Whirlpool, Samsung, and LG all stick a plate or sticker somewhere on the unit packed with a serial number, a model number, and sometimes a manufacture date — but none of them agree on how to arrange that information, and that’s where most people get stuck typing digits into a parts search box that comes back empty.
The video below walks through where these labels usually hide and how to read the basic structure once you’ve found one.
I’ve pulled parts for enough dead appliances over the years to know the label placement trips people up more than the code itself does. Once you’re actually looking at the right sticker, the format for each brand is fairly consistent — it’s just different from one manufacturer to the next.
Where to find the label
Refrigerators usually hide it inside the fresh food compartment, along the top wall or side wall, or behind the kick plate at the bottom. Washers and dryers tend to have it on the inside of the door frame or on the back panel. Dishwashers almost always put it on the edge of the tub, visible once the door is open. If the sticker’s gone or worn off, check the original owner’s manual or the manufacturer’s registration paperwork — the number is usually printed there too.
Samsung’s format
Samsung appliance model numbers tend to run long — something like RF28R7351SG — and each block of characters narrows down a category. The letters at the start usually indicate the product family (RF for French door refrigerator, WA for top-load washer, DV for dryer), the digits that follow relate to capacity or generation, and the trailing letters describe finish and features like color or ice maker configuration. Samsung also assigns a separate serial number, and that one matters for warranty lookups — the model number alone won’t tell you the manufacture date.
LG’s format
LG models follow a similar logic but with their own letter codes — a washer might read WM3900HWA, where the first letters group it by appliance type and drum style, the numbers describe series and size, and the last letters cover color and minor feature variants. LG changes suffix letters often between what otherwise look like nearly identical units, which is exactly why swapping in a part from a “close enough” model number causes more return shipments than it should. A single suffix letter can mean a different door swing, a different control board, or a different water valve entirely.
Whirlpool’s format
Whirlpool (and this carries over to Maytag, KitchenAid, and Amana since they share the same parent company) tends to use a shorter, more compressed code — something like WRF757SDHZ. The first two or three letters usually identify the brand and category, the digit string in the middle ties to size or series, and the final letters again cover color and trim. Whirlpool’s plates typically list the model number right above the serial number on the same sticker, which makes cross-referencing easier than it is on some other brands.
Why the exact string matters for parts
If you’ve ever had to decode a credit card number or run a VIN decoder, the same basic idea applies here — every character carries meaning, and swapping even one digit or letter can point you at an entirely different configuration. In my experience, the trailing letters are what people skip over most, and they’re often the difference between the correct control board and one that physically won’t seat right. When you’re ordering a part, always search using the full string exactly as it appears on the label, not a shortened or rounded-off version.
What if the label is missing or unreadable
Old stickers fade, especially on units that ran hot for years or got wiped down with degreaser. If yours is unreadable, check the original sales receipt, the manufacturer’s registration confirmation, or an installation permit if one was pulled for the appliance. Some manufacturers can also look up a unit by serial number alone if you call in with the purchase date and approximate location of purchase, though that’s slower than just reading the plate.
Quick recap
- Samsung, LG, and Whirlpool all use different letter/number structures for appliance model numbers — none are interchangeable in logic.
- The label is usually inside the door frame, tub edge, or fresh food compartment.
- Trailing letters often describe color, trim, or minor feature differences — don’t ignore them when ordering parts.
- Model number and serial number are two separate pieces of information, even when printed on the same sticker.
