Who Made Your Kenmore or Sears Appliance? Here’s How to Find Out

Kenmore (Sears) appliances aren’t made by Kenmore itself. Instead, they’re produced by different manufacturers under contract. If you need replacement parts or repairs, knowing who made your appliance is essential.

Luckily, you can determine the manufacturer by checking the first three digits of your model number. Use the lists below to find out who made your Kenmore appliance.

Common Kenmore Manufacturer Codes

Note: 278 is a Roper-built range, but its parts are available from GE.

Complete List of Kenmore Manufacturer Codes

For a more detailed breakdown, here’s a full list sorted numerically. Canadian model numbers start with “C.”

Why Does This Matter?

Knowing your Kenmore manufacturer is important when ordering replacement parts or troubleshooting issues. Since Kenmore contracts different manufacturers, parts and service options may vary based on the original maker.

Need genuine replacement parts? Shop our extensive collection of Kenmore parts here.

David B. February 22nd, 2010

Posted In: Appliance Age and Manufacturer

How Old Is My Appliance? A Guide to Finding Its Age by Serial or Model Number

Trying to figure out how old your appliance is? Whether you’re prepping for repairs, checking warranty coverage, or just curious, knowing the manufacturing date of your appliance can be incredibly helpful.

The good news? Most appliances have serial numbers that contain the date they were made. This guide will show you how to decode them – with brand-specific tips for GE, Whirlpool, Kenmore, Frigidaire, LG, KitchenAid, and more.

Why Appliance Age Matters

Knowing how old your appliance is helps you:

• Plan for maintenance or replacement
• Check if your appliance is still under warranty
• Order the right replacement parts
• Understand what to expect in terms of performance and lifespan

How to Tell How Old Your Appliance Is by Serial Number

If you’re wondering how old your appliance is by model number, know that model numbers are helpful for identifying the manufacturer and product line, but it’s the serial number that usually reveals the manufacturing date.

You’ll usually find the serial number printed on a label or metal tag. Common locations include:

• Inside the door or lid
• On the back or side panel
• Underneath or behind the control panel

Brand-Specific Appliance Age Lookup Guides

Each appliance brand uses a different system to encode the manufacturing date. Below you’ll find step-by-step instructions for decoding serial numbers from top brands including GE, Amana, Whirlpool, Frigidaire, and more.

Brands Covered:

• Amana
• GE (including American GE, Canadian GE, Moffat, McClary, Hotpoint by Camco)
• Frigidaire, White/Westinghouse, Tappan, Kelvinator.
• Kenmore / Sears
• KitchenAid
• Maytag, Jenn-Air, MagicChef
• Whirlpool

How to Find the Age of Your Amana Appliance

Wondering how old your Amana appliance is? Amana uses a simple four-digit serial number code:

How to Decode Amana Serial Numbers:

1. Locate the serial/model tag on your appliance.
2. Record the first four digits of the serial number.
3. Use the format YYWW, where:
   • YY = Year
   • WW = Week of the year

Example: 

Serial number: 9912

• 99 = Year: 1999.
• 12 = 12th week (March)

Newer Amana models may start with two letters and follow the Maytag serial format. If so, see the Maytag section for guidance.

 

Top

How Old Is My GE Appliance by Serial Number?

GE USA appliances, including Hotpoint, use a letter-based system to encode the manufacture date in the serial number. Both GE USA and GE Canadian appliances (Camco, Hotpoint, GE Moffat and McClary) follow specific patterns.

GE USA Serial Number Format:

1. Find the serial/model tag on your appliance.
2. Decode the first two letters of the serial number:
   • The first letter indicates the month.
   • The second letter indicates the year.

Example:

Serial number: LT221102

• LT221102 – L = month – June
• LT221102 – T = year 1986 or 1998

This appliance was manufactured in June 1998 or June 1986

GE Date Codes Chart:

* Note: GE reuses the same 12 letters every 12 years, so you’ll need to use appliance style and features to judge the correct decade.

Top

GE Canadian Serial Numbers (Camco)

If your GE appliance was made in Canada (Camco), it still uses a two-letter serial code – but the meaning differs slightly.

Example:

• Serial number: MS731902A
• The first 2 letters show the manufacturing date.
  • MS731902A shows the month made – July
  • MS731902A shows the year made – 1997
• The above appliance with serial # MS731902A was made in July 1997.

GE Canada Date Code Chart

* The same twelve easily distinguishable letters of the alphabet will be used and repeated in a twelve year cycle

Top

How Old Is My Frigidaire Appliance by Serial Number?

Frigidaire appliances – including those sold under brands like White-Westinghouse, Tappan, and Kelvinator – use a serial number format that reveals the manufacturing date.

How to Decode a Frigidaire Serial Number:

1. Locate the serial/model tag on your appliance.
2. Look at the first few characters of the serial number:
   • The first digit = the year.
   • The next digits = the week of the year.

Example 1:

Serial number: NF11910958

• 1 = 2001 (Year).
• 19 = 19th week.
• This Frigidaire appliance was manufactured in April 2001.

Example 2:

Serial number: LA84501552

• L = Factory code.
• A8 = Year: 1988 or 1998.
• 45 = 45th week.
• If the appliance looks older, it’s likely 1988; if newer, it’s 1998.

