Free Tool

Appliance Age Calculator

Every appliance hides its manufacture date in its serial number. Pick yours below and we'll decode the year — then tell you what actually matters: what tends to fail at that age, and whether a repair is worth paying for.

By the TidyBoss TeamUpdated August 7, 2026

What appliance is it?

Pick yours and we'll take you to its decoder — each one shows exactly where that appliance hides its serial number, how long it should last, what tends to fail at which age, and whether a repair is worth paying for.

How old is my refrigerator?Typically lasts 10–18 years How old is my washing machine?Typically lasts 8–14 years How old is my dishwasher?Typically lasts 7–12 years How old is my dryer?Typically lasts 10–15 years How old is my garbage disposal?Typically lasts 8–15 years

Another appliance?

Microwaves, ranges and HVAC units don't have their own guide yet — decode the serial here instead.

Water heater? Use the dedicated water heater tool — they're built by an entirely different set of manufacturers.

Appliance Type *

Decode your serial number

Pick the manufacturer, then type the serial exactly as it appears. We'll read the manufacture date out of it.

Manufacturer

Serial Number

Pick your manufacturer above and we'll show the exact serial format to look for.

Pick your manufacturer and we'll show you exactly what its serial number looks like and where to find it.

Average Appliance Lifespans

Appliance	Average Lifespan	Range
Refrigerator	13 years	10-18 years
Washing Machine	10 years	8-14 years
Dryer	13 years	10-15 years
Dishwasher	9 years	7-12 years
Water Heater	10 years	8-15 years
HVAC / Furnace / AC	20 years	15-25 years
Gas Range / Stove	15 years	13-20 years
Electric Range / Stove	13 years	10-15 years
Microwave	9 years	7-12 years
Garbage Disposal	10 years	8-15 years

*Actual lifespan depends on usage, maintenance, and quality. Well-maintained appliances often exceed these averages.

How to Find Your Appliance's Age

Check the Rating Plate

Most appliances have a rating plate (also called a data plate or nameplate) showing the model number, serial number, and sometimes the manufacture date. Where to look first:

• Refrigerator: Inside the fresh-food compartment, on the side wall near the crisper drawers — this is the most common spot by far.
• Washing Machine: Top-loaders: under the lid, on the rim of the opening — lift the lid and look at the metal lip.
• Dishwasher: On the inner edge of the door — open the door fully and look along the left or right side of the door panel.
• Dryer: Inside the door opening, on the rim or frame visible when the door is open.
• Garbage Disposal: On the side of the motor housing, partway down the body — get under the sink and look up with a flashlight.

Decode the Serial Number

If the date isn't printed directly, most manufacturers encode it in the serial number — each brand differently:

• GE: Two letters + 6 digits, sometimes a letter at the end (e.g. TL123456B)
• Whirlpool: A letter, then a year code (letter or digit), then digits — e.g. C21234567. The 3rd-4th digits are the week (01-53).
• Samsung: 15 characters — the 8th is the year letter, the 9th the month (on short 11-character serials it's the 4th and 5th)
• LG: Starts with 3 digits: first = year, next two = month 01-12 (e.g. 810KW... = Oct 2018)
• Frigidaire: Two letters + 8-10 digits (e.g. NF81064326): 3rd character = last digit of the year, 4th-5th = week 01-53
• Bosch: The FD number: "FD" + 4 digits (FD 0301 = Jan 2023), often with extra digits after it (FD030100233 works too)
• InSinkErator: Starts with the date: 2 digits for the year then 2 for the month, e.g. 1503… = March 2015
• Speed Queen: All digits, usually 10, starting with the two-digit year — e.g. 0212043964 = 2002
• Kenmore: Whatever the actual builder uses — Sears sold other makers' machines under the Kenmore name. Enter the serial and, if you have it, the model number.