Kettle-Your thoughts please

Alnat1

Buy a small cheap covered element kettle and fill it by using the mug you're gonna use to make your cuppa.

If you use it 5-6 times a day it will have paid for itself within the 1st year, while it's still under guarantee.

Ultrasonic

macman said:

Ultrasonic said:

mattyprice4004 said:

Gas will be more efficient, as the waste heat goes to heating the house (meaning the heating will kick in for slightly shorter periods of time) 

That's wrong more than it's right. The extra heat is only useful if it's generated at times and in places where it's beneficial. Overwhelmingly this won't be the case.

If the heating is on when the house is occupied and hot drinks are being prepared, then it'll be useful heat.

Heating is off more of the year than it's on for most people, plus my kitchen stays far cooler than my lounge so extra heat there for me would be wasted. 

Yes some of the heat will be useful some of the time to some people but this really isn't a strong argument to start favouring a gas hob heated kettle to me.

Grumpy_chap

The OP may find this recent thread relevant:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6386300/best-kettle/p1

LindsayT

Thanks for the varying replies folks.
However, heating the kitchen didn't come into it. That's something someone decided to put in their reply.

Spoonie_Turtle

We have a small, 1l kettle which definitely takes less than 500ml minimum.  It's really basic and simple - not even a light when boiling, I can't imagine it would have cost much to buy (inherited it from a relative who died; they'd never used it).  It's easier to clean as well, because easier to reach the bottom!

Alas it's too small for us as a family, but something like that may be ideal for one person on their own.  [Our cups are at least 400ml though so I didn't take note of the absolute minimum when we needed to use it when our previous kettle broke, but 400ml was more than enough.]

LindsayT

@Spoonie_Turtle, thanks for that.
I actually have a small travel kettle that we used in the car when driving across Europe. Unfortunately, it only has a cigarette lighter connection.

QrizB

LindsayT said:

Spoonie_Turtle, thanks for that.
I actually have a small travel kettle that we used in the car when driving across Europe. Unfortunately, it only has a cigarette lighter connection.

My son't going away to Uni in a week or so. I've bought him one of these (or something similar, I forget which listing I went with):

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390772002428

Ultrasonic

QrizB said:

LindsayT said:

Spoonie_Turtle, thanks for that.
I actually have a small travel kettle that we used in the car when driving across Europe. Unfortunately, it only has a cigarette lighter connection.

My son't going away to Uni in a week or so. I've bought him one of these (or something similar, I forget which listing I went with):

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390772002428

For regular domestic use it's perhaps worth noting that kettles like that are low power (900 W in this case) and so will boil water much more slowly than a more conventional kitchen kettle which is typically 3000 W. I have a little kettle a bit like the linked one for travel use but it would annoy me to use as my main kettle at home.

Ultrasonic

I bet there are loads of options including cheaper ones but here's a 'normal' (3 kW) kettle with a 300 mL minimum fill level for £20:

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9311192?clickPR=plp:3:115

Edit: just in case this isn't obvious to anyone reading this thread, higher power kettles will use the same amount of energy to boil water, they'll just do so quicker. 'Quick boil' is also a nonsense term you'll see on many kettles. Just look at the power rating. A 2.2 kW 'quick boil' kettle with boil water slower than a 3 kW kettle, whether it says it's 'quick boil' or not.

LindsayT

My current kettle is 2.2kW.
@Ultrasonic, just looked at the Argos link you posted. Looks quite nice, has a concealed element which I was thinking about and minimum fill is 0.3 litre, so all seems pretty good.
Although I have bought a couple of things online, I prefer to see an item first, so will see if my friend can take me to Argos to have a look at this, thanks.
Also, has a 2 year guarantee.