About This Part

OEM bimetal defrost thermostat (clip-on style) for Whirlpool refrigerators. Clips directly onto the evaporator coil and opens the defrost heater circuit once the coils reach the target temperature, preventing overheating during the defrost cycle. When it fails open, the defrost heater never activates and frost builds up on the coils, blocking airflow and causing warm temperatures throughout the fridge.

Installation Difficulty

Moderate — standard tools required, some disassembly needed. Allow 30–45 minutes.

Error Codes That Need This Part
CodeBrandApplianceDescription
E5WhirlpoolRefrigeratorWhirlpool Refrigerator E5 Error Code
Defrost sensor failure — defrost system cannot monitor coil temperature