Ask Ian: Increasing Conductive Heater Element Life
Does continuous operation shorten heater element life? It’s a common question, and frankly, the answer is yes. All heating wire will eventually fail over time, but it is possible to improve the life of the heater by following these recommendations. All heater types require a balance of cooling and voltage control to avoid overshoot failures. If a heater’s watt density is too high, the heater will quickly get too hot. It’s this accumulation of heat and the resulting oxidation of the internal components that ultimately lead to the death of a heater.