Few things would be handled nowadays without the range of household appliances on the market. Other than the inconvenience of manually handling tasks where machines can be used, your comfort will be affected. This applies to devices like water heaters and air conditioners that are essential for your comfort. Home appliances are, however, not fail-safe and might break down even with high-level maintenance.
One of the common issues that necessitate washer repair and that of other appliances in Salt Lake City is a malfunctioning heating element. Most electric devices will use resistive heating to generate heat from an electric current. Heating elements will take electrical energy as their input then convert it to produce heat energy that will power your appliance. The power consumption of your electric device and its functioning will depend on the type of heating element it uses. Here are the heating elements used for home appliances.
Resistance Wire
This is the most common heating element. It comprises metal ribbons or wires known as resistance wires. These wires are coiled tight or installed as flat strips based on the appliance’s configuration. In general, a long resistance wire generates more heat for an appliance. Nichrome is the leading material used for heating elements. This material comprises 20% chromium and 80% nickel. It is easy to shape and will neither oxidize nor deteriorate in air. This guarantees its durability.
Ceramic Heaters
These work much like resistance wires but have PTC ceramic plates in place of nichrome wires. PTC ceramic is often barium titanate so-named because of its positive thermal coefficient resistance. This means that the resistance of ceramic heaters will increase when heated. This, in turn, acts like a natural thermostat that negates the overheating of the element. Ceramic heaters have low surface temperatures and thus a decreased risk of fire and will warm up fast.
Infrared or Radiant Heat Lamps
Radiant heaters emit infrared waves that will warm the elements with which they are in contact. Appliances with these heaters basically have heat lamps that are high-powered incandescent bulbs radiating more heat compared to light. The filament in these bulbs function like resistance wires and are generally made of nichrome. Radiant heat lamps for home appliances warm immediately and operate silently since they do not need fans to cool hot air.
Immersion Heating Elements
These are used for heating liquids or gases. They are dipped into the materials they will be heating and have no risk of malfunctioning. Immersion heating elements are generally used in industrial settings to heat chemicals, salts, and mild acids. In residential environments, they are often used for water heaters and in water storage tanks.
You will only handle so much with your home appliance when the heating element malfunctions. In most cases, your device will not heat at all or will churn lukewarm water and food. Unlike other elements, attempting DIY repairs of heating elements might not just damage your appliance but also puts you at risk of burns. Leaving the repair of heating elements to a professional that understands their operation is your best choice.
