Why Does My Kettle Water Taste Funny? (And How to Prevent It)

Water is odorless, colorless, and tasteless. If the reverse is the case, then something is not right. 

Have you ever noticed that water heated in your kettle taste funny? It seems strange, but the reality is, something has contaminated the water. 

If the kettle is clean, then the water should be clean too. If it’s clean, but the water starts tasting funny, then you need to figure out what the problem is and address it. 

In this post, we’ll explain the possible reasons water heated in your kettle tastes funny . Read on! 

Why Does Water From My Kettle Taste Funny?

Several things could be responsible. But whatever they are, there is no cause for alarm (unless the water tastes like plastic). Just ensure you identify and fix the problem before it becomes serious. 

Now, the reason water heated in a kettle tastes funny could be because the kettle is new. In this case, the inner coating material used by the manufacturer could be responsible.

The water may also have some chemicals responsible for its unusual taste. Additionally, limescale buildup in the kettle can make water taste funny. 

What Causes That Water in My Kettle To Taste Funny?

If water heated in your kettle tastes weird, and you want to know what the cause is, here are the things you need to know. 

1. Presence of chlorine in the water

If your water tastes weird after boiling, chances are the chlorine in the water is at fault. There is a chance the chlorine reacts with the kettle’s rubber or plastic part when heated. 

However, just because there is chlorine in the water doesn’t mean it must react with the plastic or rubber parts of the kettle, causing it to taste funny. Chlorine levels differ in water. 

Again, people’s taste buds and sense of smell differ. You might have the ability to taste chlorine in the water, while someone else might not be able to do so. 

So, if your water tastes funny, then chances are chlorine reacts with the kettle’s plastic or rubber parts. But if you’re not certain, you can heat the water in a saucepan and kettle to check if there is any difference. 

A Handy Tip: Chlorine in water doesn’t cause any harm when drank. It helps prevent the growth and proliferation of algae and slime bacteria in water. 

But then, if you notice your water tastes funny after heating, you can find out what you can do to address the situation. 

2. The coating of the kettle

Your kettle could be the reason your water tastes weird. And it could be your fault. How? You probably didn’t wash the brand new kettle properly before using it to boil water. 

Take a brand new kettle and smell it (without water in it). You will discover it reeks of some chemical substances or lubricants. 

The thing is, manufacturers usually add these chemical substances or lubricants to the inner and outer parts of their kettles. They do so to protect the kettles from damage while they’re still in the warehouse. 

So, wash your kettle properly before even thinking of using it to boil water. If you wash properly, chances are your water won’t taste funny.

3. Limescale could be responsible

If you reside in an area with hard water and notice your heated water repeatedly tastes weird, limescale could be the culprit. 

How? Here is a simple explanation. Hard water boasts a high concentration of minerals, such as magnesium and calcium. 

So, when you heat the hard water in the kettle, the minerals will transform into insoluble magnesium and calcium, called limescale.

Limescale has a chalk-like appearance. And as the water evaporates, it usually spreads across the kitchenware or kettle. 

Now, when this limescale is exposed to the kettle’s metal coating (interior), it would give your water a different taste.   

A Handy Tip: The fact that hard water boasts a higher mineral count and forms limescale when hated makes it look unsafe for drinking. But that isn’t the case. 

Hard water may taste different, especially when heated, but it is still safe.   

Ways To Prevent Water in a Kettle From Tasting Funny

The kettle is one of the kitchenware we can’t do without. So, it is crucial to keep them in good shape always. 

We have explained why a kettle might start making water heated in it to taste weird. And while drinking funny-tasting water might not be harmful, your appetite for water might start dwindling if the funny taste doesn’t go away sooner.  

Here are the steps to prevent your water from tasting funny when heated in your kettle. 

Method 1: Wash thoroughly before using your new kettle

New appliances would look neat and dazzling, inside and outside. You don’t expect the inside to have a pile of dirt and stains. 

But please, don’t let the fact that the kettle is new and looks clean deceive you. Your new kettle is not as clean as you think. 

Manufacturers make these kettles and protect the interiors and exteriors with chemicals and even lubricant. Applying both substances on the kettle helps prevent rust and other damages while the kettles are still in the warehouse. 

