An electric kettle is one of the most commonly used household appliances, and, as a rule, it is used intensively. Over time, such operation inevitably leads to breakdown of this equipment. However, there are different types of faults. Sometimes it is easier and cheaper to purchase new equipment than to try to repair a broken one. But in many cases, repairing electric kettles is justified, because... it can be produced quickly and without unnecessary costs. You can repair equipment at home, but to do this you need to have an idea of how to disassemble an electric kettle, what typical breakdowns occur with this equipment, and methods for eliminating these breakdowns.
For a small family, it is convenient to use electric kettles of small volume, less than one liter. Water boils faster in such kettles, and in addition, electricity is significantly saved.
Operating principle and electrical circuit of the electric kettle
Structurally, an electric kettle usually consists of a base (stand), to which electric current is supplied through an electrical cord, and a removable container in which water is heated. The removable part of the device contacts the base through contacts located on the outer part of the bottom. When the device is turned on, electric current is supplied to the so-called. a tubular electric heater (TEH), which heats the water. In general, the electric kettle circuit is quite simple, which makes repairing this equipment easier. Modern models are usually additionally equipped with overheating protection, an automatic shutdown system when water boils, and some other options, which will be discussed in more detail below.
Arrangement of electric kettle components
In addition to the power cord, heating element and switch, modern electric kettles are equipped with additional functions. This mainly includes protection against overheating, a function that automatically turns off the kettle when water boils, as well as an operation indicator located on the body of the kettle and internal lighting of the water container. Let's take a closer look at the features of these options.
Overheat protection system
It often happens that the kettle is forgotten about being turned on, the water in it boils away, while the heating element continues to intensively produce heat, which can lead to damage to the equipment and even a fire. This is possible if, after turning on, the lid of the electric kettle is not closed, as a result of which the automatic shutdown of the device does not work after the water boils. In this case, an overheating protection system is provided. Its basis is a temperature sensor, thanks to which when the structure heats up to a certain temperature, the electrical circuit of the device automatically opens and the kettle turns off.
There are two types of thermal protection systems. A simpler system ensures that the kettle turns off when it overheats, but after the device cools down, the electrical circuit closes again, the heating element begins to heat, the structure heats up and the sensor is triggered again. Such protection prevents the equipment from catching fire, but the kettle itself may break due to a burnt-out heating element. Another type of protection, when triggered, not only opens the electrical circuit, but also activates the switch, making it possible to turn on the equipment only manually after the protection is triggered.
Auto shut-off system when water boils
This auto shut-off system ensures that the equipment automatically turns off when the water boils. The operating principle is based on a jet of steam from boiling water hitting a temperature sensor, after which the kettle turns off. The temperature sensor itself is connected to a switch, which turns off the device. Typically, this system is located in the handle of the kettle, in the same place where the switch is located. There are models of electric kettles that can be turned on with the lid open. In this case, the auto shut-off system does not work. This problem is eliminated in models equipped with additional protection - they cannot be turned on if the kettle lid is not closed.
Indication and backlight
A glowing electric kettle operation indicator means that the device is connected to the network and is working, i.e. heats the water. This indicator is usually located on the body of the removable container or on the handle of the kettle. The light source is an LED or light bulb. In addition, some models are equipped with LED lighting that illuminates the water. Such lighting, in general, is a purely decorative element and as such looks quite impressive.
Principle of operation
To understand how to repair an electric kettle, you need to know its operating system. To heat the water, a special electrical device is built into the bottom. Depending on the manufacturer, its shape varies. For fastening, special bushings and metal screws are used, which are firmly fixed to a waterproof seal.
The shape of such protective elements is varied. This could be a washer, gasket, bushing. When this element breaks its seal, water begins to leak. To fix such a breakdown, you simply need to replace this component. They are sold in the store. To avoid mistakes, you will have to take the kettle with you or remove this element.
Before you repair an electric kettle, it is worth understanding the principle of operation. When water heats up, steam is formed - this is a natural process. It, in turn, exits through specially formed outlets. And in this process, the operating principle of the entire unit is important. Because if it approaches the biometric plate, then the toggle switch is automatically activated. The device turns off.
