If you live in a hard-water area, minerals build up on the heating element.
The Issue: Limescale acts as an insulator. The element has to work harder and stay on longer to heat the water through the crust.
The Consequence: This leads to “dry boiling” sensations where the kettle shuts off prematurely or the element eventually burns out and pops, which could cause a small electrical spark.
3. Leaving Water in the Kettle
Many people leave unused water sitting in the kettle for days.
The Science: This encourages limescale to settle and can lead to a metallic or “off” taste. More importantly, it can degrade the seals at the bottom of the kettle over time, leading to slow leaks. Water leaking onto an electrical base is a genuine fire hazard.
4. Plugging into Extension Leads
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