Whirlpool Corporation is the largest home appliance manufacturer in the world, and if you own a Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Amana, or JennAir appliance, there is a good chance the serial number follows the same encoding system. That means once you learn how to decode a Whirlpool serial number, you can decode serial numbers for five major brands using the same method. This guide walks you through it step by step.
Free Whirlpool Serial Number Decoder
The quickest way to find your appliance’s age is our free Appliance Age Decoder. Select “Whirlpool” (or Maytag, KitchenAid, etc.) as the brand, enter your serial number, and get the manufacture date, age, and estimated remaining lifespan instantly. It handles all three Whirlpool serial number formats automatically.
Why One Decoder Works for Five Brands
Whirlpool Corporation owns and manufactures appliances under multiple brand names, all built in the same factories using the same serial number system:
| Brand | Acquired By Whirlpool | Shared Format? |
|---|---|---|
| Whirlpool | Parent company | Yes |
| Maytag | 2006 | Yes (post-2006 units) |
| KitchenAid | 1986 | Yes |
| JennAir | 2006 (via Maytag) | Yes |
| Amana | 2006 (via Maytag) | Yes (post-2006 units) |
| Roper | Whirlpool sub-brand | Yes |
| Estate | Whirlpool sub-brand | Yes |
| Gladiator | Whirlpool sub-brand | Yes |
Important note on Maytag and Amana: Units manufactured before 2006 (prior to the Whirlpool acquisition) use a different serial number format. If your Maytag or Amana appliance is from 2005 or earlier, the decoder at the link above handles those older formats separately.
Where to Find Your Serial Number
The serial number is on a data plate (rating plate or nameplate) attached to your appliance. Here is where to look by appliance type:
| Appliance | Data Plate Location |
|---|---|
| Refrigerator | Inside the refrigerator compartment on the left sidewall near the top, or behind the crisper drawers at the bottom |
| Dishwasher | Open the door and check the left side of the tub or the top edge of the door frame |
| Oven / Range | Behind the bottom storage drawer (pull it out) or on the door frame when the oven door is open |
| Washer (top-load) | Under the lid on the upper left or right side of the frame, or on the back of the control panel |
| Washer (front-load) | Inside the door frame on the front left side, visible when the door is open |
| Dryer | Inside the door frame along the left or right side, or on the back of the unit |
| Microwave | Inside the door cavity on the left or right sidewall |
The data plate shows both a model number and a serial number. You need the serial number to determine age. Whirlpool serial numbers are typically 9-11 characters and begin with letters.
How to Decode Whirlpool Serial Numbers
Whirlpool uses three serial number formats depending on the era and factory. Here is how each one works:
Format 1: Three-Letter Start (Most Common)
This is the standard format used on millions of Whirlpool-family appliances. The first three characters are all letters:
- Position 1: Factory/plant code (not used for dating)
- Position 2: Year code letter
- Position 3: Month code letter
Example: XDA1234567 — Position 2 is D, position 3 is A
Year Code Letters
| Letter | Possible Years |
|---|---|
| X | 1990, 2020 |
| A | 1991, 2007, 2017 |
| D | 1994, 2008, 2018 |
| F | 1996, 2000, 2010, 2020 |
| H | 1998, 2009, 2019 |
| J | 1999, 2010, 2020 |
| K | 2000, 2011, 2021 |
| L | 2001, 2011, 2021 |
| M | 2002, 2012, 2022 |
| R | 2003, 2013, 2023 |
| T | 2004, 2014, 2024 |
| W | 2005, 2015, 2025 |
| Y | 2006, 2016, 2026 |
Like GE, these year codes are cyclic — some letters repeat across decades. Our free decoder uses your model number to automatically resolve the correct year.
Month Code Letters
| Letter | Month |
|---|---|
| A | January |
| B | February |
| C | March |
| D | April |
| E | May |
| F | June |
| G | July |
| H | August |
| J | September |
| K | October |
| L | November |
| M | December |
Note that the letter I is skipped to avoid confusion with the number 1.
Format 1 Examples
- Serial: XDA1234567 — Year D = 2018, Month A = January. Manufactured January 2018.
- Serial: CRG4567890 — Year R = 2023, Month G = July. Manufactured July 2023.
- Serial: AKL9012345 — Year K = 2021, Month L = November. Manufactured November 2021.