What's on the kettle:
- Indicator and button block. Thanks to this addition, you can know what the current water temperature is and create suitable working conditions.
- Unique water level sensor. It shows the level and is capable of transmitting data to the application.
- Two heaters. They are necessary for spot heating and full heating.
These are the features that every kettle has. Although today manufacturers, trying to occupy a larger part of the market, are coming up with other possibilities to make the operation of the unit more convenient. In addition, there is always a protective element. Its main task is to turn off the kettle when the water boils. It also triggers if, by mistake, the element was started without liquid. Thus, the manufacturer tries to protect users from accidents (for example, from fire of the device).
Statistics show that it is empty kettles that often end up being switched on. It was accidents that prompted manufacturers to create such additional conditions for the operation of the entire device. Therefore, modern kettles are considered to be completely safe.
The main causes of breakdown of electric kettles
Electric kettles have a relatively simple design and, as a rule, a long service life. However, this technique can also become unusable for various reasons. We list the main reasons why you may need to repair an electric kettle.
- The formation of too thick a layer of scale inside the electric kettle, as a result of which the heating element constantly overheats and quickly fails.
- Operation of equipment without water or after it has boiled away. If there is protection against overheating, then the kettle automatically turns off in this situation, but frequent activation of the protection leads to accelerated wear of the equipment.
- Gradual oxidation of contacts and breakage of electric kettle contacts. This usually happens after prolonged use of the equipment.
After completely draining the boiled water, you should not immediately fill the electric kettle with cold water. This can lead to cracking and breakage of various elements of this equipment.
Troubleshooting
To determine the cause of equipment malfunction, it is advisable to have an understanding of the design of an electric kettle and some skills in working with electrical measuring instruments. In particular, diagnostics may require disassembling the kettle and examining its individual elements. Let's consider the optimal order of actions when performing these operations.
Disassembling the electric kettle
Before disassembling the kettle, it is recommended to read the operating instructions. Some manufacturers provide descriptions of the procedure for disassembling the device - this significantly speeds up and facilitates the disassembly process. But most often there is no such description. Features of disassembly of different models, especially from different manufacturers, may differ significantly, but there are general recommendations for this process. Let's list them.
- To disassemble the device, you need to unscrew the fastening screws, first of all on the bottom of the kettle from the outside. Sometimes they are covered with plastic plugs. In this case, you will have to pry off the plugs and remove them using some pointed object.
- Most often, screws are used for a Phillips screwdriver, but sometimes manufacturers use screws for a special double-pronged screwdriver. If you don’t have such a screwdriver at hand, you can try to remove the screw with thin tweezers or side pliers.
- Often, parts of an electric kettle are fixed not only with screws, but also with latches. It is convenient to free yourself from such fasteners using a thin flat-head screwdriver. Please note that in some models, external elements are attached exclusively to latches.
Ringing elements
Using this procedure, it is determined whether the cause of the kettle breakdown is a broken electrical circuit, or whether another reason needs to be looked for. A tester (multimeter) operating in voltmeter mode is used as a working tool. The tester checks the power cord, contact groups and other elements available for testing. If it turns out that the electrical circuit is broken, you will have to disassemble the kettle with your own hands and continue identifying the internal elements (terminal blocks, heating element, power button contacts), and then either restore the integrity of the circuit or clean the junctions of the elements from oxide.
Checking the thermostat
A thermopot is a device with a thermostat, similar to an electric kettle, but capable of heating water to a certain temperature (up to boiling point) and maintaining this temperature as long as necessary. Another feature of the thermopot is that water is drained from the container using a built-in pump, which can be either mechanical or electric. The design of a thermopot is more complex than that of an electric kettle, but testing of this device is carried out according to the same principles. A thermostat is added to the number of elements being checked. The test begins by ringing the contacts located on the base (stand), while one probe of the tester is connected to the pin of the power cord plug, and the other touches the contacts in turn. Next, the remaining elements available for verification are called.
