I break kettles. Help.

[keiratwiceknightly]

As the title says I and my family break kettles. We have gone through about 6 in the last decade - usually buy mid priced ones. We've had a De'Longhi, Russell Hobbs, breville.... we do drink quite a lot of hot drinks but I can't understand it. Current kettle has recently stopped boiling and cuts off too early.

Talk to me about your bulletproof kettles. I'm willing to spend quite a lot if it lasts.

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MNHQ

I have an induction hob so it's as quick as a rapid boil one.

BewareTheBeardedDragon - I've got the same kettle as you. Love it for the winter.
Op, I have had so many expensive kettles, all they do is break the day after the guarantee expires. I gave up and bought a cheap one from Wilkos. It looks good and has lasted about 3 years up to now which is a record in our house.

We have an own brand Argos one which is doing fine.... I tend to break lids so only buy the ones with lids that just pull off and plop back on

I'd get two, so you've a backup. Main kettle knows this and behaves.

The cheaper supermarket ones do tend to last a long time somehow, more fancy ones have more whistles and bells to go wrong. Keep to a simple kettle, although they don't look as nice on your worktop. The people I know who seem to buy a new kettle frequently always seem to buy fancypants ones.

@shakingmytambourineatyou just being nosey - but why only for winter?

Are you sure there isn’t something wrong with the socket?

When your next kettle fails and you are busy ask your dh to buy a replacement. He'll come back with the cheapest, ulgiest, noisiest kettle in the wrong colour for the kitchen and it will last forever (8 years now!)

I agree with buying a cheap kettle. I always buy the cheapest 3000kw/rapid boil one and have a very cheap supermarket/Argos one as backup.

On my third in the past two years. I had one for years that broke in lockdown. Bought a Lidl cheapy one that lasted six months. Bought a cheapy Tesco one that lasted 17 months. Gone for a more expensive Russell Hobbs one now. Not in a hard water area.

@BewareTheBeardedDragon just because I use it on the gas hob and it gets too warm in the kitchen in hot weather. My kettle is on a lot! 😊

Do you want my horrible work kettle? It's slow, white and discoloured and generally hideous but refuses to die despite being about 15 years old. I can send you horrible immortal kettle and you can send me a nice new one in return

A hob top kettle doesn't have a heating element (obviously) so it doesn't get limescaled up.

This has blown my mind since getting one.

Just got a quooker tap fitted instead. Game changer!

I gave up on electric kettles years ago and dug out a very old stove top one .
It's At least 15 years old and has just developed a leak so I am looking for a replacement ( stove top ) one but I don't want one with a whistle type spout , I want one with a Swan neck but I can't find them anywhere.

Yes. And you can put it in the dishwasher!

😆

Dualit-lite-jkt43 is our kettle. Had it a long time. Really good and not uneconomical

This is the one I use. Leaves space on the counter top and looks lovely doing so.
It's Le Creuset and was my treat to myself.

@DeanStockwelll , Aga do one Aga kettle

@IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads i like the look of that one but at £108 that way way over my budget 😕

@keiratwiceknightly

Many years ago I moved into my boyfriends flat, while he was at work one day, I descaled his kettle & did a few other 'jobs' to help out (as I wasn't working. Between international posts) I thought he'd be pleased, but he wasn't. He was nice about it, but said he wished I hadn't as he was leaving it on purpose because whenever he'd descaled a kettle in the past it had stopped working shortly after.

I felt bad, annoyed & like it was an excuse. However a very short while later it did stop working! I felt even worse as it matched other kitchen stuff & they were no longer making them!

maybe descaling is your problem??

I have very hard water here, so I git a Harvey's Soft Water thingy & it's been worth every single penny. It broke once & under their warranty they replaced all the workings, no hassle. When it stops working I'll replace it, definitely.

I think I've had 6 in 10 years too. I just assumed that's how long kettles lasted! I drink A LOT of tea so they get pretty well used.

I dearest Le Cruset kettles take care far far too long to boil! What a waste of energy heating the whole thing up. At my friends house I use a saucepan instead as it's so much quicker.

Our simple stainless steel job top one has been going 12 years and boils so quickly. With an induction hob if you want a pan of boiling water it's just as quick to use the lidded pan.

Fair enough!!! i Am also a cheap kettle advocate!

My one only lasted 2 years before it stopped working.
Hopefully my replacement one lasts longer