Part Location Diagram of 279838 Whirlpool Heating Element - 240V 5400W
See part 17 in the diagram
Replacing your Whirlpool Dryer Heating Element - 240V 5400W
( Grid squares measure 1x1 inch )
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Heating Element - 240V 5400W

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54 Reviews
$82.50
  In Stock
PartSelect Number PS334313
Manufacturer Part Number 279838
Manufactured by Whirlpool
Product Description

Heating Element - 240V 5400W Specifications

This heating element is strung with a coiled wire made of a nickel and a chrome alloy. This wire receives, but resists, a controlled electric current, causing the wire to heat up. The heat produced is used to dry the clothes in your dryer.
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Part Videos

Replacing your Whirlpool Dryer Heating Element - 240V 5400W

Replacing your Whirlpool Dryer Heating Element - 240V 5400W
Troubleshooting
This part fixes the following symptoms:
Not Heating | Too hot | Heat stays on after drum has stopped | Touchpad does not respond
This part works with the following products:
Dryer.
This part works with the following products:
Whirlpool, Kenmore, Roper, KitchenAid.
Part# 279838 replaces these:
AP3094254, 2438, 279838, 279837, 279838A, 279838VP, 3398063, 3398064, 3403585, 8565582, W10724237, WP279837
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Customer Reviews
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54 Reviews
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Customer Repair Stories
 Average Repair Rating: 4.0 / 5.0, 282 reviews. What's this?
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Sorry, we couldn't find any existing installation instruction that matched.
Dryer motor runs, but no heat
To reach the heating element you only need to open the back cover of the dryer (about 8 nut-head screws). Remember to disconnect the power.

To remove the heating element there are two small nut-head screws. Remove the two electric wires. Then you can pull the heating element away.

You can check the heating element with an ohm-meter or visually inspect it to see if the heating element spiral wire is broken.

Don't hurry to dispose the old element. My model includes a small electric safety part. You'll need to transfer it to the new heating element (that comes without it)..