Kettle lid (do-it-yourself repair): 4 comments
Thanks for the idea. I cut it from a thin lid from a plastic food jar, it bends and does not need to be heated
Thank you. I somehow didn’t think about this option.
Thank you! Made it from foil in 5 minutes. - completely satisfied!
Electrical equipment today is in every home, because it allows a person to live in full conditions and save time. Such installations include electric kettles. They heat up water in a matter of minutes. But during operation, a variety of breakdowns occur.
Not everyone is ready to take such a device to a specialist, because it also needs to be found. But how to fix an electric kettle with your own hands? This is not a difficult process if a person knows how to hold a screwdriver. Before you start repairs, you need to understand what the main reasons are, as well as what breakdowns occur.
Please note that all equipment should always be handled carefully - this will increase its service life. It is better to purchase high-quality products from well-known manufacturers.
Typical faults
Only after determining the cause of the malfunction can you begin to resolve the issue of how to repair an electric kettle at home. There are a number of typical, frequently occurring malfunctions, such as problems with the heating element and with turning the device on and off, constant water leakage, etc. Let's consider all these malfunctions, as well as the reasons for their occurrence - this will simplify the repair of the electric kettle with your own hands.
Types of breakdowns
Damages may be the following:
- Leaks.
- The device does not turn on.
- The lid is broken.
These are the main problems with which people come to the workshop. But you can restore the integrity of the entire unit with your own hands. To do this, you should take into account any available instructions and begin work. If you have no experience, you cannot skip more than one point, because we are talking about an electric unit. Statistics show that more than half of all people throw away a broken kettle, but you can always try to restore the device.
The electric kettle does not turn off automatically
This malfunction is expressed in the fact that the boiling water field does not automatically turn off the electric kettle. This can happen if the kettle lid is not closed or is not closed tightly. But if the device does not turn off when the lid is normally closed, then there may be two reasons for the automatic shutdown system not working:
- scale or some foreign object has blocked the hole through which steam flows to the temperature sensor;
- The auto shut-off system has failed, and it needs to be checked visually, for which you will have to disassemble the kettle.
The device does not turn on
The user may encounter a situation where the electric kettle stops turning on. Common causes of this malfunction are as follows:
- the power cord is faulty; to verify this, you need to ring it with a tester;
- contacts on the stand are oxidized or burnt out - this malfunction is determined visually;
- the switch has become unusable - to identify this malfunction you will have to disassemble the kettle.
Electric kettles with a boiler function are convenient to use - they can heat water to a user-specified temperature and automatically maintain it in this state for a long time.
Heating element burnout
One of the most common malfunctions is the failure of the heating element. If this element is a disk type, i.e. is integral with the bottom of the container, it cannot be replaced due to design features. In this case, you will not have to solve the question of how to fix the kettle, but buy a new electrical appliance. If the heating element is installed openly above the bottom of the kettle, then it can be replaced. However, designs with an open heating element are rare.
Slow heating of liquid
Often, after using an electric kettle for a long time, it begins to heat the water too slowly. As a rule, the cause is the appearance of a thick layer of scale on the heating element. As a result, the heating element heats up this scale more than the water. This situation is also unpleasant because it leads to accelerated burnout of contacts, as well as failure of the heating element of the electric kettle.
The device turns off prematurely
Another typical malfunction is the automatic shutdown of the device when the water in it has not yet boiled. This problem is also associated with excessive scale accumulation in the container. In this case, the heating element mainly heats the accumulated scale, and not the water, and at the same time it itself becomes very hot. In such a situation, overheating protection is triggered and the electric kettle automatically turns off before it has time to boil water.
Water leak
One of the fairly common reasons for repairing an electric kettle, especially budget models from little-known manufacturers, is the constant leakage of water from the separated container. The cause of the problem may be poor-quality assembly of the device, as well as severe wear of the seals (or a poor-quality seal). In any case, to identify and eliminate the cause of the leak, you will have to disassemble the leaking device. Sometimes a leak occurs due to a crack in the plastic or glass housing. In this case, if the crack is small, the leak is eliminated using sealant.
