An electric kettle has two typical problems: it doesn't heat at all, or it doesn't switch off automatically after the water boils. Each case has different causes. Like the iron, the kettle is one of the small appliances most prone to limescale in hard-water areas.
If it doesn't heat, the most common causes are: a broken or dirty contact between the kettle and its base; a failed heating element (disc or coil); a blown thermal fuse (which burns out if run dry); or a switch or power-line problem. Often running the kettle dry blows the thermal fuse and the appliance stops heating entirely.
Auto switch-off works when steam reaches the thermostat. If it won't switch off, the cause is: the lid not fully closed (steam doesn't reach the thermostat), a faulty thermostat or steam sensor, limescale build-up, or overfilling that disrupts the steam path.
Safe steps: check the kettle is seated correctly on the base and the contact is clean; close the lid fully; don't overfill; descale regularly (with vinegar or a dedicated product, per the manual). Never run the kettle dry — that blows the thermal fuse.
Do not open the kettle base to tamper with the heating element, thermostat or thermal fuse, as these run with water and high current. Scraping limescale with a sharp tool damages the element. Leaving a kettle that won't switch off unattended is dangerous.
A 166 Usta small appliances technician checks the heating and auto switch-off systems separately: contact, heating element, thermal fuse for no-heat; thermostat, steam path, lid and limescale for no switch-off. The faulty part is replaced and the appliance is safety-tested.
The technician measures the current circuit, the heating element resistance, the thermostat switching and the condition of the contacts. This matters because no-heat can come from several parts, and no switch-off can come from the lid/limescale or a thermostat fault.
The most common causes are the lid not fully closed and internal limescale — steam doesn't reach the thermostat properly. Closing the lid and descaling often helps; if it persists, the thermostat should be checked.
Running it dry blows the thermal fuse and stops heating. This usually needs a technician.
If the contact is clean and the lid closed but the kettle won't heat or won't switch off, or there is a burnt smell, contact a small appliances technician. See also the 166 Usta blog.
Need a small appliances technician now? 166 Usta: +994 10 123 01 66 or 166. Get in touch »
