How to Locate Manuals for Older Appliances

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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If you have an older, trustworthy kitchen appliance that suddenly stops working, there's a way to fix it yourself if, of course, you still have the original instruction manual. However, after years of cleaning, reorganizing and moving, all but the most prudent consumer can find themselves at a loss for instructions when a favorite older appliance goes awry. Here's how to locate manuals for old appliances.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step1

Write down the make and model number. Find the manufacturer's name on the appliance, then check the serial number which you can usually find on the back or bottom of the appliance.

Step2

Enter the information from the manufacturer's internal search engine on their website. If the manufacturer still produces the appliance or a similar one, you'll most likely find a downloadable manual online.

Step3

Call the manufacturer's toll-free 800 number. Locate their toll-free number on the machine or on the company's website. If they still have paper manuals, ask them to send you one.

Step4

Check out consumer and appliance information websites. General appliance websites like Appliance411 offer links to manufacturer websites and tips on where to find manuals of discontinued appliances. Some appliance repair sites also contain information on different brands and appliance models.

Step5

Research similar products. Find a manual for a comparable appliance made by another manufacturer and follow the instructions on it, making changes for variations on your appliance.

Step6

Dig around old boxes and files. You may find old appliance manuals hidden in the original box, or filed away in the basement or attic.