The button does not hold, the tool turns off
In the following video, while the grinder is working with the same Makita model as in the previous video, the button is triggered by increased vibration and the grinder turns off . The correction method used is extremely simple; even the grinder does not need to be disassembled. A sharp utility knife is sufficient.
The idea is that during operation, plastic growths form on the latch groove due to friction against the “tendril” of the button, which prevent it from being pressed tightly against the surface of the latch groove. By carefully cutting them off with a utility knife, you bring the grinder to the desired state, and it no longer turns off during operation. Here it is important to remove the build-up; the slightest careless movement will lead to a damaged seating surface and additional costs for repairing the switch.
How to repair an electric kettle yourself
After determining the cause of the breakdown, you can begin to solve the problem of how to repair the kettle. It was stated above that not all faults can be repaired. However, most problems can be fixed at home, although most likely you will need to disassemble the equipment. Let's consider typical repair operations that are most often required to restore the functionality of household appliances of this type.
The electric kettle does not heat water, the indicator is on
Such a malfunction may occur due to a lack of contact between the heating element’s terminals and the terminals or due to a malfunction of the heating element itself. In the second case, the malfunction is usually irreparable, so you will have to purchase a new kettle. If the device does not work due to lack of contact, then it can be repaired. After disassembling the electric kettle, it becomes clear whether the burnt-out terminal needs to be replaced or whether you can limit yourself to cleaning it from carbon deposits and oxide. As for the output of the heating element, as a rule, after removing the burnt-out section, the remaining part is quite enough to connect to the terminal.
Restoring contact in terminals
If the terminal is burnt out, it cannot be restored; it must be replaced. For replacement, you can use either a new terminal or a used element that has not lost its functionality. If a used terminal is used, it must first be freed from old wiring. Next you will need to press the wire into the terminal. To do this, the wire, stripped of insulation, is inserted into the tail part of the terminal and crimped with pliers, after which the restored contact can be used for its intended purpose.
Restoration of welded contacts
Some manufacturers connect the leads of the heating element to the wire using spot welding to ensure contact. In this case, a special ribbon wire is used. If the welding is not of sufficient quality, over time the wires simply fall away from the terminals and the contact is broken. To eliminate this problem, it is recommended to wrap a ribbon wire around the terminal (one turn is enough) and, for reliability, secure the connection with strips and screws.
When repairing an electric kettle, you must adhere to safety regulations, in particular, do not forget to unplug the power cord from the outlet. If any actions are performed while the power is connected, you need to act carefully and do not touch the bare contacts with your skin.
The electric kettle does not heat water, the indicator does not light up
In this case, first of all, it is necessary to check the serviceability of the power cord - this is a common cause of such a malfunction. The problem may be a broken cord or a loose connection in the cord plug. It is not always advisable to eliminate such a malfunction. In extreme cases, you can completely change the cord. However, not only the power cord can be problematic, but also the contacts at the base of the parting or the power button. Ways to resolve such problems are discussed below.
Repair of the contact group of the stand
Electrical contact between the removable part of the electric kettle and its base is made through contact groups located in the center of the base and, accordingly, in the center of the bottom of the detachable container. A characteristic sign that not everything is in order with the contact is the situation when, in order to turn on the kettle, you have to turn it on the base until contact appears. To repair the device, you first need to inspect the contact groups. It often happens that they are simply oxidized, and repair in this case will consist of cleaning the contacts from oxides. To access the contact groups, you will have to disassemble the kettle.
It happens that contacts burn out and need to be replaced. This can be a problem because... It is difficult to buy such parts separately. In this case, you can use any suitable contact plate, for example, taken from a relay or old household appliances. In this case, you will probably need to give it the shape and size of the burnt plate.
