Are big Electric kettles Worth it?

These are fairly common appliances and also very efficient as the heating element or heating surface is in direct contact with water. There is no heat loss before it reaches the water. There are are different sizes available. The smallest has a capacity of 1.7 litres while the biggest has 6 litres. Now, is it worth it to own an electric kettle? In situations where one needs a quick cup of tea, a small one is better. However when you need more hot water, like for cooling and drinking later, a smaller kettle may not be the best option.

It is more cost effective to use a big sized kettle to boil 5 litres, than to use a small sized kettle of 1.7 Litres three times.

Lets illustrate with a real example:

A 1.7 litre kettle rated 1800W takes 6 minutes to boil 1.7 litres of water, implying it consumes 0.18kWh or units. 

The cost of this electricity is roughly Shs180 (about 5 US Cents) as of April 2023.

 So if you are 3 people who need to boil water everyday for showering, total cost is Shs180x3=Shs540 or 15 US cents. In a month or 30days, that’s  540×30= Shs16,200 or $4.5.

If you are more people, cost goes higher.

On the other hand, if one use a 5 litre kettle, it holds  roughly the same quantity of water as 3 kettles of 1.7Litres. So a 5 litre kettle rated 2200W and takes about 12 minutes to boil the 5litres uses 0.44kWh.

Using it once a day costs Shs440 or 12 US cents.

In a month that’s Shs440x 30=Shs13,200 or $3.6.

When you are 3 or more people who need hot water everyday, a bigger sized kettle is definitely worth it.

To get long life from the kettle, always read the enclosed manual on safety and operating instructions.

To highlight some of these:

1. Do not use kettle on extension cable. The cable may get spoilt, unless it’s a heavy duty extension cable (can accommodate 3000W or more).

2. Make sure the heating element is always fully covered by water before switching on kettle. If its not, it will get damaged. 

3. Do not exceed the maximum level as indicated inside the kettle

4. Never switch off the kettle directly from the socket if  red light is still on. First switch off the kettle, or wait for it to switch itself off after water has boiled and then you switch off at the socket. Otherwise the socket will be damaged. 

5. When water has boiled, please take it out of the kettle. Do not leave it there. This will help the heating element to last much longer.

6. Never boil water without lid on kettle . Boiling water when the kettle is open will disable automatic switch off, and water will keep boiling and boiling  and waste electricity. It can also lead to other problems in the kettle, like over heating/blowing of the kettle. Always ensure lid is firmly on.

7. Do not dip kettle in water while washing it.

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