The Bimetal Defrost Thermostat is an OEM part for Whirlpool refrigerators. This thermostat plays a key role in the defrost system, helping to regulate the temperature within the freezer to prevent frost buildup on the evaporator coils. By activating the defrost heater, it ensures the coils remain ice-free and the refrigerator operates efficiently. The thermostat operates within a range of 20F (closing temperature) to 50F (opening temperature).
Causes of a bad defrost thermostat can include electrical faults, exposure to constant temperature fluctuations, or wear and tear over time. When the thermostat fails, it can result in frost accumulation, impacting the cooling efficiency.
Symptoms of a bad bimetal defrost thermostat include:
- Frost buildup in the freezer
- The refrigerator running continuously or not cycling properly
- Inconsistent freezer temperatures
- Water leaks inside the refrigerator
This OEM part is also compatible with Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana, Magic Chef, Admiral, Norge, Roper, and Kenmore models.
Do-It-Yourself Stories from Customers like You
Repeating freezing of defrost drain. Frank A. • Greenwood , IN • February 21, 2022
Fridge keept building up ice in defrost drain drain in freezer. Once the drain pan filled with ice it drips into fridge compartment. After taking things apart three times to thaw it out, decided to replace defrost components - heater and temperature switch. In addition to new parts, also added a 12 gauge copper wire hook that hangs from defrost heater into the defrost drain.
After this, the defrost cycle is running as expected, but will not know if the issue is corrected until a year or so...
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