A defensible appliance section in an inspection report includes seven elements per appliance: brand, model, serial, decoded manufacturing date, age vs. category median, active recall status, and a one-line operational observation. This post is the field checklist — plus the report language that turns appliance data into referral-driving client value.
Are Appliances Required in Home Inspections?
Under both ASHI and InterNACHI Standards of Practice, major kitchen and laundry appliances are generally not required inspection items — they are considered personal property in most jurisdictions. However, appliances are among the items buyers most want information about, and inspectors who provide appliance data routinely report stronger referral rates from buyers and Realtors.
The strategic opportunity: because appliances aren't required, inspectors who include them differentiate themselves. The data is achievable in minutes with the right tool — and it turns a defect list into a planning document.
The 7-Element Standard Per Appliance
For each major appliance inspected, capture these seven data points:
- Brand
- Model number (from label)
- Serial number (from label)
- Decoded manufacturing date (from serial — use ApplianceIQ or brand-specific guide)
- Age vs. category median (e.g., "9 years old, category median 10 years — approaching end of expected life")
- Active recall status (checked against CPSC + supplemental databases)
- One-line operational observation (e.g., "Dishwasher completes full cycle, no observed leaks")
Kitchen Appliance Walkthrough
Refrigerator
Label location: interior right wall, upper section. Run a cooling cycle check (interior temps <40°F fresh food, <0°F freezer). Check door seals. Note ice maker operation if present — ice makers are a common recall trigger. Decode serial for manufacturing date.
Range / Oven
Label location: behind storage drawer, or on door frame. Test all burners. Test oven bake and broil functions. Check oven door seal. For Samsung and GE ranges: check CPSC recall status — both brands have had significant range recall events in the 2020–2024 window.
Dishwasher
Label location: inside door, upper tub edge. Run a short cycle and observe for leaks, door latch operation, and cycle completion. Check spray arm for blockage. Dishwashers are the appliance most commonly near end-of-life in 10–15 year old homes.
Microwave (built-in)
Test heat function (water in a cup for 30 seconds). Check turntable rotation. Label is usually inside the door frame or cavity ceiling. Microwaves typically don't have active recalls but document age — average lifespan is 9 years.
Laundry Appliance Walkthrough
Washing Machine
Label location: door rim (front-load), inside lid (top-load), or rear panel. Run a short wash cycle. Observe for leaks at supply hoses and pump area. Front-load washers: check door boot seal. Decode serial for manufacturing date — washers average 10 years; a unit approaching this threshold should be noted.
Dryer
Label location: inside door frame. Run a timed dry cycle. Check exhaust duct connection (most important safety item — blocked ducts are a significant fire risk). Note whether the exhaust duct is rigid metal, flexible metal, or flexible plastic (plastic is a code issue in most jurisdictions and should be flagged).
Utility Equipment
While water heaters and HVAC are typically covered under separate inspection categories, they benefit from the same serial-decode workflow. Water heater manufacturing dates are encoded in the serial number using brand-specific rules identical to major appliances — and water heaters past their 10-year (gas) or 11-year (electric) median should be flagged for replacement planning.
Report Section Template
Copy-paste language for each appliance entry in your report:
"[Brand] [Appliance type], Model [model number], Serial [serial number]. Manufactured [decoded month/year] — approximately [X] years old. Category median lifespan: [Y] years. Recall status: [No active recalls found / Active recall — see note]. Operational observation: [one-line observation]. Recommendation: [Monitor / Budget for replacement within [X] years / Immediate attention recommended]."
For the full report language guide including client-facing phrasing, see How to Write the Appliance Section of an Inspection Report.
Mobile On-Site Documentation
The most efficient on-site workflow: photograph each appliance label with your phone, upload to ApplianceIQ's OCR feature, and receive the decoded manufacturing date, recall status, and lifespan estimate in your report template within 30 seconds per appliance. For a 10-appliance inspection, this adds ~5 minutes to your total time on site and produces data that clients consistently identify as the most valuable part of your report.