Whirlpool Appliance Parts
Whirlpool Dryer Parts Resource
- Parts You Need for Your Whirlpool Dryer
- Expert Advice on How Whirlpool Dryer Works
- Control Panel
- Door Switch and Interior Light
- Drive Motor and Related Parts
- Burner Assembly and Related Parts
- Expert Maintenance Tips for Your Whirlpool Dryer
- Dryer Belt Diagrams
- Maintenance Calendar
Whirlpool Dryer Parts
If your Whirlpool dryer breaks, or it does not work properly, you can easily find the part you need and expert advice to help you solve your problem.
Our partners at RepairClinic.com have a powerful search tool that can help you locate the part that you need for your exact appliance type and brand.
RepairClinic.com has an extensive library of technical documentation as well as diagnostic and instructional videos that can assist you in properly diagnosing your dryer for electrical, plumbing, hardware, or other problems.
Expert Advice on How Whirlpool Dryer Works
Dryers are fairly easy appliances for a DIYer to repair.
All Whirlpool dryers have these parts:
- a drum for holding the clothes
- a heat source for warming the air that dries the clothes
- an exhaust vent for getting rid of moisture and steam that forms as clothes dry
Control Panel
The dryer control panel is made up of at least two of these components:
- Timer - usually the largest dial on the main control panel of your dryer. Timer may be a mechanical device that looks like a clock or it could be electronic and look like a digital readout.
- Start switch - After the timer has been set to the proper cycle, the start switch needs to be turned on to begin the cycle. The dryer will not start without the start switch being started.
- Selector switches - Most dryers control panes are full of switches or knobs. These switches let the user adjust different settings such as temperature, timer cycle, end-of-cycle signal, etc. Usually, though , the dryer will function and run the cycle selected by the timer, regardless of how the switches or knobs are set.
Door Switch and the Interior Light
Most Whirlpool dryers have a door switch inside the main cabinet. This switch looks like a button or a small lever and is located on or near the dryer door frame.
When dryer door is closed, it contacts the door lever. The lever activates the switch and allows the dryer to operate once it is started. When the dryer door is closed, the switch interrupts the power to most of the dryer's internal components. This stops all action and turns on the interior light.
Warning! If your Whirlpool dryer does not stop turning when the door is opened, stop using it right away! Serious injury may occur if you use a dryer that has a broken door switch.
Drive Motor and Related Parts
The dryer motor serves three main purposes:
- The motor turns the drum on, while the drive belt is attached to one side of the drum.
- If the dryer drum does not rotate at the correct speed, the heat will not come on.
- A fan blade is attached to the other side of the drum. This fan blade draws warm air through the drum and pushes it out through the exhaust vent.
Burner Assembly and Related Parts
In an electric dryer, the burner assembly consists of a heating element and one or more thermostats. In a gas dryer these are the components that make up the burner assembly: the thermostat, the gas valve, the igniter and the sensor. When turned on by the timer, the electricity and the gas are supplied to the heating element for both types of dryers.
This is how it works:
- The first thing to do when closing the dryer door is to set the timer, then press or turn the starter switch, which then starts the motor. As the motor reaches full speed, a switch turns on. This allows electricity to flow through a thermostat to the heating element.
- The heating element starts glowing hot red. The air from the blower flows over the element, through the drum, and outside through the exhaust vent.
- Once the dryer reaches the temperature that has been set, a thermostat turns off the flow of power to the heating element.
- Once the temperature in the dryer falls by 20 to 30 degrees, the thermostat turns on the power to the heating element. This allows the cycle to start again.
- If Automatic setting is selected, the dryer runs until clothes are dry. The timer turns the dryer off automatically once the clothes are done. If timed setting is selected, the cycle continues until the time expires. When this occurs, the timer turns the dryer off.
Maintenance Tips for Whirlpool Dryer
- Vent - To keep your dryer drying well, you should frequently check the whole length of the vent pipe in the dryer for lint build up. You should do this at least once a year, and more frequently if you use your dryer often. You should clean and remove lint thoroughly completely from the duct. You should never push the lint back into the dryer because this could clog up other parts of the vent.
Warning! It is advisable to have an aluminum vent pipe. The white vinyl ducts that were commonly used in the past no longer meet most building codes. If the dryer ignites the vinyl pipe, there is serious danger that fire could start in your home.
- Interior of dryer cabinet - Most of the lint coming from drying clothes is trapped by the lint filter. Some lint does escape, though, and then it accumulates on the inside of your dryer cabinet. At least once a year the dryer cabinet should be well cleaned. If the dryer is used frequently, then you should clean the dryer cabinet about 3-4 times a year, .
- Lint filter and the area under the lint filter - After every drying cycle you should check and clean the lint filter. If it has any rips or tears replace the lint filter right away. If fabric softener or other residue clogs the filter, you can easily clean it with a soft-bristle brush and a little detergent.
You should also always clean the chute, the duct, or the area that the lint filter fits into. A vacuum cleaner is a very useful tool to use because it allows you to reach far into the duct and to clean out most of the lint.
For all your Whirlpool dryer parts, accessories and advice, visit us at RepairClinic.com.
Dryer Belt Diagrams
- Dryer belt diagrams - for models with removable back panel.
- Dryer belt diagrams - for models with non-removable back panel.
Maintenance Calendar
Dryer lint build up is the leading cause of dryer failures, and it often causes drying times to increase dramatically. Lint build up is also responsible for thousands of house fires a year. Use a dryer vent brush to remove lint build up in the vent that leads to the outside. We offer 10 ft. and 20 ft. dryer vent brushes, which work great for this messy task.
If your dryer vent is white vinyl, replace it with a rigid or semi-rigid aluminum vent (White vinyl ducts no longer meet building codes and are flammable).
