Fixing Leaking Electric Kettle - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Boris_yo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2021, 06:07:38 am
content: Hello,Disassembled kettle's base and want to locate the leak. By itself it does not leak. It leaks only when I lift and shake it and sometimes when I tilt it. Also, what kind of material is used to fill crevices/slits?Thanks

author: bob91343
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2021, 06:22:58 am
content: I have never been successful at stopping electric kettles from leaking. Just buy a new one.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2021, 08:07:19 am
content: That looks like a lot of corrosion, does that particular kettle have sentimental value or something? You might be able to patch a leak with some high temperature epoxy depending on where it is, but I don't think I'd count on it to hold up over time.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2021, 09:15:10 am
content: That just looks like an ageing kettle to me. As part of the boil cutoff mechanism, some steam / condensation makes its way into the internals (and maybe a tiny amount of seepage). This is normally prevented from building up by a drip hole in the bottom, but the environment is very humid. Shaking and tilting probably causes some condensate to drain.If the kettle isn't causing an earth leakage trip, then it isn't bridging the insulation gaps that are deliberately designed for the conditions. Carefully avoiding overfilling is about the only way of reducing moisture in the base.If dripping becomes excessive, or operation fails (burnt out contacts or broken bimetal click spring), there is no real alternative to replacing it.

author: Miyuki
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2021, 09:57:18 am
content: Thermal cycling fatigue cracks have no fixingThe only way is to recycle the material, melt it and make a new kettleIt just turns to a brittle spongeous mess

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 01, 2021, 10:07:42 am
content: There must be a rubber seal around the heating base which leaks. To fix it long term you will need to replace it and clean all of the calcium build-up underneath it. If you just clean it and leave the old seal, kettle will start leaking again after a few months.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2021, 11:39:56 am
content: I suspect that these days, it's a one time crimp seal around the rubbler. I've never had any success getting one apart to that level.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 01, 2021, 11:53:50 am
content: Quote from: Gyro on December 01, 2021, 11:39:56 amThere is a round plastic part around the edge which holds the heater in place, IMHO looks removable.

author: Boris_yo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2021, 02:46:14 am
content: Quote from: Gyro on December 01, 2021, 09:15:10 amYou mean that dripping is supposed to turn off kettle and redirect voltage to ground by tripping residual-current device?What if leakage is not actually a leakage but accumulation of a condensation caused by escaping steam from within like someone pointed out?

author: Kleinstein
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2021, 11:50:07 am
content: Quote from: Boris_yo on December 02, 2021, 02:46:14 amThe normal turn off is not from the dripping water conducting current. This would be a possible failure mode to than trip the GFI.The normal turn off is from steam condensing and this way heat a thermal sensor (bi-metal) to switch off. Without water is in kettle, the higher temperature and normal heat conduction should make it turn off too.It does not need much condensed water to heat up the sensor enough, but it would be some. This water needs to flow off somehow and may leak out.