What's wrong with my electric kettle?

November 4, 2022 4:05 AM

I own this electric kettle. Recently it's developed an odd quirk. I add water to it, press the button, the 'stunning LED lights' go on and nothing happens. After a certain period of time, as much as 5 minutes sometimes, the heating turns on (you can hear it hissing and bubbling). This is not how it used to be - formerly, one could hear the heating start as soon as one pressed 'on'. It does not, as far as I can see, need descaling. What could be the reason for this odd behaviour?
posted by tavegyl to Home & Garden (2 answers total)

Either your switch, sensor, or heating element is malfunctioning. Is it still under warranty?

If not, try de-scaling it. If you have hard water build up it may be interfering with its proper functioning.

If you de-scale it and it still doesn't work, it may be time to find a new kettle unless you are interested in diving into more complex appliance repair.
posted by ananci at 5:16 AM on November 4, 2022

I have an electric kettle of another brand. It does the same as you described. What happened was the kettle got all kinds of hard water deposits, causing a significant delay in the water boiling. I filled the kettle half with white vinegar and the rest water. Let it boil for a few minutes. The let it completely cool. Scrub the insides with a brush. Afterward it worked just like new.

Hope this helps.
posted by james33 at 6:34 AM on November 4, 2022