Good luck.
Other Parts Used:
  • Gadi from Irvine, CA
  • Difficulty Level:
    Really Easy
  • Total Repair Time:
    30 - 60 mins
  • Tools:
    Nutdriver
2270 of 2457 people found this instruction helpful.
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Dryer would run with no heat.
The repair was easy. the most time consuming part was vacuuming the dust from the back of the Dryer, The repair required removing screw from the back panel of the dryer. Then removing screws from the heating element and unplugging the wires. The only moderately diffculy part was swapping the sensor form the old element.
Other Parts Used:
  • Remie from Mahopac, NY
  • Difficulty Level:
    Really Easy
  • Total Repair Time:
    15 - 30 mins
  • Tools:
    Nutdriver
704 of 734 people found this instruction helpful.
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No heat for dryer
Moved dryer from wall,disconnected power. Unscrewed the 12+ sheet metal screws holding on the back cover. Located heating element, remover it's two sheet metal screws and pulled down on the element to remove. Disconnected the two electrical leads from element and went to the top of Dryer. Do not remiember if told to remove the tempture kill button was easy to see that it was needed on new element. Moved high tempeture senson to new element. Reversed steps to install new element. Replaced back cover, pluged in and powered up. Works like a champ. Thanks for the price on the part and the video which started me on the right track. I'll be back !!
Other Parts Used:
  • Leslie from Dallas, TX
  • Difficulty Level:
    Really Easy
  • Total Repair Time:
    30 - 60 mins
  • Tools:
    Nutdriver, Pliers
497 of 520 people found this instruction helpful.
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No heat for dryer
I first disconnected the power. Then, I took off the back panel with about 8-10 screws. There were a couple of screws that held the heating element in place, which I removed. Then, I disconnected the heating element. The heating element was toward the bottom right hand side and was easily accessible. The connections to the heating element were a little bit tough to disconnect but not too bad. I had to use a flat head screw driver to kind of pry them off but looking back I think some needlenose pliers would have worked better. I then removed the bad heating element and plugged in the new one. I replaced all the screws and turned the dryer back on. It blew hot air again and all was well. I am not very mechanical and it was all pretty easy.
Other Parts Used:
  • Dustin from Star, ID
  • Difficulty Level:
    Really Easy
  • Total Repair Time:
    15 - 30 mins
  • Tools:
    Screw drivers, Socket set
345 of 424 people found this instruction helpful.
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It was taking alomost twice as long for a load of clothes to dry.
First I had to take the back cover off. I removed the heating element and the thermostat and replaced them with the new repairs. It was relatively simple---any handiman could do it and would not require a repairman. We talked to a salesman at Sears to see what they thought the problem could be and then got on the internet. The best part was that the repairs came within a few days of placing my order. That was super!!!
Thank you for your fast response.
Other Parts Used:
High Limit Thermostat
  • Donna from Bushnell, NE
  • Difficulty Level:
    Really Easy
  • Total Repair Time:
    15 - 30 mins
  • Tools:
    Nutdriver, Screw drivers
257 of 279 people found this instruction helpful.
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Heat in dryer very low, would take an hour and half to dry a load
First I called an appliance repair place. They charged me $40 to come out and said "the air vent might be clogged". I snaked it out and really wasn't anything in there. So I started thinking it might be a thermostat. After reading the reviews that others posted here, I said, "how hard can it be"? Thanks to PartsSelect putting a diagram (schematic) of the parts, I could see what I was looking for when I removed the back panel. So I took my nutdrivers out, disconnected the vent hose and removed the 10 or so nuts off the back panel & got it out of the way. Took out the vacuum cleaner and sucked all the lint out. Removed the housing where the heating element was and marked on both thermostats and housing where each wires went. As cheap as PartsSelect had the thermostats priced, I figured why not remove the guesswork by buying the highlimit and cycling thermostats and a new heating element too. One screw in each thermostat and out they came. Swapped wires with new thermostats and put them back. With the heating element...it was all one piece, so no fighting to get the element into an old housing. Just swapped them. Put the back panel on and reconnected the vent hose. Cost to repair: about $100. Time for parts to get to me: 2 days. Time to install new parts: about 10 minutes. Knowing that I have a dryer that runs like new AND saving a TON of money on electric bill....THAT is priceless. Thanks PartsSelect!
Other Parts Used:
Dryer High Limit Thermostat Dryer Cycling Thermostat
  • Michael from Parker, FL
  • Difficulty Level:
    Really Easy
  • Total Repair Time:
    15 - 30 mins
  • Tools:
    Nutdriver
181 of 197 people found this instruction helpful.
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Heating element burned out.
After realizing that my dryer was no longer heating, I took off the back and examined the heating element. I saw that a coil was broken and knew that it needed replaced. When the part came in, I basically changed out the wires that were plugged into the old element on to the new one, replaced the screws in the heating element housing and back panel, plugged in the dryer and was back in business! Oh, by the way...I am a 49 year old WOMAN!!!!
Other Parts Used:
  • Coleen from Chillicothe, OH
  • Difficulty Level:
    Really Easy
  • Total Repair Time:
    Less than 15 mins
  • Tools:
    Pliers, Socket set
134 of 146 people found this instruction helpful.
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Dryer had no heat and run forever.
after watching many videos on my problem and finding Partselect i read about others with same type issues and i decided to attempt my own repair.the first thing i did was go to home depot and buy a ohm meter around $10 then started testing all switches etc.first unplug the dryer then removed the rear panal and tested all circuits.my heating element tested bad so i removed it following the instructions from partselect taking about 5min.my heating element was broken.its funny but my dryer kept on running continually when it stopped heating,but the timer would move to the very end and just not quit.after reading on partselect i determined that my resistor not my timer was the problem.so i ordered the resistor without testing it first from partselect.turns out it was the problem now my dryer heats up fine and goes off like its supose to.i do advise to test things first like i should have but i just got lucky on the resistor.partselect is the only place i will buy from they are fast getting your part to you 2 days for me,and very cost effective.i spent around $84 including the cost of a ohm meter to repair my dryer which is 18 years old.beats the cost of replacing the dryer which i think many will agree.good luck on your repair hope this helped it was my first time ever repairing any home appliance.
Other Parts Used:
Timer Power Resistor
  • Robert from Scott, AR
  • Difficulty Level:
    Easy
  • Total Repair Time:
    15 - 30 mins
  • Tools:
    Pliers, Screw drivers, Socket set
124 of 183 people found this instruction helpful.
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Dryer lost heat but kept spinning
Removed rear panel 10 screws, and heating element was situated on the right hand side of dryer and was held in place by two screws and had two heavy duty red wires connected to the element which were easily removed . Installing this item was a breeze .
Other Parts Used:
  • Dave from Boise, ID
  • Difficulty Level:
    Really Easy
  • Total Repair Time:
    Less than 15 mins
  • Tools:
    Nutdriver, Pliers
95 of 129 people found this instruction helpful.
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No heat,thumping when running
Removed front panel, drum,replaced belt,tensioner and worn rollers. Then removed rear panel and replaced heating element and high limit thermostat. While I was there completely cleaned inside of dryer. Repair and replacement of parts was quite easy. Just take your time and don't hurry it.
Other Parts Used:
Maintenance Kit Dryer High Limit Thermostat
  • Herbert from Holley, NY
  • Difficulty Level:
    Really Easy
  • Total Repair Time:
    30 - 60 mins
  • Tools:
    Pliers, Socket set
88 of 111 people found this instruction helpful.
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Questions and Answers

Ask our experts a question about this part and we'll get back to you as soon as possible!

