Old Style Kettles (whistling hob ones)

thriftlady_2

I use one too but I've no idea if it has made any difference to our electricity bill. It does make a difference to my workspace in the kitchen though

djheath

I use one too. I dont know if it saves you money but as said previous, it takes longer to boil than an electric kettle. But this helps because, you soon realise to only boil the required amount of water. I.e previously i would fill an electric kettle to the top for one cuppa tea, wasting water and electricity. Now I fill it with one cups worth!

It also means you use the water for what ever original purpose you boiled it for since when its whistling, you have to go turn it off. this means you're less inclined to forget to make a cuppa and waste the electricity.

I got mine from a hardware store for £5. Its stainless steel and quite largem but has lasted me well.

Penelope_Penguin

I have a whistling kettle. Bought if for aesthetic reasons, and I love it (though it needs a polish today ). Mine's from John Lewis.

Another point to remember is that this kettle has lasted 10 years and will never need replacing. We have an electic kettle in our bedroom, for an early morning pot of tea, and this needs replacing every 5 years or so :rolleyes:

Penny. x

D&DD

Another question
Does it build up with scale quite as much?? Our water is really hard here and the last 3 kettles I've had have 'exploded' on me..They all had see through water gauges and although I clean/descale regularly the scale tends to build up on this part.All 3 disintegrated here whilst boiling up so very dangerous :eek:

Penelope_Penguin

D&DD wrote: »

Another question
Does it build up with scale quite as much?? Our water is really hard here and the last 3 kettles I've had have 'exploded' on me..They all had see through water gauges and although I clean/descale regularly the scale tends to build up on this part.All 3 disintegrated here whilst boiling up so very dangerous :eek:

Nope :beer: We have really hard water, which is why electric kettles expire on us. The scale build up in the whistler is minimal, and disappears after an overnight soak in vinegar.

BTW, do you use a "scale catcher" I feel a photo coming on as I can't begin to describe it It's made of steel, just goes into the kettle, and has a large surface area. It attracts the scale and it can be easily cleaned in water.

Penny. x

Penelope_Penguin

Try this from eBay. Worth every penny IME. Just make sure it's cleaned regularly, before it's cakked with scale.

Penny. x

D&DD

Thanks for that PP I think I'll be hunting for a new kettle today then
I've been looking since xmas but couldn't find a coolwall electric one anywhere so I'm going to get a 'whistler' instead.I can put it over the back of the hob so it'll actually be safer for 'hisnibs'
He's having a bit of trouble with the 'smell' of the hob but it may even help having this as he drinks gallons of tea,and if he knows it has to be on to make it he may be a bit less crabby about it

I've used those scale thingies since we moved here but my kettles still give up on me :rotfl: maybe I just drink too many cups a day!!

HariboJunkie

I switched to a stove top in order to cut back on electricity use as we noticed how fast the meter went round when the kettle was boiled. OH had a habit of switching the kettle on, letting it boil and forgetting about it so reboiling it several times. Now it doesn't stop whistling until he gets up and sees to it. Just make sure it only gets filled with the amount of water you require. An alternative which may pay for itself in the long run is this. If you have a tassimo coffee machine it can be used the same way. Link.

Mine is a cream enamel one. I think Woolies are doing a similar one for around £10.

Valley's_girl

Hi my parents have always used one of these obviously they take longer than a electric kettle to boil but they do look nice on the hob.
Ally x

culpepper

you can get little tiny ones from camping shops. We have one that we use on the primus when camping. Good if you only want a couple of mugs worth.
I have a vacuum flask which all the boiled and not used water goes into from my electric kettle. It saves boiling all through the day. The flask usually lasts all morning and a second kettle full ,all afternoon. Handy for hot water for cooking too. Saves boiling up from cold.