Serial number decoder & lookup · Free utility
Appliance Serial Number Decoder & Lookup
Find your manufacture date & age by serial number.
Most major home appliance and residential HVAC manufacturers encode the exact month, week, and year of production directly inside the serial number. Select your brand from the dropdown below to decode your unit's manufacture date and estimated age.
Instant serial lookup
Select brand and enter serial number.
Knowing your appliance's age is essential when deciding whether to repair or replace using the 50% rule, checking warranty coverage, or looking up matching OEM service manuals.
Enter a serial number above
Type the serial number from your appliance's rating plate to view the decoded manufacturing month, week, and year.
Dedicated Brand Serial Decoders
Need brand-specific rating plate location diagrams, date code cycles, or full serial lookup tables? Explore our dedicated brand decoders:
Whirlpool / Maytag / Amana
CY4510294
GE / Hotpoint / Profile
HD123456G
Samsung
1AB4567Y6CDEFGH
LG Electronics
304KW12345
Bosch / Thermador
FD 9406
Frigidaire / Electrolux
VF42012345
Carrier / Bryant / Payne
1914A12345
Goodman / Janitrol
1005123456
Amana HVAC
1803123456
Lennox Industries HVAC
5821231234
Trane / American Standard
2204A12345
Rheem / Ruud
M041912345
York / Johnson Controls
1218A12345
How Major Appliance Brands Encode Dates
Each manufacturer uses an internal serial numbering convention. Here is how date encoding works across leading brands:
| Brand Family | Serial Structure & Date Position | Example Format | Dedicated Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whirlpool / Maytag / Amana | Letter + Year Letter/Digit + 2-digit week (e.g. C834... or CY45...) | CY4510294 | View guide → |
| GE / Hotpoint / Profile | First letter = Month, Second letter = Year (e.g. AA123456) | HD123456G | View guide → |
| Samsung | 15 characters: 8th character = Year, 9th character = Month | 1AB4567Y6CDEFGH | View guide → |
| LG Electronics | 1st digit = Year, 2nd-3rd digits = Month (e.g. 304KW...) | 304KW12345 | View guide → |
| Bosch / Thermador | 4-digit 'FD' code: year digits map to the year (94 → 2014), last 2 digits = month | FD 9406 | View guide → |
| Frigidaire / Electrolux | 3rd digit = Year, 4th-5th digits = Week of year | VF42012345 | View guide → |
| Carrier / Bryant / Payne | First 2 digits = Week (01-52), Next 2 digits = Year (e.g. 1914...) | 1914A12345 | View guide → |
| Goodman / Janitrol | First 2 digits = Year, 3rd-4th digits = Month (e.g. 1005... = May 2010) | 1005123456 | View guide → |
| Amana HVAC | First 2 digits = Year, 3rd-4th digits = Month (Daikin/Goodman facility format) | 1803123456 | View guide → |
| Lennox Industries HVAC | Positions 3-4 = Year, 5-6 = Week (e.g. 582123...) | 5821231234 | View guide → |
| Trane / American Standard | First 4 digits = YYWW (post-2010) or single-digit year (pre-2010) | 2204A12345 | View guide → |
| Rheem / Ruud | Letter prefix + MMYY or YYMM date code (e.g. M0419...) | M041912345 | View guide → |
| York / Johnson Controls | First 4 digits = WWYY or letter plant prefix | 1218A12345 | View guide → |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find the age of an appliance by serial number?
Most appliance manufacturers encode the manufacture date into the first 2 to 4 characters of the serial number. For example, Carrier uses the first 4 digits for week and year (WWYY), Goodman uses YYMM, and GE uses a two-letter month/year combination. Select your brand in our decoder and enter the alphanumeric serial number to instantly reveal the production date and estimated age.
Where is the serial number located on my appliance?
The serial number is printed on the metallic rating plate or barcode sticker. Common locations include inside the door frame (washers, dryers, and dishwashers), on the interior ceiling or crisper sidewall (refrigerators), behind the lower warming drawer or range door (ovens), or on the exterior service access panel (HVAC furnaces and AC units).
Can serial numbers repeat across decades?
Yes. Brands like GE and Whirlpool use repeating date cycles (typically 10 to 12 years). For example, GE's year letters repeat every 12 years. If your appliance has a 12-year repeating code, use physical design cues, energy labels, or manual dates to confirm whether it was built in the current or prior cycle.
What is the difference between a model number and a serial number?
A model number identifies the appliance's product line, features, and engineering revision (shared by thousands of units). The serial number (S/N) is unique to your specific machine and contains the manufacturing plant code, calendar week, and production year.
Disclaimer: This decoder provides informational date calculations based on published industry manufacturing conventions and home inspection references (including the Building Intelligence Center). Serial schemes can vary by manufacturing plant, brand acquisition year, or commercial product line. Always confirm age with the manufacturer or appliance service documentation for warranty and legal claims.