The dryer is getting excessivly hot. Its clean of lint, and exhaust is all clear all the way outside, with pretty good airflow.
I noticed through a small opening on the side at the back that the heating coil was getting red hot, except for a small 1/4 section at the top left hand side. I opened it up and theres only one element and its clear of the housing. What could cause only a portion of the coil to not heat up while the other 3/4 gets red hot? any help is appreciated.

-Bill

** Frigidaire Gallery Dryer **

I'm afraid that is not enough information to identify the appliance in question. What is needed is its exact model number. If you post it we can look it up to see what appliance design you're dealing with.

You can find tips for locating the model and serial number identification tag on your appliances at the following link:

- Model Number Tag Location Guide
LINK > www.appliance411.com/parts/tagsearch.cgi


** The dryer is getting excessivly hot. **

Where exactly is it getting excessively hot?

** exhaust is all clear all the way outside, with pretty good airflow. **

How long is the vent and what material if it made from (see the following link).

- How long can my dryer vent be?
LINK > www.appliance411.com/links/jump.cgi?ID=778

If the cabinet and/or top is getting hot, that is most often a sign of poor air flow through the dryer. Try running a load or two with the venting totally removed to see if it is any better... once the element problem is corrected (see below).

** heating coil was getting red hot, except for a small 1/4 section at the top left hand side. **

Than part of the coil must be shorted to ground. Check the coil for breaks, especially around the insulators where a break might be hidden from plain view.

** I opened it up and there's only one element and its clear of the housing. **

The coil is made of metal which expands with heat. It is not impossible for a break to separate and short only when hot.

** What could cause only a portion of the coil to not heat up while the other 3/4 gets red hot? **

Only a short to ground. The electricity is bypassing that part of the element. The coil is just a piece of wire. Power should flow though it uniformly if only being powered from each end.

JMO

Dan O.
www.Appliance411.com/parts/?ref411=Frigidaire+Dryer
The Appliance Information Site
=D~~~~~~

The Model number is FSEC849GHS0. I havent been able to find it anywhere.

1. Getting excessively hot at the back on top, and behind.

2. Vent length is corrected to 7 feet, and is made from corrugated metal. I hope that will help.

3. I double checked for shorts but there are none. Since I ran a few cycles without the hose I observed the element again and it was uniformly glowing, and seemed to shut off correctly for the different cycles. Just not sure of the temperature. Still seemed just as hot during the low heat and high heat cycles, but the length of time it was on before shutting down seemed correct, so there might not even be a problem anymore. Could there be a thermostat problem maybe? Or might have just been the exhaust?

I'll put everything back together and see how it goes with a real load.

-Bill

** The Model number is FSEC849GHS0. I haven't been able to find it anywhere **

That appears to be a Canadian model. Parts list are only rarely available online for Canadian products.

** Getting excessively hot at the back on top, and behind. **

That is usually caused by poor air flow through the dryer. It is only the air movement across the element that keeps the heat down in that area.

** Vent length is corrected to 7 feet, and is made from corrugated metal. **

Only 7-feet from the dryer all the way *to the outdoors*??

By 'corrugated metal' I assume you mean flexible metal foil? And how straight is it?

** Since I ran a few cycles without the hose I observed the element again and it was uniformly glowing, and seemed to shut off correctly for the different cycles. **

If that is different than when the vent is installed, that should be a big clue the venting is (at least part of) the problem.

** Could there be a thermostat problem maybe? **

No thermostat problem should cause the cabinet to get hot. Only poor air flow.

JMO

Dan O.
www.Appliance411.ca/parts/?ref411=Frigidaire+Dryer
The Appliance Information Site
=D~~~~~~

We are having the same issue with the top & back getting hot. I had a service man come in & check the dryer, he said it was fine but also said that frigidaire has a lot of issues with heat. I went to the Canadian website & checked if there was a recall on this model. No recall, but from what I can see, these dryers are all having the same issue after a few years.

I suggest you go to the frigidaire Canada Website & e-mail them your complaint like I did. Maybe they will recall this model as well. Let me know if you have found a solution to the heat issue.

Tania