Before ordering a part, calling for a repair, or checking a recall, find the rating plate — it has the exact information needed, and guessing from memory or a rough description wastes more time than the two minutes it takes to locate it. This small plate carries the model number, serial number, and electrical specifications that identify your specific appliance precisely, rather than just its general type.
Where to find it
| Appliance | Typical location |
|---|---|
| Washing machine | Inside the door frame, or on the back panel |
| Dryer | Inside the door frame, or on the back near the power cord |
| Dishwasher | Inside the door, along the top or side edge of the tub opening |
| Refrigerator | Inside, on a side wall, or along the bottom near the front |
| Oven | Inside the door frame, or on a side panel behind a drawer |
| Microwave | Inside the door frame, or on the back panel |
| Water heater | On the side of the tank, often near the top |
| Air conditioner (window/portable) | On the back or side panel |
If you cannot see it immediately, check every edge of the door opening first — this is the single most common location across nearly every major appliance category.
What the information means
- Model number
Identifies the exact product line and configuration. This is what you need to order the correct replacement part, look up a manual, or search for known issues with your specific version of the appliance.
- Serial number
Identifies your individual unit specifically, often encoding the manufacture date. This is what manufacturers and repair services use to check warranty status and confirm exactly when the unit was made.
- Voltage and frequency
Confirms the appliance is compatible with your electrical supply — relevant mainly if an appliance has been imported or moved between regions with different standard voltages.
- Amperage or wattage
Tells you how much current the appliance draws, useful for confirming it is on an appropriately rated circuit, particularly for high-draw appliances like dryers, ovens and air conditioners.
- Refrigerant type and quantity (fridges, freezers, AC units)
Required information for any technician working on the sealed system, and relevant to know if the unit is ever serviced, recycled, or disposed of.
- Manufacture date or date code
Sometimes shown directly, sometimes encoded within the serial number. This is useful for judging where an appliance sits in its typical lifespan — see our appliance lifespan guide for what that means for a repair decision.
Why it matters more than people expect
Ordering a part by a general description — “the door seal for my fridge” — leads to returns and wasted time far more often than ordering by the exact model number does, because manufacturers use dozens of subtly different variants across a single product line. The rating plate is also the first thing a repair technician will ask for, and having a clear photo of it ready before they arrive, or before you call, speeds up diagnosis and quoting considerably.
Take a clear photo of every major appliance’s rating plate and keep them together — in a phone album or a folder — rather than needing to physically locate and read a plate every time you need the information. This is particularly useful for appliances in awkward positions, like built-in units, where the plate is genuinely hard to reach.
If you cannot find it
On some built-in or integrated appliances, the plate can be hidden behind a kick panel, inside a drawer compartment, or under a removable trim piece. Check the appliance’s original manual (often available as a PDF search using the brand name and general model type even without your exact number) for guidance specific to your model, or see our guide on finding a model number when the plate itself is not readily visible.
