Are you standing in front of the refrigerator with a wrench in your hands or trying to order a spare part, but can’t find its brand? This situation is familiar to every third owner of equipment over 5 years old. Manufacturers hide factory stickers in the most unexpected places - from the inside walls of the freezer to the back panel under a layer of dust. And if the documents have long been lost, the search turns into a quest.
In this article we have collected all possible ways to determine the refrigerator model from the obvious to the little-known. You will learn where to look for nameplates on equipment Atlant, Samsung, Indesit and other brands, how to decipher the serial number and what to do if the sticker has worn off. And also why on some LG and Bosch models, the brand is indicated only in the service menu, and how to get there without the risk of breaking the equipment.
1. Standard locations for the brand sticker
Most manufacturers place the nameplate (nameplate) in several typical areas. Let's start with the most accessible ones - those that do not require moving the refrigerator or disassembling.
- 📋 Inside the refrigerator compartment: on the side wall (usually on the left), under the top shelf or on the ceiling of the chamber. Often the sticker is translucent, visible only in bright light.
- ❄️ In the freezer compartment: on the inside of the door, next to the seal or on the back wall (may be hidden by food).
- 🔍 On top of the case: on “roof” of the refrigerator, closer to the back edge (you need to stand on a chair and look with a flashlight).
- 🔌 Next to the power plug: on some models Beko and Vestfrost the sticker is located on the cord or next to the connector on the rear panel.
If your refrigerator is built-in, there is no point in looking for the brand inside the chambers - the plate is always attached outside, on the top or side panel of the case. To access it, you may need to remove the decorative cover (usually it is held on by latches).
On old Soviet refrigerators (ZIL, Minsk, Biryusa) the markings are often stamped directly on the metal case at the back - look for a row of numbers and letters starting with an abbreviation plant (for example, MKhM-160 or KSh-240).
2. Hidden places: where manufacturers hide markings
If there are no stickers in visible places, do not rush to give up. Some brands deliberately place nameplates in inconvenient areas to protect them from being erased or tampered with. Here's where to look:
- 🔧 Under the compressor: on a metal plate screwed to the frame. (you need to unscrew the back cover or look from below with a flashlight).
- 🧲 On the magnetic door seal: on models Liebherr i Gorenje sometimes there are miniature stickers on the rubber contour.
- 📦 Inside vegetable boxes: on the bottom or side wall of a plastic container (relevant for Samsung RB*** and Haier).
- 🔄 Under the removable control panel: on some Electrolux and Zanussi The plate is hidden behind a decorative overlay with buttons.
Refrigerators are especially insidious in this regard: their stickers are often placed on internal air ducts, which are covered with plastic grilles. To get to them, you will have to remove the back wall. freezer (by carefully prying it up with a screwdriver). No Frost: Their stickers are often placed on interior air ducts that are covered with plastic grilles. To get to them, you will have to remove the back wall of the freezer (by carefully prying it with a screwdriver).
How to remove the back wall of the freezer without damaging it?
Use a plastic pick or credit card to pry up the latches. Start from the top corner - there is usually less ice there: on some models. data-i="103">i Samsung And LG the wall is attached to additional screws under the plugs.
On premium class refrigerators (Siemens, Miele), markings can be applied laser to a metal plate inside the compressor compartment. are not erased, but it is difficult to see them without a magnifying glass.
3. How to decipher the serial number if the brand has been erased
Suppose you found a sticker, but only individual numbers or letters remain from the model. Don’t despair: the serial number (S/N) often contains encrypted information about the brand and series. Here's how to extract it:
Look at the the first 2-3 characters serial number. For most manufacturers, they correspond to the factory or model code. For example:
ATL— Atlant (Belarus)IND— Indesit (Italy)DAE— Daewoo (Korea)BOSorBSH— Bosch/Siemens (Germany)
If the serial number starts with letters R, L or Emost likely this is a technique LG, Liebherr or Electrolux respectively.