Repairing the electric kettle switch button
The electric kettle button is a mechanical part of the switch. Breakage of the button can be expressed in its failure into the handle or body (depending on placement), which is usually caused by the breaking off of the axis of this element. The cause is reliably established after disassembling the equipment. It is often possible to repair a button using available tools. For example, replace a broken plastic element with a piece made of metal wire. To securely fix the new part, it is recommended to fuse it into the button using a soldering iron.
Electric kettle switch repair
The electromechanical part of the electric kettle switch may fail due to oxidation or burnout of the contacts, as well as wear of some parts. Again, to establish the exact cause of the breakdown, you will need to disassemble the equipment and remove the switch. Oxidized switch contacts are cleaned, burnt contacts are replaced with new ones. Weakened springs that fix the position of the switch can be replaced with new parts or straightened a little - this will return them to the required elasticity.
How to fix a water leak from an electric kettle
As mentioned above, leaks can occur at the junction of the bottom of the container, as well as due to cracks in the body. If a leak occurs at the joints, you will need to disassemble the kettle to determine the location of the leak and eliminate it. The bottom of the removable container is disconnected. Then you will have to replace the worn out seal or use silicone sealant to seal the joint. For such an operation, you can use a special sealant that is harmless to food, but in principle, a regular sealant will do. After sealing the joint, it is recommended to boil water in a kettle at least once and drain it completely.
As for cracks in the body, it is often impractical to seal them, because sealed large cracks soon begin to leak again. The same silicone sealant is used for sealing. After this procedure, you also need to boil water in a kettle and drain it.
The power button does not lock
Frequently pressing the button with force leads to wear on the contacting surfaces, and the button no longer locks. This defect is one of the most common that occurs during the operation of grinders.
In the following video, the Makita model grinder does not have the button locked in the required position . After disassembly, the worn surfaces on the button and the fixing groove on the body of the angle grinder are clearly visible. Repairs are made in two ways.
Replacing the worn button with a new one
Here you should remove the radius of curvature on the fixing groove and align the landing plane under the button. In this case, the processing is carried out very carefully with minimal removal of plastic material. The properties of plastic, as a fragile soft material, make it possible to select a machining mode with low tool speeds, which allows you to regulate its optimal feed when eliminating surface defects.
With worn button fix
The author is right that it is not always possible to find a new button to replace a worn one. The button restoration method is relevant, especially for craftsmen working outside the scope of specialized retail outlets. Important: clean the seating surface of the button with a file no more than a few tenths of a millimeter, and just level the contact surface of the “tendril” of the button without removing excess material.
These methods are one-time in nature; the next such breakdown may lead to the replacement of parts with new ones.
How to clean an electric kettle from rust
Often, tap water, although outwardly transparent, is saturated with particles of iron oxides, simply put, rust. Over time, rust in the form of sediment begins to accumulate inside the kettle. Outwardly, it looks like the appearance of a reddish coating. Removing plaque is quite simple. To do this, just pour the maximum allowable amount of water into the kettle and add a standard sachet of citric acid. Then you need to boil this water, drain it and rinse the kettle with clean water.
The body of the electric kettle can be made of metal, glass, porcelain or earthenware, as well as heat-resistant plastic. The most common are plastic models.
For what kind of breakdowns can you return an electric kettle under warranty?
If a faulty electric kettle is under warranty service, it is advisable not to try to repair it yourself, but to take it to a service center for free warranty repairs or for exchange for a similar product. This action is possible in case of the following malfunctions:
- failure of the heating element during normal operation of the equipment;
- the appearance of leaks due to depressurization of joints;
- repeated breakdowns of the same components;
- occurrence of fatal faults.
In the event that a breakdown occurs after the warranty period has expired, you can contact the service center to have it fixed for a fee, or you can try to deal with the problem yourself. In many cases, you can repair your electric kettle at home using available tools.
How does an angle grinder work?
The design of the grinder consists of the following main parts: electrical and mechanical . In the mechanical component of the angle grinder, the main character is a bevel gearbox , which reduces the speed to an acceptable value. In an electric the commutator motor determines the operation of the angle grinder, where power is transferred to it using a special switch. Of course, its failure interrupts the supply of electrical energy from the network.