130 questions answered by our experts.
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Garcia
July 20, 2017
Diagnosing through your repair forum I think I may need a new heating element. The problem is that although my clothes are drying and my machine is heating up it takes a few go’s to actually dry the load. What is the most common reason this happens?
PartSelect logo
Hello Garcia, your symptoms are a common sign of a clogged venting system. We recommend checking the venting system, and cleaning it out. When doing this make sure to clean the pipe and the dryer. Please let us know if you have any further questions.

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Simon
July 20, 2017
I wasn’t getting enough heat in my dryer so I had to install the heating element. With that said theres a glow emitting from the back of the dryer and its bright red when the dryer is running. Is this suppose to happen, is this a fire hazard, is the element being over worked?
PartSelect logo
Hi Simon, if the housing is installed right, the element is meant to glow red hot and should not be hazardous. This is normal. Just make sure that the element is cycling on and off when the dryer is running, it is not meant to stay red hot the whole time. I hope this helps.

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Lula
July 20, 2017
Replacing my heating element but it doesn’t say what the continuity should read.
PartSelect logo
Hello Lula, the heating element on your dryer should read closed for the continuity. Best of luck with this repair.

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Steve
September 5, 2017
Hi, i am having trouble with my dryer drying the cloths. It gets hot if i set it for 60 min. But then cools down after a while and never gets hot again. The cloths don't get dry and i have to set it again for 60 min. Then it gets hot and finishes drying. I have replaced the three thermostats, cleaned all lint out. Can't figure it out. Could it be the temperature setting? The heating coil looks ok , no breaks in the coils. Pleas help with any suggestions. Thanks.
For model number 11061202011
PartSelect logo
Hi Steve, Thank you for your inquiry. There are a few parts that could cause that problem. The thermostats being some of them. Have you also checked or replaced your thermal fuse? You may also want to test your heating element electrical connection to make sure that is still good. It could also be your temperature switch that is giving you the issue as well. I hope that gives your some more avenues to check out. Good luck with your repair.

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Beverly
November 13, 2017
Is it possible for this element to go partially out ? And if so what should i do ? Replace the element anyway
For model number WED49STBW1
PartSelect logo
Hi Beverly, Thank you for your question. It can partially go out. I would suggest replacing it if it has. You can test this part with a multi meter to double check. If that part is working, I would suggest then testing your high limit thermostat and your thermal limit as well. Those two parts that are directly on the housing for your heating element. It could just be that one or both of those parts have gone out. You can also test those two thermostats with your multi meter. They should both read 0 ohms when you test them. I hope that helps. Good luck with your repair.

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Marshall
October 9, 2017
Ok this dryer is currently blowing cool air just want to make sure all i need is a heating element for this unit. It appears everything else is working fine relative to unit
For model number REX6634PQ0
PartSelect logo
Hi Marshall, Thank you for your question. If you have tested the heating element and it is bad, then that should be the only part you need. It may not hurt testing your thermal fuse and thermostats as well. Just to be sure. Good luck with your repair.

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Sam Cooke
August 8, 2017
Should I also install a new high limit thermostat when I install the heating element?
For model number WED5530SQ0
PartSelect logo
Hi Sam, Thank you for the question, You can reuse the thermostat you have but we recommend replacing both at the same time. Good luck with this repair!

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Chuck
November 22, 2017
No heat comes on when dial is set on timed dry but heat will come on when dial is set on automatic dry - any idea what part or parts need to be replaced.Thanks,chuck
For model number wed5200vq1
PartSelect logo
Hi Chuck, Thank you for your inquiry. If the timer is working on automatic dry and not on timed dry, it sounds like the timed dry option is the option that is frequently used when drying and it is worn out. You will need to replace the timer. I hope this helps. Thank you and have a great day!

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Josh
January 25, 2018
Getting no heat on auto sense dry but it is heating up on timed dry. Any ideas?
For model number RED4440VQ1
PartSelect logo
Hello Josh, Thanks for your question. Test the heating element for continuity with a multimeter, along with the thermal fuse, thermal cut-off kit, internal-bias thermostat, and high-limit thermostat. If all of these parts are testing properly for continuity, consider replacing the timer. I hope this helps.

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Related Parts:
Louise
February 18, 2018
My dryer appears to have only one wire connected to the heater element. It appears in your video that you removed two wires. Thank you
For model number LER7646EQ2
PartSelect logo
Hi Louise, Thank you for the question. The video may not match every model %100. If your model has one wire connections then you will just need to connect the one wire and ignore the second wire instructions in the video. Good luck with the repair!

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Model Cross Reference
This part works with the following models:
PartSelect Number: PS334313
Manufacturer Part Number: 279838
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