Why Do Cordless Kettles Leak? (3 Possible Reasons)
Is your cordless kettle leaking from the bottom? Then you must be contemplating getting a replacement.
Cordless kettles aren’t the most expensive appliance in the kitchen. Yet, they’re quite handy than a couple of appliances in the kitchen.
They heat water fast and boast a shut-off valve. This automatic shut-off valve shuts the appliance off when the water reaches boiling point.
But then, a leaky cordless kettle is worthless. It will spill water on the floor, giving you more work to do.
So, why is your cordless kettle leaking? Let’s discuss this in detail.
Why is My Cordless Kettle Leaking at the Bottom?
Three things could be responsible for your cordless kettle’s leakage. It could be that the casing has an opening somewhere, water is overfull, or the kettle needs to be descaled.
Let’s shed more light on each point.
1. Leakage due to cracked case
Check the kettle, and you’ll notice that it’s built with plastic material. It is a popular material used in constructing cordless kettles available.
The issue with the plastic material is that it can give way or crack from a slight knock. It can happen when you careless drop the kettle on the counter.
There’s also a possibility that the seal portion between the stainless steel and plastic casing might fail. And this can cause water to leak from the opening.
Plastic does make a good insulator, but it’s not as robust as iron or stainless steel.
A Handy Tip: Stop using your cordless kettle and contact the manufacturer for a replacement if you notice a broken seal. Water and electricity are not the best of friends. You might get electrocuted if both come together, and you unknowingly touch the metal part of the kettle.
2. Overfull kettle
Most people have so much to do in the kitchen or are so distracted that they fail to watch the water gauge while filling the kettle. When you overfill a cordless kettle, you may find water at the base and believe it’s leaking from the bottom.
But that might not be the case. If your kettle is overfull, the excess water will spill out through the side of the kettle. You might notice this before or when the water starts boiling.
Another thing you need to remember is that water expands or increases in volume when heated up. So, if your cordless kettle is overfull, expect water leakage from the lid.
So, in a nutshell, avoid overfilling your cordless kettle. And clean the bottom of the kettle dry before placing it on the base. Otherwise, you might find water on the base, and that’s not good.
3. Limescale build-up
People living in areas with hard water might often experience this. The limescale build-up is due to calcium. It’s present in the water in higher concentrations.
So, limescale build-up can be another reason there is water at the bottom of your cordless kettle. How can you fix this problem? It’s simple – descale.
Is a Leaking Cordless Kettle Safe To Use?
No, it’s not! Avoid using such kettles for apparent reasons. Let’s discuss those reasons.
1. Electrocution
Cordless kettles use electricity. And as you already know, electricity and water aren’t the best of friends. You’ll likely get electrocuted if there’s water at the bottom of the cordless kettle.
So, discard any cordless kettle that’s leaking. It’s hazardous. You may know how to use such an appliance without getting electrocuted, but someone else in your family might not.
It is better to fix the kettle, get a replacement immediately or discard the one that’s already leaking. Please don’t leave it in your kitchen so that someone won’t unknowingly use it.
2. Burns from boiling water
There’s a high possibility of getting burned by hot water from a leaking cordless kettle. And you know how damaging this can be for your skin. One might experience a first-degree murder or even worst.
So, desist from using leaky cordless kettles to avoid burns. Don’t send yourself to the hospital for something as small as a leaking kettle.
3. Mess up the kitchen
The water coming out from the kettle will not remain on the counter. It will spill on the floor and move to hard-to-clean places in your kitchen.
Clean up will be another stressful chore you may have to face. But that’s not only what should worry you. The floor might become slippery and pose a serious threat to whoever enters the kitchen.
The last thing you want is for an older person to slip and fall awkwardly. The outcome could be highly devastating.
So, if you have a leaking kettle, the best thing to do is fix or discard it. Please don’t use it. Otherwise, you may pay a high price for doing so.
How To Fix a Leaking Electric Kettle?
You can fix a leaking kettle in diverse ways. It all depends on where the opening is on the kettle.
Let’s discuss the various ways to repair a leaky electric cordless kettle.
1. Fixng the overfilling problem
Water expansion can be the reason your kettle is dripping water all over the counter when it heats up. And this could only have happened because you overfilled the kettle.
How can you fix this problem? It is simple. Ensure that water doesn’t cross the fill line when filling the kettle.
Check before placing the kettle on the base. If water exceeds the fill line, pour some away to level it.
2. Fixing descale build-ups
As said earlier, scale build-up is highly likely if you’re occasionally pouring hard water into the kettle. Over time, the build-up can cause the lid to start leaking water.
You can fix this issue by pouring a reasonable amount of descaler on a piece of clean cloth and whipping the kettle’s rim and lid.
Allow the descaler to work. If you’re not sure how long, check the product’s package for a clue. Rinse the kettle with clean water after a while, and that’s it.
3: Fixing broken lead
Let’s be honest. Fixing a broken kettle lid is a waste of money. Why? Cordless kettles aren’t that expensive. So, the best option would be to get a new kettle.
4. How to fix the crack at the bottom of the cordless kettle
Here’s what you need to do to fix a kettle with a leaky bottom.
Firstly, put water in the kettle, and observe where the leakage is. Allow the water to get hot to pinpoint where the leakage is.
Now, turn off the kettle, maker where the leakage is coming from using a marker or chalk.
The next step is to pour out the water and allow the appliance to cool down completely. You don’t want to touch a hot kettle, as you could get burned.
Now that you know where the leakage is coming from, you can get to work and seal it up.
Use a food-grade silicone sealant to close the opening at the bottom of the kettle and give it some time to cure.
Put water in the kettle three times before using it. That is, put water, boil and pour the water out three times before you start using the cordless kettle. The appliance should be safe to use once you have done this.
A Handy Tip: If your cordless kettle consists of stainless steel and a plastic base, the leakage could be from the joint where both materials meet.
You can use food-grade silicone sealant to close the joint and stop the kettle from leaking. Then put water, heat the kettle, and pour the water out. Repeat this three times.
Can You Leave an Electric Kettle Plugged In?
Yes, you can. Electric kettles aren’t hot plate that keeps delivering heat. They boast automatic shut-off, which turns off when the water reaches its boiling point.
The water will cool down like a regular beverage when the kettle turns off. It won’t come on again unless you turn it off.
Do You Put Warm or Cold Water in a Kettle?
There’s no point filling a kettle with hot water. Besides, the aim of putting water in the kettle is to heat it.
So, putting hot water in the kettle to reach its boiling point faster is a waste of effort. Put cold water in and allow it to heat up.
By the way, cordless kettles heat water faster than regular kettles. So, put cold water in the kettle.
How Often Should You Change Your Kettle?
An excellent quality cordless kettle’s lifespan is 4 to 5 years. You can get more years out of your kettle if you use it the right way.
However, discard a leaking kettle that you have tried everything possible to fix to no avail. Using a leaky kettle is dangerous. It can cause electrocution, or the spilled water can make your kitchen floor slippery.
Conclusion: Why do cordless kettles leak?
Your cordless kettle is leaking because there’s an opening somewhere. It could be a cracked case, overfilling, limescale build-up, or leakage from the joint.
Any of these can be a problem. We also spoke about how to fix leaking kettles. But you must identify where the leakage is before deciding how to fix it.
