How to fix a kettle switch that won't stay down

ChrisGUK

I wanted to reply to the thread "Skint and kettle's just broke !! How can I repair it??", but unfortunately it's closed.

A neighbour was throwing out a nice kettle, so I thought I would take a look at it. Turns out the only problem was that the switch wouldn't stay down. It's one of those kettles where the switch sticks out under the handle.

So I took the whole switch mechanism apart, cleaned everything, and put it all back together. But there was nothing wrong, and nothing to fix. I'm pretty sure that trying to re-calibrate the spring that the mechanism relies on would be a disaster, so I didn't try.

But what I found was that the switch lever just needed a bit more weight to keep it down. So I taped a £1 coin to the bottom of the switch and it worked perfectly. A £1 coin is about 9 grams. Eventually I found a 10 gram steel nut that also works fine. It has been working perfectly now for about three months. Switch stays down, and flips up when the water boils. Good as new.

So no need to take anything apart. Just a coin or a nut or something about 10 grams, and a bit of tape. You might need to experiment with different weights. You want enough to keep the switch down, but not so much it stops the switch flipping up when the water boils.

Hope this helps someone!

societys_child

I've had the same problem in the past, I know this is MSE, but I just bought a new kettle, thought it was the safest bet . .

DCFC79

I aw the thread title and thought you were going to ask for tips how to fix the switch.

Thanks for the tip Chris its very MSE. Not sure if its something I would do myself, id prefer to just buy a new 1 if I ca,e across the issue, I would offer the kettle on freecycle if anyone was interested in fixing it.

iammumtoone

societys_child wrote: »

I've had the same problem in the past, I know this is MSE, but I just bought a new kettle, thought it was the safest bet . .

Depends what type of kettle you have my Dad brought one that cost him £50 :eek: I did laugh as they all only boil water but he can afford it so whats the harm I suppose.

If the switch ever fails on it he will get rid so it will be coming to my house and I will know what to do

boingsaidzebedee

This is really spooky because I had the just same problem with our kettle.Indeed I also had difficulty in finding something of just the right weight to hold down the switch whilst allowing for optimum temperature pop up.
After several days experimentation I found that gaffertaping my daughters hamster to the switch worked perfectly.
Unfortunately after 2 weeks he seemed to have lost a bit of weight and the lever no longer stayed down.Luckily a little peanut butter and lead shot solved the problem for a while.
This morning I found Reggie to be sadly and unexpectedly deceased and even worse have gone all day without a cup of tea.
I should like to save the planet and repair rather than replace.Have plenty of gaffertape,does anybody know if Pets at Home are open New Years Day?

societys_child

Trouble is, the kettle I have now has a push button.
Maybe it's designed to stop money savers sticking random bits to it . .

Jackmydad

I've got a vision of taping ever increasing weights to the switch as the problem gets worse over time. . .
Buy a new kettle is the answer.

Nile

boingsaidzebedee wrote: »

This is really spooky because I had the just same problem with our kettle.Indeed I also had difficulty in finding something of just the right weight to hold down the switch whilst allowing for optimum temperature pop up.
After several days experimentation I found that gaffertaping my daughters hamster to the switch worked perfectly.
Unfortunately after 2 weeks he seemed to have lost a bit of weight and the lever no longer stayed down.Luckily a little peanut butter and lead shot solved the problem for a while.
This morning I found Reggie to be sadly and unexpectedly deceased and even worse have gone all day without a cup of tea.
I should like to save the planet and repair rather than replace.Have plenty of gaffertape,does anybody know if Pets at Home are open New Years Day?

NO! Please STOP! Don't go out and find a Reggie replacement animal.

I want to be able to post the standard phrase in this thread:

“No Animals Were Harmed”®