So, if you don’t wash the kettle thoroughly before using it, the chemicals used will leech into your water and cause it to taste funny.

Method 2 Try descaling your kettle

If water from your kettle still tastes weird after washing it thoroughly, something else could be wrong. It could be that there is limescale buildup inside the kettle. 

If that were the case, the best option would be to descale your kettle. And there are two simple ways to get this done. 

• Use of vinegar or lemon salt
• Use of bicarbonate or baking soda

Now, let’s explain both processes in detail. You can try whichever method suits you. 

First step: Using vinegar or lemon salt to descale the kettle: If you plan to descale your kettle using vinegar or lemon salt, here are the steps to try out. 

• Firstly, fill the kettle up and heat the water to boiling point. After that, turn the power off.
• Now, add your vinegar or lemon salt. A tablespoon should get the job done. 
• Allow the water and vinegar or lemon salt to mix. You can leave it for a few hours or, if possible, overnight. 
• Discard the water, rinse with fresh water, discard and fill the kettle again. 
• Allow the water to boil, and toss it again. You can repeat this process 4 to 5 times before using the kettle again.

Second step: Using bicarbonate of soda: Firstly, you have to make a paste with bicarbonate or baking soda. Here is how to get it done.

• Just put half a cup of the bicarbonate or baking soda in the kettle, add a few drops of water and get rid of the limescale. 
• Next, use a clean toothbrush to scoop some paste and brush off the limescale within the kettle. 
• Now, rinse the kettle, fill it, and boil it, then discard the water. You can repeat this process multiple times, maybe 3 to 4 times. 

How To Clean a New Kettle?

Your new kettle isn’t clean, as it appears. So, don’t start using it right out of the box. There might be residues of dust and probably, chemical substances within and even outside the kettle. 

So, how do you clean a new kettle? 

You have to wash it thoroughly. You can do so with a bar of dishwashing soap or liquid. But please, ensure water doesn’t enter the electrical parts. It could damage the appliance or cause electrocution. 

After washing the kettle with the dishwashing liquid or soap, fill it up with water and boil. Repeat this process multiple times, probably 3 to 4 times.

How do you clean up a new stovetop kettle?

If it’s a stovetop kettle, the process is the same as the first. Just ensure you don’t fill the kettle to the brim. Hot water can escape through the spout and probably hurt someone if you do. 

Again, ensure the heating element isn’t too high that you can see the flames on the sides of the kettles.

Are The Funny Taste and Bad Odor Dangerous?

Sometimes, you may notice that water heated up in a kettle has different tastes when you drink it. Why? You need to know that several factors can cause water to have a bad odor or taste.

These factors could include limescale buildup, chlorine levels in the water, TCP, or just a nasty smell. 

So, is the bad odor or funny taste your water has dangerous? Well, the only taste that should scare you is the taste of plastic. It indicates the presence of BPA in your water. 

We all know that manufacturers use BPA to make plastic parts in kettles and other appliances. And this chemical has a strong link to several life-threatening diseases. 

BPA can cause diseases like asthma, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and even deformities in unborn children. 

So, if you can prevent your family from drinking water that has a plastic taste, please do so. 

However, other factors responsible for the funny water taste might not be as dangerous as BPA, but that doesn’t mean you should continue drinking such water. 

Water is supposed to be odorless, colorless, and tasteless. So, if yours taste funny, discard it.   

Is It Safe To Drink Water That Tastes Metallic?

As said earlier, water is tasteless. So, if your water tastes metallic, then it has been contaminated. But some water that tastes metallic is safe for drinking. The substance causing the change in taste usually disappears after a while. 

However, not all water that tastes metallic is safe. Some have high deposits of certain minerals that can harm you if ingested for a long period. 

Conclusion: Why does my kettle water taste funny?

Several factors could be responsible. These include chemicals, the material used while creating the product, chlorine, or limescale.

In this post, we mention how one can tackle the issue of funny water taste. These include descaling and thoroughly washing your brand new kettle.

So, if your water tastes funny, find out what the problem is. Then use the tips mentioned here to address the issue.