Format 2: Letter-Letter-Number (Newer Units)
On newer appliances, the serial starts with two letters followed by digits. The date is encoded numerically:
- Position 1: Factory code letter
- Position 2: Type code letter
- Positions 3-4: Year (last two digits, e.g., 17 = 2017)
- Positions 5-6: Week of manufacture (01-53)
Example: KC1707945 — Year = 2017, Week = 07 (mid-February). Manufactured February 2017.
This format is straightforward because the year and week are plain numbers — no letter codes to look up.
Format 3: Letter-Digit Start (Alternate)
Some units start with a letter followed immediately by a single digit:
- Position 1: Factory code letter
- Position 2: Year (single digit representing last digit of year)
- Positions 3-4: Week of manufacture (01-53)
Example: C90870249 — Year digit = 9 (2019), Week = 08 (late February). Manufactured February 2019.
The single-digit year is cyclic (repeats every 10 years), but the model number era helps narrow it down.
Whirlpool Product Lines by Brand
Here is a quick reference for what each Whirlpool-family brand focuses on:
| Brand | Market Position | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Whirlpool | Mid-range / value | Reliable washers, dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers |
| Maytag | Mid-range / durability | Heavy-duty washers, PowerWash dishwashers, rugged commercial styling |
| KitchenAid | Premium / performance | Dishwashers, stand mixers, built-in refrigerators, high-end cooking |
| JennAir | Luxury | Pro-style ranges, built-in refrigeration, designer kitchen suites |
| Amana | Budget / entry level | Affordable refrigerators, washers, dryers, microwaves |
Despite the different price points and brand identities, they all roll off similar production lines and share the same serial number encoding.
When to Replace Your Whirlpool Appliance
Use the manufacture date from your serial number to gauge where your appliance stands in its lifespan:
| Appliance | Average Lifespan | Start Budgeting At | Repair-or-Replace Threshold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator (top freezer) | 14-20 years | 14 years | Repair if under 14, replace if over 14 and repair > $400 |
| Refrigerator (French door) | 10-15 years | 10 years | Repair if under 10, replace if over 10 and repair > $500 |
| Dishwasher | 9-12 years | 9 years | Repair if under 8, replace if over 9 and repair > $300 |
| Washer (top-load) | 12-14 years | 11 years | Repair if under 10, replace if over 11 and repair > $350 |
| Washer (front-load) | 10-12 years | 9 years | Repair if under 8, replace if over 9 and repair > $400 |
| Dryer | 10-13 years | 10 years | Repair if under 9, replace if over 10 and repair > $300 |
| Oven/Range | 13-20 years | 15 years | Repair if under 13, replace if over 15 and repair > $400 |
For the full breakdown by appliance type and brand, see our Appliance Lifespan Chart.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the same decoder for Maytag and KitchenAid?
Yes, as long as the appliance was manufactured after 2006 (when Whirlpool acquired Maytag). Post-2006 Maytag, KitchenAid, JennAir, and Amana appliances all use the same Whirlpool serial number system. Our Appliance Age Decoder handles both pre- and post-acquisition formats automatically.
Why does my Whirlpool serial number have multiple possible years?
Whirlpool reuses year code letters on a cycle. The letter K, for example, could mean 2000, 2011, or 2021. To determine the correct year, consider your model number (which corresponds to a specific production era), when you purchased the appliance, and its overall condition. Our free decoder cross-references the model number to select the right year automatically.
Where is the serial number on a Whirlpool washer?
On top-load washers, lift the lid and look on the upper frame (left or right side), or tilt back the control panel to find a sticker on the back. On front-load washers, open the door and check the inner frame on the front left side. The serial number is on the same data plate as the model number.
My serial number does not match any of these formats. What should I do?
If your serial number does not start with letters or does not match the patterns above, you may have a pre-1990 unit, a warranty replacement with a special serial, or an appliance manufactured by a third-party OEM for Whirlpool. Try entering it into our Appliance Age Decoder, which recognizes additional formats. You can also check the data plate for a plaintext manufacture date — some older units print the date directly.
Need Appliance Help in Central Texas?
If your Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, or JennAir appliance is nearing end of life — or already giving you trouble — Texas Temp Masters is here to help. We diagnose and repair all major appliance brands across Central Texas.
Free tools to try right now:
- Appliance Age Decoder — decode any Whirlpool-family serial number
- Appliance Lifespan Chart — check how much life is left in your unit
Call us at (817) 704-0706 for expert appliance repair, maintenance advice, or help deciding whether to repair or replace. Same-day service available for most appointments.
