An electric kettle is a convenient kitchen appliance that allows you to quickly boil water for tea, coffee, instant meals, and more. Inside the electric kettle, there is a metal heating element that heats up when electricity passes through it. Over time, this heating element can fail due to mineral buildup or simply wear out.
When your electric kettle stops heating properly, it’s usually an issue with the heating element needing to be replaced. Replacing this part is fortunately quite straightforward and affordable to do yourself. As long as you follow safety precautions and instructions carefully, even someone with minimal DIY experience can complete this repair.
This guide will take you through everything you need to know to safely replace the heating element in your electric kettle. We’ll cover:
- Important safety information
- Necessary tools & materials
- How to test if the heating element is broken
- Step-by-step instructions for removal & replacement
- Testing that the new heating element works
By the end, you’ll have the satisfaction of fixing your broken electric kettle and saving money by doing it yourself. The ability to once again conveniently boil water will be worth the effort.
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Safety Precautions
When dealing with electrical appliances and water, safety should always be your top concern. Make sure to follow these precautions:
Disconnect the power supply
- Unplug the kettle before disassembling it to prevent electric shock.
- Double-check that it cannot be plugged in during the repair process.
Allow to fully cool
- Let a heated kettle fully cool for at least 30 minutes before handling.
- The metal surfaces get extremely hot and can severely burn skin.
Keep dry
- Do not handle the open kettle base near sinks or liquids.
- Never immerse the kettle base in water.
- Dry hands thoroughly before handling internal components.
Use insulated tools
- Use tools with insulated handles when possible.
- Wear insulated rubber gloves for extra protection.
No power testing
- Do not connect the power before completely reassembling.
- Faulty exposure can lead to electric shock or short-circuit fire risks.
By keeping safety first, you can avoid potential serious burns or electrocution. Only work on an electric kettle in a dry location with the power supply completely removed. Extra insulation and checking your equipment help minimize risks further.
Necessary Tools & Materials
Replacing the heating element requires just a few essential tools and parts:
Tools
- Slotted/Flat Head Screwdrivers
- Needle Nose Pliers
- Safety Gloves & Goggles
- Voltage Tester
- Water Heater Element Wrench
Materials
- Replacement Heating Element
- Non-toxic Plumber’s Pipe Thread Sealant
Slotted/Flat Head Screwdrivers – Used for loosening and tightening screws to remove covers or wires. Make sure the heads properly fit the slots.
Needle Nose Pliers – Helpful for gripping and maneuvering wires or fasteners in tight spaces.
Safety Gloves & Goggles – Insulate your hands and protect your eyes from sharp pieces or hot materials.
Voltage Tester – Used to check if electricity is properly disconnected for safety.
Water Heater Element Wrench – Special wrench that fits around the heating element to unscrew it.
Replacement Heating Element – Needs to match the original’s voltage, wattage and dimensions.
Non-Toxic Plumber’s Pipe Thread Sealant – Applied to the threads of the new heating element to prevent leaks.
It can help to lay out all the necessary tools and materials in an organized manner before starting. This allows you to follow each step of the process efficiently. Budget about $20-$30 for a new heating element and minimal costs for simple tools.
Testing a Broken Heating Element
Before removing the old heating element, confirm that it is actually faulty through some simple checks:
- Visible damage inspection – Closely examine the metal coil and mounting joints for any cracks, warps or burn marks. Also check for loose, vibrating coils. Any visible deterioration likely means it needs replacing.
- Portable appliance testing (PAT) – Use a multimeter wired into a suitable PAT adapter to check if electricity is still passing through. Set to an appropriate kettle heating element resistance range (usually 20-30 ohms). A significantly higher reading indicates broken circuitry.
- Boil test – After PAT, safely connect power to perform an actual boil test. Place the maximum water fill amount and engage the kettle. If the water does not heat after 5-10 minutes with the light on, poor contact between coil loops is likely preventing electricity flow.
The above inspections provide clear evidence if the element has visible damage or no longer heats water properly when powered on. Skipping to replace a functioning heating element will not resolve pot issues. With confirmation of a broken unit, you can move forward confidently with the full replacement guide.
Step-by-Step Heating Element Replacement
Follow these steps closely when you are ready to remove and replace your faulty electric kettle heating element:
Step 1: Disassemble the Kettle
Begin by fully draining any remaining water and drying the interior with a towel. Depending on the model, you may need to remove a scale filter inside first.
