Boris' Kettle Advice!

casper_gutman

grumbler said:

I don't see any problem with this. I switch the empty kettle on and then fill it with the amount of water I need from  Brita jug standing next to it.

A minor detail, but it would probably be safer to pour the water into the kettle before switching it on. If you were distracted after switching on the kettle but before adding water there could be a risk of overheating causing a fire or at least damaging the kettle. I suppose kettles these days probably have thermal cut-outs intended to avoid dangerous overheating, but always safer not to rely on such features....

grumbler

casper_gutman said:

grumbler said:

I don't see any problem with this. I switch the empty kettle on and then fill it with the amount of water I need from  Brita jug standing next to it. f you were distracted...

A minor detail, but it would probably be safer to pour the water into the kettle before switching it on.

I know, but I think a plane has to crash on my house to destruct me. In this case a small fire doesn't matter. And normally I'm taking the jug with my left hand while switching the kettle with the right one. Saves me few seconds.

FFHillbilly

Alanp said:

You could save even more money on your bill by investing in a 1.5/1.7 litre stainless steel flask, boil the kettle and fill this, saves continuously boiling your kettle every time you want a drink.

Utter nonsense. I heard someone phone in to a TV/radio show and spout this claimed "moneysaving wonder technique" recently too. It won't work.
Firstly boiling 1.7 litres of water will require roughly 5 times more energy than boiling 350ml (average cup).
Secondly, the flask will lose heat over the day, they are not 100% efficient.
Thirdly, what if you unexpectedly have to go out after your first cuppa, and the flask full of water is wasted? 

FreeBear

casper_gutman said: I suppose kettles these days probably have thermal cut-outs intended to avoid dangerous overheating, but always safer not to rely on such features....

Yes, kettles do have thermal cutouts. Doesn't prevent the heating element getting damaged though.. I accidentally turned a kettle on that had no water in it. The thermal cutout tripped, but next time I used the kettle, bang. RCD and MCB tripped in the consumer unit, and I had to go out and buy a new kettle.

MalMonroe

FreeBear said:

casper_gutman said: I suppose kettles these days probably have thermal cut-outs intended to avoid dangerous overheating, but always safer not to rely on such features....

Yes, kettles do have thermal cutouts. Doesn't prevent the heating element getting damaged though.. I accidentally turned a kettle on that had no water in it. The thermal cutout tripped, but next time I used the kettle, bang. RCD and MCB tripped in the consumer unit, and I had to go out and buy a new kettle.

Ooops! Sorry but that made me laugh. 

You don't have to go out and buy a new kettle, do what I did, order online. Didn't have to pay postage either.

I don't do plastic ones though so stainless steel for me and only £25 but it's not all singing and all dancing like the OP's. I do have to have my requisite cups of tea though or I just will not be able to survive any of the current crises.

Alanp

FFHillbilly said:

Alanp said:

You could save even more money on your bill by investing in a 1.5/1.7 litre stainless steel flask, boil the kettle and fill this, saves continuously boiling your kettle every time you want a drink.

Utter nonsense. I heard someone phone in to a TV/radio show and spout this claimed "moneysaving wonder technique" recently too. It won't work.
Firstly boiling 1.7 litres of water will require roughly 5 times more energy than boiling 350ml (average cup).
Secondly, the flask will lose heat over the day, they are not 100% efficient.
Thirdly, what if you unexpectedly have to go out after your first cuppa, and the flask full of water is wasted? 

Funny that, I used to have such a flask, ( stainless steel inside, not glass) I was out all day with no access to any facilities, ( lunch in my van, usually in a lay-by) the water was still hot enough to make a cuppa at three in the afternoon…

Section62

FFHillbilly said:

Alanp said:

You could save even more money on your bill by investing in a 1.5/1.7 litre stainless steel flask, boil the kettle and fill this, saves continuously boiling your kettle every time you want a drink.

Utter nonsense. I heard someone phone in to a TV/radio show and spout this claimed "moneysaving wonder technique" recently too. It won't work.
Firstly boiling 1.7 litres of water will require roughly 5 times more energy than boiling 350ml (average cup).

Boiling 350ml of water 5 times per day will also require roughly 5 times as much energy as boiling an average cup's worth.  That is a statement of fact, but doesn't by itself make Alanp's post "utter nonsense".

FFHillbilly said:

Secondly, the flask will lose heat over the day, they are not 100% efficient.

Neither are kettles 100% efficient.  Each time a kettle is boiled some of the heat energy will remain in the left over water and/or the kettle itself.  The amount of heat lost by using a kettle this way per day will depend on the type of kettle and frequency of use, making it difficult to draw comparisons, and nowhere near enough to establish that Alanp's post is "utter nonsense".

What is relevant with that point is whether water in the flask will remain hot enough for the intended use.  Making tea with water which is (say) 80C towards the end of the day may not be everyone's cup of tea, but coffee drinkers might be content using 80C water to make a cup of instant.  There's no single 'right' answer, it depends on circumstances, hence "utter nonsense" doesn't apply.

Worth pointing out too that Alanp's proposal effectively replicates the hot water heating attangements in many homes across the country - heating up the (non-potable) water in an insulated hot water cylinder and storing it until needed later.  The efficiency of this vs 'instant' heating of water as and when needed (e.g. with a combi boiler) depends on the circumstances of use.

FFHillbilly said:

Thirdly, what if you unexpectedly have to go out after your first cuppa, and the flask full of water is wasted? 

So Alanp's post is "utter nonsense" if someone has to go out "unexpectedly" after boiling their daily water?  How often is that likely to happen?  Would it be reasonable to say that this might be the exception rather than the rule, and that sensible people who know they may frequently have to go out unexpectedly might decide that Alanp's suggestion wouldn't work for them?

This idea has been discussed on the energy board at length many times - the conclusion generally drawn is whether it works or not (in terms of energy saving) depends on individual circumstances.  So not "utter nonsense".

(Edit:Typo)

FreeBear

MalMonroe said:

FreeBear said:

casper_gutman said: I suppose kettles these days probably have thermal cut-outs intended to avoid dangerous overheating, but always safer not to rely on such features....

Yes, kettles do have thermal cutouts. Doesn't prevent the heating element getting damaged though.. I accidentally turned a kettle on that had no water in it. The thermal cutout tripped, but next time I used the kettle, bang. RCD and MCB tripped in the consumer unit, and I had to go out and buy a new kettle.

Ooops! Sorry but that made me laugh. 

You don't have to go out and buy a new kettle, do what I did, order online. Didn't have to pay postage either.

Five minute walk round to B&M, and £20 less in my pocket. Ordering online is all well and good, but it can take days to arrive.