Tesco JK12 Value Kettle fire/safety risk!!!

ArrogantMenace

Ok, so I bought this kettle from Tesco some time ago, was only a fiver (now £6.50) so it was what I thought to be a bargain.

I've had it a while now it boils really rapidly, however...
there is a design flaw that makes it so the overflow pipe leads directly to where the electrics in the kettle meets the electrics in the base. (will post pictures below) So I contacted Tesco via their online chat (oi57.tinypic.com/eapmj6.jpg screenshot of the conversation) they insist that I take the kettle back to the store, well I've already done this weeks shop and I'm not venturing out in this weather to fill out a complaint form. I do intend on doing so, but when I go there next so I'm giving people a warning here first... as I mentioned in my conversation with customer service agent, they're all identical so it'd just take someone there a few seconds to just look at the product and see that I'm not just trying to waste their time. I quite like Tesco which is why I chose to contact them first when noticing the flaw in the hopes that they'd look into it... but not taking safety/fire risks seriously is pretty sketchy.
Ok enough talk, here's the pictures.
oi60.tinypic.com/2v3mxhf.jpg
I'll admit the overflow intake is quite high up, however...
oi61.tinypic.com/68y060.jpg

I apologize for not being able to add the picture to the thread, but as I'm a new user I can't post pictures/links, you'll need to open them in another tab.

shaun_from_Africa

Here you go!

Bantex_2

Why is that a fire risk?

jonnyd281

Are you sure that it is an overflow? I always thought the max mark was to prevent them overflowing

keyser666

jonnyd281 wrote: »

Are you sure that it is an overflow? I always thought the max mark was to prevent them overflowing

Dont be silly now

maninthestreet

If the kettle is overflowing, it means you've over-filled it.

gollum007

Bingo. It's not an overflow, just the way the hinge is designed.
Designers kind of assume you're not stupid enough to keep on filling when the water is over the top. It's different if its directly connected to the mains........

The max mark is to stop overflow when the kettle is *boiling*

I despair of the common sense qualities of the modern man :eek:

ArrogantMenace

Bantex wrote: »

Why is that a fire risk?

Well if you unwittingly introduce water to a live electrical current, it's gonna spark...and with the amount of electricity that kettles require it's a big flash...the safety of the user is more of a concern in my book though.

jonnyd281 wrote: »

Are you sure that it is an overflow? I always thought the max mark was to prevent them overflowing

It is indeed an overflow, I bought a new kettle then tried it out (not plugged in of course) there's even a wee hole in the base where water can drain through, but it's nowhere near the overflow outlet.

I'm really not trying to scare anyone here, I just seen a potential hazard and thought it'd be best to warn people rather just buy a new kettle and ignore it.

Edit: I would also like to note that I'm not trying to knock tesco, or their products...this kettle has done me well for good 6months or more now, I didn't discover this until i was cleaning the thing out and spotted drips coming out of the bottom.

mattyprice4004

Why not just keep the level below maximum? Or is that a bit silly.

SimonSays

Thanks OP for telling me which kettle to burn.

Searcher

I wasn't aware that a kettle even needed an overflow mechanism.
Surely the idea of an overflow is to prevent flooding by diverting excess water to waste?


If you overfill a kettle then it spills out of the lid or spout
If it's overfull and boils over then again, it spills out of the lid or spout
Electrical connections tend to be covered and generally safe from water spills unless submerged in water.


With all due respect OP I think you've got this totally wrong and I'm pretty sure that anything with an overflow that directs water on to an electrical connection wouldn't get a CE mark.