How to Add Appliances to Your Shipshape App

Why Add Your Appliances?

Your equipment inventory is the foundation of everything Shipshape does for you. When SAM knows what equipment is in your home, how old it is, and what condition it is in, it can:

• Alert you to problems with the appliances your Shipshape sensors monitor
• Estimate replacement timelines and costs through MyBudgeting
• Give your service professional context so they arrive prepared
• Track maintenance history so nothing falls through the cracks
• Calculate your Home Health Score more accurately

The more complete your inventory, the more valuable Shipshape becomes. But you do not have to do it all at once. Start with what you know and build over time.

What Appliances Should You Add?

The app lists its appliance types in four groups: Basement & Crawlspace, HVAC, Kitchen and Utility, and you can search the list. Here are the most common and most valuable to track:

High Priority (Add These First)

• HVAC system (air handler, condenser, furnace, heat pump)
• Water heater
• Sump pump
• Dehumidifier
• Electrical panel

Important

• Refrigerator and freezer
• Washing machine
• Dishwasher

Also Valuable

• Condensate pump
• Water softener
• Generator and battery backup
• Pool pump
• Smoke and CO detectors

What Information Do You Need?

The great thing about Shipshape is that you can start with very little and add details later.

Minimum Required

To create an appliance you need:

• Appliance type (e.g., sump pump, water heater, refrigerator)
• The room it's in

The app fills in a name from the type, which you can change. Everything else is optional: you can save the appliance and come back to fill in details whenever you have time.

Additional Details That Help

Each piece of information you add makes Shipshape smarter about that appliance:

Method 1: Manual Entry (Step by Step)

Before You Start

Make sure you are viewing the correct home in the app. If you manage multiple properties, tap the home name at the top of the screen to switch.

Steps

1. Open the Appliances tab — Tap Appliances in the bottom bar.

2. Tap + — This opens Add New Appliance, which takes 4 steps.

3. Select the appliance type (step 1) — Pick it from the Basement & Crawlspace, HVAC, Kitchen or Utility list, or search for it.

4. Fill in the appliance's profile (step 2) — At the top is the Scan Appliance Plate card (see Method 2). Below it:

   • Appliance name — The app fills in the type; change it to something recognizable like "Basement Dehumidifier" or "Main Floor HVAC" so you can tell appliances of the same type apart.
   • Location — Choose the room. If it is not listed, tap + Add New Room.
   • Manufacturer — Search the list. If it is not listed, tap Add new manufacturer.
   • Model number — Pick the model, or tap Add new model to enter it.
   • Manufactured date, Serial number and Usage start date (when it was installed) — The serial number is on the data plate, usually a sticker or metal plate on the appliance.
   • For a sump pump or dehumidifier, Additional configuration (optional) asks about the setup, such as the basin or the humidity setpoint.

   Tap Continue.

5. Review recommended maintenance (step 3) — The app lists the maintenance tasks for this type of appliance. Enter when one was last done, or tap Skip for Now.

6. Done (step 4) — The app confirms the appliance was added. Tap Continue.

After adding the appliance, open it and tap the gear icon at the top to reach Appliance Details. There you can:

• Providers — Tap Add Provider to pick who services it from your My Providers list, or add a new one.
• Smart Sensors — Tap Link Devices to link the Shipshape sensors that monitor it (power, temperature, water). This enables real-time monitoring and performance tracking.

Method 2: Scan the Appliance Plate (Faster and Easier)

Scan Appliance Plate is the fastest way to add appliances. Instead of typing in details manually, you take a photo of the appliance's data plate and Shipshape's AI fills in the details.

How It Works

1. Open the scan — On the Appliances tab, tap + and pick the appliance type. The Add New Appliance screen has a Scan Appliance Plate card. You can also open it from an existing appliance's settings.

2. Find the data plate — This is the label or metal plate on the appliance that lists the manufacturer, model number, serial number, and other specifications. Common locations:

   • Water heaters: Side of the tank, near the top
   • HVAC units: Inside the access panel or on the side
   • Refrigerators: Inside the door frame or on the back
   • Washers/dryers: Inside the door or on the back panel
   • Dishwashers: Inside the door, along the edge

3. Take a photo — Tap Take Photo, hold your phone steady and capture a clear image of the entire data plate. Make sure the text is legible and well-lit. To use a photo you already have, tap Upload.

4. Let the AI read it — Shipshape's AI reads the image and fills in:

   • Manufacturer name
   • Model number
   • Serial number
   • Manufacture date

5. Review and confirm — Check the details the AI filled in and correct anything it got wrong.

6. Continue — Tap Continue and finish the remaining steps as in Method 1.

Tips for a Good Scan

• Clean the data plate if it is dusty or dirty
• Use your phone's flashlight in dim areas (basements, utility closets)
• Hold the camera steady and close enough that text is clearly readable
• Take the photo straight on, not at an angle, to reduce distortion
• If the AI cannot read a field, you can always type it in manually

Editing Appliances Later

You can update any appliance's details at any time:

1. Open the appliance from the Appliances tab
2. Tap the gear icon at the top to open Appliance Details
3. Tap General Info to change the name, room, make, model, dates or warranty, or choose another section (Appliance Photos, Filters, Maintenance Tasks, Smart Sensors, Providers, Service Records)
4. Tap Save

Common reasons to edit:

• Adding a serial number you did not have when you first created the entry
• Updating the installation date after checking your records
• Adding a photo of the data plate
• Linking a newly installed sensor
• Changing the service provider

Tips for Building a Complete Inventory

• Start with the big items. Water heater, HVAC, and major appliances are the most valuable to track. You can add smaller items over time.
• Take photos of data plates whenever you can access them. Even if you do not enter the details right away, the photos will be stored for reference.
• Ask your service professional. During their next visit, they can help identify and scan equipment you might not be able to access easily (attic HVAC units, crawl space equipment).
• Check when you replace something. When a new appliance is installed, add it immediately while the data plate is accessible and the installation date is fresh in your mind.
• Use the AI scan. It is significantly faster than manual entry and catches details you might miss or mistype.

How Appliances Connect to Other Features

Once an appliance is in your inventory, it integrates with the rest of Shipshape:

• SAM alerts you when a monitored appliance needs attention
• MyBudgeting estimates replacement costs and helps you plan financially
• Home Health Score factors in equipment age and condition
• Your installer can see what is in your home before a visit
• Home Health Record stores the complete history of each appliance

The more complete your inventory, the more powerful each of these features becomes.

Related Resources

• Getting Started with Shipshape
• MyBudgeting: Plan for Home Equipment Costs
• Your Home Health Record Explained
• SAM, Your AI Home Assistant