Heating Element Size

[Shah]

Hi, Not sure if this is the right place for this question, but any help would be appreciated.  Is it OK to put in a heating element of a different size to the old one, if the voltage is the same?  I have been told to replace a heating element with a smaller one that was provided.  I’m thinking that it would take longer to heat with a smaller element.  But then the voltage is the same. 

[Whitegoodshelp]

Hi Shah. Are they the same wattage? What circumstances is the smaller heater recommended for? I don’t understand why someone would recommend a smaller one. You should be able to buy the exact same element as the previous one unless by any chance the manufacturer has changed it.