I was taking apart my dryer, and in getting the drum out, I bent some of the coils in the heating element. I don't see anything broken, it's just not as spaced evenly in a couple of places. I'm going to get it as even as I can.
Is there a danger in using this element, provided I make sure the coils don't touch the metal base and the drum?
Best Answer
I've replaced my heater coil twice in the past year. I suspect the first install failed because one curl eventually made contact with the frame. At no point during both installations were the coils spaced evenly, including taking the element from the box.
You're correct to avoid contact and the rest should not be a problem. The air passing over the coils won't care if there's uneven spacing. There may be sag as the element heats, something I overlooked the first time. If you allow a few millimeters clearance for sag, contact can be avoided.