Top

How to Find Manufacturer For Kenmore or Sears Appliance

If you’re asking, “How can I tell how old my Kenmore appliance is?” – you’re not alone. Kenmore, sold by Sears, doesn’t manufacture its own appliances. Instead, it contracts with other major brands like Whirlpool, Frigidaire, GE, and LG.

How can I tell how old my Kenmore appliance is?

Use this Kenmore serial number decoder below to check the age of your Kenmore washer, dryer, or refrigerator:

1. Find the model number on your appliance.
2. Look at the first 3 digits of the model number – this prefix identifies the manufacturer.
3. Use the matching brand’s serial number decoding method (like Whirlpool or Frigidaire) to determine the age.

Example:

• Model: 110.xxxxxx – Prefix 110 = Whirlpool*
  • Use Whirlpool’s serial number system to find the year of manufacture.

*278 is a Roper built range, but parts are available from GE

The list below is a fuller list in numeric order, with part numbers starting with C being the Canadian models.

Top

How Old Is My KitchenAid Appliance by Serial Number?

Are you trying to determine the age of your KitchenAid appliance? For instance, are you specifically wondering how old your KitchenAid dishwasher is? Our serial number chart is here to help you!

First, find your serial/model tag and record the numbers and letters on this. Then, look at the first four digits and you should be able to work out the manufacture date.

How to Decode a KitchenAid Serial Number:

1. Locate the serial number tag on your appliance.
2. Break it down into parts (e.g., “XL1601009”). Break this up to take the first 4 digits i.e. XL16.
   • X indicates the factory where the product was made.
   • L represents the year (J = 1999, K = 2000, L = 2001, M = 2002, N =2003, etc).
   • 16 indicates the production week.

This method works for all KitchenAid products, including:

• KitchenAid dishwasher age
• KitchenAid refrigerator serial number age
• KitchenAid mixer serial number lookup

Top

How Old Is My Maytag Appliance?

Maytag, known for its reliable appliances, also owns Jenn-Air and MagicChef. To determine the manufacture date of your appliance, you need to decode the Maytag serial number.

3 Steps to Find the Age of a Maytag Appliance:

1. Find the serial/model tag on your appliance.
2. Record the serial number – a combination of letters and numbers.
3. Look at the first two letters
   • The first letter in the serial number = the year.
   • The second letter = the month.

Example:

• Serial number: 15114672UY
  • U = Year: 1998.
  • Y = Month: November.
• This Maytag appliance was manufactured in November 1998.

Use the chart below to search for a proper Maytag serial number lookup and quickly find the date for any Maytag appliance – from Maytag washers to dryers.

Maytag Serial Number Date Codes

 

Year	Letter	Month
1980	E	March
1981	G	April
1982	J	May
1983	L	June
1984	N	July
1985	P	August
1986	R	September
1987	T	October
1988	V	November
1989	X	December
1990	B	January
1991	D	February
1992	F	March
1993	H	April
1994	K	May
1995	M	June
1996	Q	July
1997	S	August
1998	U	September
1999	W	October
2000	Y	November
2001	Z	December
2002	A	January
2003	C	February
2004	E	March
2005	G	April
2006	J	May
2007	L	June

Top

How Old Is My Whirlpool Appliance by Serial Number?

Whirlpool appliances – including microwaves, dishwashers, ovens, and more – use a serial number system that makes it easy to determine the manufacturing year.

How to Decode a Whirlpool Serial Number

1. Locate the serial/model tag on your appliance and record the numbers and letters on this.
2. Identify the third-to-last character in the serial number – this is a letter that indicates the year.

Example Whirlpool Serial Numbers:

• Model number: LRS6233BW1 = Manufactured in 1994.
• Model number: SF367PEYW1 = Manufactured in 1992.
• Model number: LE6685XPW1 = Could be from 1985 or 2004 (depends on the appliance’s appearance and features).
• Model number: ET22PKXXW0 = Manufactured in 1991.
• Model number: EV150CXKW0 = Manufactured in 1982 or 2001.

Whirlpool Date Code Chart

Top

Determining the age of your appliance is essential for effective maintenance and making informed decisions about repairs or replacements. By locating the serial number and using an appropriate appliance age finder, you can easily uncover your appliance’s manufacturing date.

FAQ: Common Appliance Age Questions

How old is my appliance by serial number?

Find the serial number tag on your appliance and use the brand-specific decoding method above. Most brands embed the manufacturing year and month/week in the serial number.

How old is my appliance by model number?

Model numbers help identify the product type and manufacturer but typically don’t include the manufacturing date.

How can I tell how old my Kenmore appliance is?

Check the first three digits of the model number to identify the manufacturer (e.g., Whirlpool, Frigidaire, GE), then use that brand’s serial number format to determine the age.

How old is my GE appliance by serial number?

Use the first two letters: the first indicates the month, the second the year. See the GE section above for a full decoding chart.

How old is my Whirlpool appliance by serial number?

Check the third-to-last character in the serial number. It’s a letter that corresponds to a specific year in Whirlpool’s date code chart.

How old is my Frigidaire appliance by model number?

Model numbers won’t show the date. Use the serial number – the first digit shows the year, and the next two show the week.

Need Help Finding Parts for Your Appliance?

Once you know your appliance’s age and model, it’s easy to find the right replacement parts for your grill, air conditioner, or other house appliance. Use our guide or browse parts by brand and model.

David B. February 22nd, 2010

Posted In: Appliance Age and Manufacturer