The model number is on a sticker or metal plate, usually just inside the door or lid: around the door opening on front-load washers and dryers, on the tub frame or door edge of a dishwasher, and on an inside wall of a refrigerator. Photograph the whole tag and use the full number, including any suffix, when you look up codes or order parts.
Why the model number matters
Error codes, part numbers and repair steps are tied to model families, not just brands. The same code can mean different things on different model families from one brand, and a door gasket cut for one fridge won't fit another. The model number is what links your machine to the right manual, the right code list and the right parts.
Sears PartsDirect says to always use the complete number from the tag, including any version or revision code at the end. Its example is an LG fridge sold as LMXS27626D/00 and LMXS27626D/01: they look identical but don't use all the same parts.
Model number vs. serial number
The tag usually carries both, and they're easy to mix up. The model number identifies the design, which is what parts lists and code charts are built around. The serial number identifies your individual unit, and on many brands it also tells you when it was built.
Most tags label each one, often as MODEL or M/N and SERIAL or S/N. If yours isn't clear, photograph the whole tag; the manufacturer's support line can tell which is which. On LG, the model number always starts with a letter, and the serial number starts with three digits: the first is the year of manufacture and the next two are the month.
Washers
On front-load washers, open the door and look at the frame around the drum opening. Whirlpool, LG and Samsung all put it there, and LG says it's usually near the top.
Top-load washers vary more. Whirlpool puts the tag under the lid on the tub rim. LG lists three spots: under the lid toward the bottom right, on the back panel near the top, or at the top right corner of the left side panel on some models. Samsung puts the label on the back of its top-loaders, so you may need a flashlight and to slide the machine out a little. Sears PartsDirect lists under the lid, around the door frame and the rear panel as the usual spots across brands.
Dryers
Open the door and check the frame around the opening. Whirlpool puts it on the edge of the opening, LG near the top of the front panel behind the door, and Samsung says its dryers use the same spot as the matching washer. On stacked laundry centers, Whirlpool says to look inside the dryer door.
If it isn't around the door, Sears PartsDirect says to check behind the control panel and on the rear panel. Whirlpool pedestals carry their own tag on the storage drawer, which isn't the dryer's model number.
Dishwashers
Open the door partway and look along the edges. Whirlpool puts the tag on the left side of the tub frame on built-in dishwashers, and on the right side of the top drawer on double-drawer models. LG puts it on the right side of the door. Samsung lists the top of the inner door rim, the left or right side of the door rim, and the inside edge of the tub, and says its model numbers typically start with DW.
Sears PartsDirect says to check the tub rim and inside door edge, and that the tag is sometimes behind the kickplate at the bottom. Switch off the dishwasher's breaker before you take the kickplate off.
Refrigerators
Open the fresh food door and look at the inside side walls. Which side depends on the brand and style.
Samsung puts a second label on the outside at the bottom left on some models, and its model prefixes give away the style: RF for French door, RS for side-by-side, RB or RL for bottom freezer, and RT for top freezer. If you can't find the tag, Sears PartsDirect says to check behind the lower drawer or crisper pan and behind the kick plate at the bottom.
- Whirlpool: left inside wall on top-freezer, bottom-freezer, French-door and four-door models; right inside wall on side-by-sides.
- LG: right side of the liner on most models, left side on newer ones.
- Samsung: on a label inside on the left-hand side.
Air conditioners
LG says the tag on its window, portable and through-the-wall units is usually on the outside of the cabinet on the right as you face it, sometimes on the left. Sears PartsDirect lists the rear, the bottom, or inside an access panel as other spots.
Mini-splits have two units, the wall unit inside and the compressor unit outside, and each has its own model number. For error codes and parts you often need both. Look over the outside of each cabinet and check the owner's manual for where the label sits. If the indoor label is out of reach, check the installer's paperwork. Read only what's on the outside of the cabinet; never remove a cover from the outdoor unit to look for a tag.
Tips when the tag is hard to read
- Take a photo with flash from a slight angle. Faded print is often easier to read zoomed in on a phone.
- Write the number down exactly, including dashes, slashes and suffixes. Watch for 0 versus O and 1 versus I.
- If the tag is missing or worn off, look through the original paperwork. LG notes that labels are sometimes removed from refurbished or as-is units.
- Kenmore model numbers start with three digits that identify the company that built it. Sears PartsDirect gives 790 for Frigidaire-built and 795 for LG-built units, which helps you pick the right brand's code list.
When to call a professional
If the tag is missing and you can't find the paperwork, call the manufacturer's customer support and ask how they can identify the model. A technician will need the full model number anyway, so have it ready before you book a visit.