Whirlpool Dryer Thermostat: Cost & When It’s Not Worth It
$140–300 total (shop) · $9–17 DIY part
Part prices $9–17 on eBay (checked 2026-11-04) · shop total from published rates ($70–130 service call, $50–125/hr) · estimates, not quotes
It’s usually a cheap, worth-it fix. The thermostats are among the cheapest parts in the dryer, the walkthrough pairs them with the thermal fuse test, and only a 10-year-old machine changes the math.
⚠️Meter each part before you buy. A cycling thermostat that reads open, or a high-limit that never clicks, is the failed one; the walkthrough also covers the thermal fuse, which is the part most often actually to blame on a no-heat dryer. Unplug the dryer (and shut the gas supply on gas models) first.
Your model number decides which part you need.
It’s printed on a sticker inside the door rim or on the back panel, then match it against the parts listed below.
It’s printed on a sticker inside the door rim or on the back panel, then match it against the parts listed below.
Triage, most likely first
| Cause | DIY | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Dryer runs but no heat at all · Heats, then shuts off early | 2/5 · 45–75 min | $9–17 DIY · $140–300 shop |
| No heat on a dryer over about 10 years | 2/5 | weapon of last resort: weigh parts against a new dryer first |
Walkthrough
▶ Watch
1096k views · Whirlpool Dryer Replace Thermostat & Thermal · also helpful
Parts
Whirlpool dryer thermostat WP3387134 · WP8557403 (match your exact type: cycling, high-limit, or the cut-off kit; verify against your model plate).