How to Tell Which Manufacturer Made a Kenmore Appliance From Sears

If you have a Kenmore appliance from Sears, it was made by one of several leading appliance manufacturers, such as Amana or Whirlpool, as the department store chain doesn't manufacture any of its products itself. You can determine what company made your particular appliance by finding the model number on the identification tag.

Find the Appliance's Model Number

Depending on what type of appliance you have, the model number identification tag, or plate, could be in one of a few locations. If it's an oven, start by opening the door and inspecting the frame for the tag. Another place it may be located is under the cook top. On a dryer, check the upper left-hand back corner or on the cabinet frame, inside the door. On a refrigerator, inspect the kick plate or behind a lower crisper drawer.

You most likely won't find the appliance's number in the product owner's manual, on the purchase receipt or energy guide label.

Model Number Prefix

The model number prefix, or first three or four numbers, which you can find on the product identification tag, will let you know what manufacturer made your appliance. These first numbers, which are followed by either a dot or space, correspond with the different manufacturers. With some appliances, the initial numbers may be followed by the letter "C."

Compare the prefix numbers with a chart to determine the manufacturer. For instance, if the model number begins with 103, Roper made your appliance. If the number starts with 118, Corning is the manufacturer, and if you see the numbers 592, your product was made by Samsung. The chart also features abbreviations, such as "ac" for air conditioner, to let you know the types of appliances.