supplier over the decades (363 and 362, for example). If the serial doesn’t fit the maker’s pattern, the prefix may point to a different supplier for that model.
- If your model number doesn’t start with a three-digit prefix, this method doesn’t apply. Contact Kenmore customer care with the model and serial.
- The serial date is the build date, not the sale or install date.
Next steps
- Enter the model prefix and serial in the checker above.
- Run a recall check with the full Kenmore model number.
- Use the used appliance buying checklist before you buy.
Checked against the sources below on 26 September 2026.