Viral money-saving kettle hack could turn your cup of tea 'deadly', warns expert

03 February 2024 , 10:27

1054     0

Not having enough water in your kettle can have dangerous consequences (Image: Getty Images)

An expert has warned Brits to be wary of a viral money-saving kettle hack that could be 'deadly'.

Scores of people have been sharing hints to save money at home during the cost of living crisis. While some of the tips can be helpful, others are simply dangerous.

A hack which has recently emerged on social media shows homeowners they can save money when boiling the kettle for tea or coffee. It shows a mug being filled up with cold water and then transferred into a kettle, which means you can only boil the the water you need rather than filling the whole kettle.

Depending on the kettle it could cost 6p for one boil of a full kettle, and just 3p for a half-full kettle, which in theory means the "hack" makes financial sense. But energy expert Robert Andrews from Electricity Prices warns against it. He says not using enough water in the kettle can lead to the heating element burning out, which could be very dangerous.

He told WalesOnline: "You can see the logic in the hack, having two cups a day and filling the kettle every time will cost you around £43 a year. Cutting the water in half for each boil will cut your bill in half too.

Martin Lewis issues 8-week warning to phone users ahead of huge price hikes

"The less water you use the less energy is required to heat it, the only problem is kettles have a minimum amount of water you need to fill so the heating element inside isn't exposed. Most kettles require around 0.5 litres of water to cover this element. And by only boiling a cup full of water you run the risk of it being exposed and burning out."

Some kettles will have safety switches in them. This will turn them off if there is insufficient water in the kettle to prevent this from happening - but not all of them will.

He added: "Operating a kettle without water is hazardous. It may lead to ignition, emitting harmful gases into your home, and potentially causing a kitchen fire which could be deadly.

"When boiling water in your kettle, it's important to use only the necessary amount. However, make sure to adhere to the minimum level suggested in the manufacturer's handbook. Should you damage your kettle by using less than the recommended amount, the cost of replacement will likely exceed any savings gained from this method."

Graeme Murray