I'm at my mom's house and I just noticed her electric baseboard heater is in rough shape. About 80% of the fins are seriously bent, and some of the fins are touching the copper wire running across the back of the unit.
Is this safe? I'm not sure if that copper wire is the heating unit or if it's a grounding wire. Should the unit be replaced?
Tomcat
Favorite Answer
The bare copper wire is an internal thermostat that prevents the heater from overheating. Since the fins allow for heat transfer, if they're bent badly as you say, it can't transfer heat to the air as well.
big fella
It won't work as efficient with the fins bent down.I think the copper piece you speak of is the thermostat line.Replace it if it's not expensive.
"try it"
Depending on how old the heater is,if you're thinking about replacing it,then you should do just that!