How to register appliances and check for recalls
To register appliances and check for recalls, write down each appliance's brand, model and serial number, then search them on CPSC.gov/Recalls. Register each one on the manufacturer's site in your own name, since appliances that came with the house may be listed under the last owner. Then subscribe to recall emails through Recalls.gov.
Why to register appliances and check for recalls
When you buy a house, you inherit products with a history that you can't see. The dishwasher may have been recalled years ago, and the notice may have gone to the person who bought it, or to nobody. A manufacturer can only contact the owner it knows about.
Registration can also matter for your warranty, and the fine print decides how. The FTC's warranty guide says a company can't require a registration card as a condition of a full warranty. A limited warranty is different. The FTC's sample limited warranty requires the card within 30 days of purchase. Most of what's in your house won't be new enough for that to apply, but anything you buy from now on might be, so read the warranty before tossing the card.
Appliance recall check: what to list and where to look
Build one list for the whole house. Include the fridge, range, dishwasher, microwave, washer, dryer, furnace, A/C, water heater, garage door opener, smoke and CO alarms, and portable heaters or dehumidifiers. Model and serial numbers are usually on a label inside the door, on the back or on the side, and the manual will show where.
Your list should have these columns: item, brand, model, serial number, purchase or install date if known, registered yes or no, and date last checked for recalls. A phone photo of each label saves typing.
No single federal site covers everything, so check the right agency:
| Agency | Covers | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| CPSC | Consumer products, including most household appliances | CPSC.gov/Recalls, or call 800-638-2772 for help |
| FDA | Recalls and safety alerts for products it regulates | Sign up through Recalls.gov |
| USDA FSIS | Meat, poultry and egg products | Sign up through Recalls.gov |
| NHTSA | Vehicles, tires and child restraints | Sign up through Recalls.gov |
On the CPSC page, you can search and narrow results by date, hazard, such as fire or burn, and product category. If you get a large set of results, try the brand first and then the model. Recalls.gov doesn't send alerts itself. Each Subscribe link takes you to that agency's sign-up page.
If you find a match, stop using the product and don't sell it or give it away. Read the listed remedy, which may be a refund, repair, replacement or new instructions, and contact the company by its listed phone or website. For a recalled gas appliance or anything hardwired, don't take it apart yourself. Use the company's remedy or a licensed pro. If a product has hurt someone or seems unsafe but isn't recalled, you can file a report at SaferProducts.gov. CPSC staff review reports, and the company gets notified.
How to register appliances and check for recalls
- List everything
Walk the house, garage and basement. Include big systems and alarms, not only kitchen appliances.
- Photograph the labels
Snap the model and serial plate on each item. You'll need them for registration, recalls and repairs.
- Search CPSC recalls
Go to CPSC.gov/Recalls and search each brand and model. Use the category and hazard filters if results are long.
- Act on any match
Stop using it, and follow the remedy listed in the notice. Don't sell it or give it away.
- Register in your name
Use each manufacturer's website. Give an email address you check, since that's how recall notices reach you.
- Sign up for alerts
Open Recalls.gov and choose the agencies you want. Each one has its own sign-up page, and CPSC's page lets you choose email topics.
- Report unsafe products
File a report at SaferProducts.gov if something hurt someone or nearly did. Reports go to CPSC staff and the company.
Register baby gear and keep pets safe from recalled items
Baby gear has its own rule. A brochure on CPSC's site says durable infant and toddler products made after June 2010, such as cribs, strollers and high chairs, must include a registration card and an online option. That data can't be used for marketing. The law is named for Danny Keysar, a 16-month-old who died in a recalled crib. The crib's owner never learned of the recall. If you got a used crib or gate, or the seller left one behind, go to the maker's website to register it in your name, and check for recalls first.
CPSC also lists gates and other child enclosures, play yards, bassinets and swings under this rule. If you leave pets home alone, take recalled fire-hazard items out of use right away, since nobody is there to notice a problem.
What homeowners say about registering an appliance in your name
Write the install date, vendor and serial number on the cover of each appliance manual. Some owners tape the manual to the top or back of the appliance so it's there when it breaks. (Hacker News)
Check if your appliance was recalled: common questions
Do I have to register an appliance to keep the warranty?
It depends on the warranty. The FTC says a full warranty can't require a registration card, but a limited warranty can make it a condition, sometimes with a deadline. Read the warranty that came with the product.
How do I find out if my appliance was recalled?
Search CPSC.gov/Recalls by brand and model, using the date, hazard and category filters to narrow the list. For help with the search, CPSC's hotline is 800-638-2772.
Can I register an appliance that came with the house?
Usually you can, on the manufacturer's site. Warranties vary on whether coverage continues for a second owner, so check the terms. Registering still gives the company a way to reach you about a recall.
Sources: recalls.gov, saferproducts.gov, CPSC, FTC
General guidance for U.S. homes, not professional advice. For gas, electrical and structural work, call a licensed pro.