Use UL certificate database (for American and Asian brands) or European EEPLI registerto check the serial number in the database. Enter the first 6-8 characters - the system will prompt the manufacturer.
On some refrigerators (for example, Whirlpool or KitchenAid) the model is indicated in the format WRX735SDBM, where:
WR — brand (Whirlpool), X — series, 735 — volume in liters, SD — color (Stainless Steel), BM — modification.
| Brand | Serial number example | How to determine the model |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung | RS21DCNS1/XEU |
First 2 letters (RS) - series, numbers (21- volume in cubic feet |
| Indesit | C168NFX |
Letter C - refrigerator, 168 - height in cm, NF — No Frost |
| Atlant | MXM-1708-020 |
MHM — model, 1708 — year and month of production (August 2017) |
| LG | GR-B207SLQA |
GR — series, B — color (Black), 207 — volume |
4. Documents and box: where else can you find the model
If a physical inspection of the refrigerator does not yield results, check the accompanying documents. Even if you have lost the warranty card, the model may be indicated in less obvious places:
- 📄 Product passport: usually the model is listed on the first page next to the serial number. Look for inscriptions like
Model No.,TypeorRef.. - 📦 Box: the model number is often printed on the end part (for example,
KGE39XI40for BoschIf the box is thrown away, check the photographs from the day of purchase - sometimes the model is visible on). price tag. - 💳 Receipt or warranty card: in the line “Product” or “Name” there can be a full name (for example,
Refrigerator Atlant MXM 1708-020). - 📧 Email: if you bought online, look for letters from the store with the subject “Your order No...”. They always indicate the model.
If the refrigerator was purchased under a program trade-in or on credit, the model can be specified in the sales contract or payment schedule. In bank documents, look for the section “Collateral” or “Subject of loan”.
☑️ What to check in the documents
On some models Samsung i LG the model is duplicated on warranty seal a small sticker on the back wall that cannot be removed without damage. If the seal is intact, take a photo of it and enlarge the image: sometimes the code is visible only from a certain angle.
5. How to find out the brand through the service menu (for modern models)
If your refrigerator was manufactured after 2015, there is a high probability that the model can be found through service menu. This method works for electronically controlled techniques (Samsung, LG, Bosch, Electrolux). Instructions:
Disconnect the refrigerator from the mains for 1 minute, then turn it back on.
For Samsung: simultaneously press and hold the buttons
Power Cool+Power Freezefor 8 seconds.For LG: press
Ice Plus+Door Alarmfor 5 seconds.For Bosch/Siemens: press
Super Cooling+Super Freezingfor 10 seconds.
A menu with technical information will appear on the screen. Look for the lines:
MODEL, TYPE, REF or P/N. On some models LG the model is displayed in the format GR-*** (for example, GR-B207).
What to do if the service menu does not open?
Try another combination of buttons (for example, Light + Freezer for Indesit).On some refrigerators Atlant the menu is activated only when you hold the button Super Freeze for 15 seconds.
⚠️ Attention: Do not change the settings in the service menu if you are not sure of their purpose. Incorrect parameters can lead to damage to the compressor or system. data-i="214">Attention: No Frost.
If your refrigerator is connected to Wi-Fi (model Samsung Family Hub or LG ThinQ), the model can be found through the mobile application:
- Open the application and select your refrigerator.
- Go to section
Device → Information. - Find lines
ModelorSerial number.
6. Online services for identifying the model from a photo
If all the previous methods did not work, use specialized services that recognize the model from a photograph. Here are the most reliable:
- 📷 Google Lens: take a photo of the entire refrigerator or its control panel. The service will compare the image with the base and offer similar models.
- 🔍 Yandex.Pictures: upload a photo of the nameplate (even if it is partially erased) - the system will find similar stickers.
- 🤖 PTC ThingWorx: service for recognizing industrial equipment Upload a photo of the compressor or internal panel.
For an accurate result, follow. tips:
- Take pictures of the refrigerator in good lighting, avoiding glare.
- Take pictures of several parts: the control panel, compressor, internal walls.