Use a flathead screwdriver to take out all exterior screws from the kettle’s bottom plastic cover. This releases clips allowing you to separate the plastic housing to reveal internal components.
Caution: The wiring may still be connected as you open the housing, so be very careful not to snag any wires.
Step 2: Release Wiring Connections
Locate the wiring terminals connecting bundled wire leads to individual heating element loops.
Note: There are usually 2-6 connection points depending on the heating element style.
Use needle nose pliers to grip and rock each terminal block loose without damaging wires. Twisting the terminal blocks counterclockwise releases their grip so you can detach them fully.
Keep detached terminals with the respective wiring grouped together to remember connection positions for reassembly.
Step 3: Extract Old Heating Element
Now fully disconnected, you can remove the old heating element.
Slide the water heater element wrench opening over the circular element casing down at the base. The notches allow it to firmly grip past the ridge.
Turn the wrench counterclockwise to loosen the threaded element while holding the kettle base in place. Once sufficiently loosened, unthread it fully by hand and pull it out.
Be careful not to bend or apply too much sideways force on the heating element. The metal is fairly fragile. Reaching down with needle nose pliers can help extract it.
Step 4: Install New Heating Element
After removing the old unit, it’s time to install your new replacement heating element.
- Check specs – Verify voltage and wattage match the original exactly
- Cleaning threads – Wipe down the metal threaded opening to ensure no dust debris
- Apply sealant – Put a thin ring of non-toxic plumber’s pipe thread sealant around top threads
With prep complete, you can insert the new element down into the threaded socket sealant side first.
Turn clockwise with the wrench firmly to tighten fully into the socket hole. Some pressure and rotating back and forth beds it solidly into place.
Visually check the top is flush with the opening when fully seated. Give it a quarter turn with the wrench to finish. Remove any excess sealant squeezed out around the edges.
Step 5: Reconnect Wiring Terminals
With the physical element replacement complete, reconnect all the wiring leads.
Group the detached wiring terminals to the matching element loop positions based on your initial removal (coil loops can differ subtly between replacement elements).
Press the open brackets firmly around each contact point, squeezing with pliers until the connection feels snug.
Double-check check no stray wire strands escaped out of the properly realigned terminal blocks.
Step 6: Reassemble Kettle
All internal repair work is now finished. You can reassemble the exterior kettle housing.
First, tuck all wires neatly back up into the kettle base without pinching any stray strands in the plastic.
Align the top and bottom cover pieces and press firmly together so that the locking tabs click on all sides.
Insert exterior screws and tighten them down fully with a screwdriver to reinforce the housing.
Do a quick final inspection by looking over the various components and ensure no tools or out of place parts remain inside.
Assuming everything appears correctly reassembled, you are ready for the last step!
Step 7: Test Heating Function
With assembly complete, it’s time to test out your newly replaced heating element.
Fill the kettle with the maximum capacity of water. Temporarily setting it in a sink helps contain any odd leaks that may occur if the sealant needs to be fully set.
Plug the kettle into an outlet, being careful to keep your hands and any loose clothing well clear of the water-filled container.
Turn on the power and check if the indicator light comes on. Allow 5-10 minutes for the maximum amount of water to reach boiling temperature.
Listen closely for any buzzing, popping, or rattling sounds that may indicate loose wiring connections or element contact issues inside.
Once heating completes, do a final check for any dripping from the handles or bottom indicating an improperly sealed threading joint. Let fully cool and carefully pour out water to inspect if any interior condensation leaks around the element.
With successful boiling and no leaks, you now have a functioning electric kettle once again! Give yourself a pat on the back for this DIY repair job.
Also Read: A Complete Guide to Cleaning Electric Kettle: Tips and Techniques
Conclusion
Fixing small household appliances yourself saves money while reducing waste and environmental impact. Replacing an electric kettle heating element is a reasonably straightforward project anyone can complete with some caution, guidance and persistence.
The most important aspect is following essential safety precautions when handling electrical components and hot surfaces. Ensure no power connections until fully reassembled and keep your workspace dry. Investing a few dollars in basic insulation protection goes a long way for peace of mind.
Gather the necessary tools outlined above and set aside adequate table area beforehand. Expect replacing the actual heating element to be easier than disconnecting all wire terminals. Taking photos of connections before disassembling helps greatly for correct reassembly.
With some patience going step-by-step, the repair takes 30-60 minutes start to finish. Now you’ll once again enjoy hot beverages on demand! When the next heating element eventually fails, you can repeat the installation process quickly.