Whirlpool 4176691 Thermostat OEM Part

I replaced the thermostat and thermo-fuse. Our KitchenAid instant hot water dispenser temperature setting started to become unstable heating and spitting out boiling water followed by no heat. I found that the contacts on the thermostat had become badly pitted leading up to a thermo-fuse failure. In the future if this happens I will file the contacts which will give me time to order a new thermostat before it burns out the thermo-fuse. The Thermostat is easy to access behind the front name plate so I don't even need to remove the dispenser from under the counter. If you do need to take out the entire tank to access the thermo-fuse wire, the hardest part is releasing the quick disconnect 1/4" copper tubing feeding water at the top. Trick:Push down on the plastic quick fit coupling using a 1/4" open end wrench fit around the tubing while gently pulling up on the copper tube.

Researching your website, the most likely culprit was the thermostat and/or thermal fuse. I decided to replace both, in addition to a new quick-connector purchased at Lowe's. After unplugging the unit, I removed the quick-connector from the tank and used pliers to slide the clear tubing clamp up so as to remove the tube from the top of the tank. As long as one doesn't activate the OFF/ON cap at the spout it isn't necessary to turn off the cold water supply. Once the water lines are disconnected, I removed the unit and inverted it to rid it of trapped water. Two small screws secure the faceplate through which the temperature control extends, and that plate was removed to access the thermostat. I also removed two screws securing the top of the tank, which gives access to the thermal fuse's connection to one lug of the heating element. Utilizing a 5/16" nut driver, the thermostat can be removed and the two wires which attach to it are removed (spade connectors). Connect the appropriate end of the thermal fuse and reconnect the power wire to the new thermostat and reinstall. Reconnect the other end of the thermal fuse to the heating element lug, and the repair is complete. Install the tank top and temperature control panel and connect the two water lines, and you are good to go.

I installed the two parts...and it works!