The kettle debate

Benny2020

Just thought i would post to put this back at the top.

Section62

Benny2020 said:

Just thought i would post to put this back at the top.

Yes, it would be really useful if people who have (near) zero-minimum level kettles could post some details of make and model.

My current one - a Bosch CTWK29B - has a flat bottom, but a minimum mark at 0.5 litres / two cups.  Although in practice that's about 2.5 times what I actually need to make a cup of tea.

Mstty

No minimum mark, 2 years old, pour 1 or two cups in the top from the mugs we actually use and still going strong. Flat bottom no visible element.

Breville VKT019

Minimum fill 250ml as per which review below

https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/kettles/breville-curve-vkt019

Cost £20 at a car boot 2 years ago and that I cluded the matching 4 slice toaster. So £10

Astria

Section62 said:

Astria said:

jvjack said:

Just spent 15 mins obsessed with kettle.

One normal mug of water poured in doesnt cover heating element at bottom. And doesnt even show up in level. Is it that when people say they use just use what they need they are meaning they fill it to minimum. I think so.

Our kettle has a concealed element and no minimum line, so we can literally empty kettle, empty one cup of water into it, boil, tip into cup, done.

What make/model is it?  A list of which kettles don't need at least a specified minimum quantity of water could become the next money-saving must-read.

I have absolutely no idea, it's about 5 years old and show no markers of a model number. All I can tell you is that its red, has a flip top lid when you push a button and a detachable base, but I kinda guess there's a lot of those around!

It might actually have a minimum level marker which I completely ignore because I can't see it 😁 or it could be because my tea mug is kinda on the large side? Probably holds about 250ml?

victor2

Our "Bella"  ceramic kettle has no visible element or minimum level indicated. Had it a few years and just boil what we need.
Don't think it's available now, but it wasn't expensive as kettles go.

Benny2020

450ml is one mug of tea for me?

Astria

Benny2020 said:

450ml is one mug of tea for me?

It's not a Sports Direct mug is it?

Slinky

jvjack said:

Just spent 15 mins obsessed with kettle.

One normal mug of water poured in doesnt cover heating element at bottom. And doesnt even show up in level. Is it that when people say they use just use what they need they are meaning they fill it to minimum. I think so.

Filling kettle up to minimum then filling mug leaves slight top of element exposed.

So not sure if you can use all that water and leave element exposed after pouring. Element would still be hot but not on so ok? Probly when its on that is not good.

Slinky said

On a sunny day, I'll stand the stainless steel flasks on the kitchen windowsill to use some solar gain to keep the contents warmer.

 I suppose I could also investigate making a flask cosy out of dark material.....

Good idea , and in winter take it into living room.

Slinky said

I think my biggest saving comes from using gas heated water to fill the washing machine, via a watering can,

Do you just pour the water in the compartment that you put powder in as it is filling?

I pour the water in through the powder drawer before switching the machine on. Playing around with quantities shows me 10L is enough for an average wash, 15L if it's towels. I then switch the machine on, it pauses for a few seconds when it would normally start filling, realises it has water in it and goes into the wash cycle.

Slinky

wittynamegoeshere said:

Are you actually serious that you fill your washing machine with a watering can?

You're getting cheaper heat, but there are lots of losses in the plumbing and carrying it around.  The washer's built in heater uses more expensive energy but is vastly more efficient, as the heat source is right where the hot water needs to be.

In the old days, washing machines had hot and cold fills.  But this is hardly ever done now, partly because it would often end up getting cold water anyway, as the hot wouldn't make it through the pipes.

Do you run your tap until it gets hot?  If so you're not only wasting that amount of cold water down the sink, you're also needlessly heating an equivalent amount of hot water that will be left standing in the pipe after you've done.

Absolutely serious. We have way more hot water than we actually use, particularly in the winter, as we have an old boiler that is either heat & water, or water only. There's no heat only option, so we may as well get some benefit from the spare hot water. I will also do washing up delicate pots after I've filled the washing machine, so I'd have run a tap to get hot water anyway. There will of course be some heat loss in the pipes, but that will be heat transferred into the house fabric, so the equivalent of heating a radiator pipe.

Yes I am running water I could transfer into a water butt, might do that when our building work is finished and a replacement butt is put in place.

jvjack

@slinky said 
I pour the water in through the powder drawer
Got it thanks.

Todays daily mail on energy cutting tips 
From shorter showers to turning off lights, how much money do energy-cutting tips really save? | Daily Mail Online

3. Not filling the kettle to the top

One tip floating around the internet is to stop filling the kettle to the top to make one cup of tea, as it uses more energy. Putting in just enough water to fill a mug is said to be substantially cheaper. 

Maybe they read this thread lol.

They should have mentioned type of kettle though. They obviously have not read @section62 posts about the importance of that.