- If there are fragments of text left on the sticker, circle them with a marker before shooting - this will help the algorithm.
On forums (for example, Onliner or Reddit Appliance Repair) you can post a photo of the refrigerator - experienced users often determine the model by small details (the shape of the handles, the location of the shelves or the type of compressor).
7. What to do if the model cannot be determined
If none of the methods helped, do not despair. Here are alternative solutions:
- 🔧 Remove the compressor: on its body there is always a sticker with technical data, which indicates the model of the refrigerator (for example,
For model: RB37J5200SA). - 📏 Measure dimensions: compare the height, width and depth with brand catalogs. For example, a refrigerator with a height of 185 cm and a width of 60 cm is highly likely to belong to the series Atlant MXM-180.
- 🔌 Look at the power plug: for European models (Indesit, Ariston) the plug has a specific shape (round pins), for Asian (Samsung, LG) - flat.
- 🛠️ Contact the service center: bring photographs of the refrigerator (especially the compressor and control panel) - the technicians will determine the model based on the details.
If you need a spare part, but the model is unknown, buy universal analog. For example:
- For the door seal, it is enough to know the dimensions of the opening and the type of fastening (groove or glue).
- Compressors are selected according to power (indicated on the compressor sticker) and type of refrigerant (
R600aorR134a). - The light bulbs in refrigerators are standardized - enough know base type (
E14orE27).
⚠️ Attention: If you disassemble the refrigerator to find the model, first unplug it and defrost it. Condensation on the electronic boards can cause a short circuit.
8. Common mistakes when searching for a refrigerator model
Even experienced users sometimes make mistakes that complicate the search. Here's what cannot be done: for example, the sticker may indicate:
- 🚫 Confuse the serial number with the model: for example, a sticker may indicate
S/N: 123456789(serial number) andModel: RB31FERNCSS(model). For spare parts, the second code is needed. - 🚫 Ignore letter prefixes: model
KGE39XI40andKAN39XI40belong to different series Bosch, although the numbers are the same. - 🚫 Clean dust from the sticker with a dry cloth.: this erases the paint. Use a damp cloth and gentle movements.
- 🚫 Trust the inscriptions on the magnets: users often confuse them with the original sticker. Branded magnets (for example, from Samsung) do not contain information about the model.
Another common mistake is searching for a model by spare part numberFor example, If you find a number on the compressor EA120JXK-P, this is not a refrigerator model, but a part code. To determine the model using it, use the catalogs:
- Partmaster (for European brands)
- Repair Clinic (for American and Asian)
On some refrigerators (especially made in China), the model may be indicated in unusual format. For example, instead of ATLANT MXM-180 you will see MXM180/AT or 180MXM-ATThis is the same model - just rearranged. letters and numbers.
🔍 FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: The sticker has been completely erased, only the last numbers remain ...5678Is it possible? can you determine the model?
Answer: No, the last digits of the serial number usually indicate the batch or production date. Try to find the model using a photo of the compressor or control panel at the service center.
Question 2: I bought a used refrigerator without documents. How can I find it out? age?
Answer: Age can be determined by the serial number. For example, the third and fourth digits indicate the year ( Atlant the third and fourth digits indicate the year ( 1708 August 2017). the letter after the hyphen is the year ( Samsung the first letter after the hyphen is the year (A = 2010, B = 2011, etc.).
Question 3: I found two different stickers with different models?
Answer: The correct model is indicated on nameplate (usually metal or on durable paper). The second sticker can be from a store or logistics company.
Question 4: Is it possible to determine the model from the internal photo? cameras?
Answer: Yes, but only if the control panel or unique elements are visible (for example, the shape of shelves in Liebherr or the location of fans in No Frost). Upload the photo to Google Lens.
Question 5: The sticker on the refrigerator Indesit says C168NFX, but there is no such model on the Internet. Why?
Answer: Perhaps this is modification code for a specific market. Try searching by the abbreviated name (C168NF) or check the serial number in the database Indesit Service.