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Heating coils are electrical devices used to heat air or water. They come in various designs and are used in appliances such as ovens, dryers, and heaters. The amount of heat produced is controlled by a rheostat switch, and safety switches are incorporated to prevent fires.
A heating coil is a device used to heat water or air. Typically electrical, the heater coil acts like a large resistor and when electric current flows through it, it begins to heat up. The resistance wire used in common home toasters is the same type of wire used in a heating coil. The amount of heat produced by the heater coil is controlled by a rheostat switch. Many home appliances, such as water heaters, electric clothes dryers, and electric ovens, all use some type of heating coil to produce heat.
There are several types of heater coil designs used in household appliances. Round uncoated wire is typically found in small electric heaters, for example. Flat ribbon wire is usually found in toasters and toaster ovens. Electric ovens typically use ceramic coated wires to protect the wires from dripping grease and food. Very small heating coils are also used inside hair dryers.
In appliances such as water heaters and furnaces, heating coils transmit heat by radiating the heat to a specific area. A thermostat is set to the desired temperature and the heater coil produces heat until the desired temperature is reached. The thermostat then turns off the heat by cutting off the flow of electricity to the coil. When the temperature drops, the thermostat allows electricity to flow into the coil again and the temperature rises.
Space heaters, tumble dryers, and hair dryers use a forced-air design to transfer heat from the heating coils to their intended location. Using an electric fan, the appliance pushes air over and over a heater coil. As the coil heats up, the air flowing past it is heated and expelled from the heating chamber. The warm air is then directed into the room, dryer or hair dryer, where it gently heats or dries as intended. The level of heat in the air is controlled by the amount of electricity that is allowed to flow into the coils from a rheostat, which is typically labeled “high” and “low.”
Most of these forced-air type appliances incorporate a safety switch that shuts off the air heater in the event of a blower failure. Without airflow to carry away the heat generated by the coils, the appliance could catch fire. Items such as space heaters also use a mercury switch that shuts off the appliance if it tips over.
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