Fixing a Dualit kettle - not switching off

[Pip1968]

I am hoping this is the right section - unless Homes and DiY?

I have a Dualit kettle and it is not switiching off when the water boils. I am unsure whether hard water has blocked somwthing that allows the transferrence of heat to the metal strip/switch that is supposed to trigger the power off. Failing that, is it just a case of bending the metal strip/sensor or just replacing the thin metal strip with a new one?

Yes, I could return it to Dualit but was interested in sorting it myself.

Has anyone done a self fix on something like this? I am sure it is a slim chance to find someone who has as well someone who post on PH but here is trying.

Pip

[ladderino]

Could try descaling and see if that works - if I remember correctly, I think there's a steam tube on Dualit kettles which can blocked with scale.

Ours went the other way - it failed just after it went out of warranty and wouldn't switch on. Apparently this is quite common - ours went in the bin.

[WyrleyD]

ladderino said:

Could try descaling and see if that works - if I remember correctly, I think there's a steam tube on Dualit kettles which can blocked with scale.

Ours went the other way - it failed just after it went out of warranty and wouldn't switch on. Apparently this is quite common - ours went in the bin.

Same here, failed with the exact same fault just after warranty expired so binned it and won't buy another.

[bristolracer]

WyrleyD said:

Same here, failed with the exact same fault just after warranty expired so binned it and won't buy another.

Amazing how many companies who used to trade on a reputation of quality and longevity have binned it in a race to the bottom.
It will within a few years become fashionable and necessary to have consumer goods that will last and be repairable/upgradeable, the days of landfill and endless use of plastics are numbered, these companies that have these reputations have a head start and are missing a marketing opportunity.

[andy_s]

The guy behind the thermostats used in most kettles is quite interesting, John Taylor - he was on BBC R4 a few months ago on The Life Scientific - "Today, Strix employs 1000 people, holds over 600 patents, and turns over more than £100 million per year. Strix controls are incorporated into electric kettles from many leading manufacturers, and it is estimated that they are used over one billion times per day worldwide, by over 20% of the world's population.[4] " [Wiki]

[tortoys]

My Dualit kettle won't stay on, i'm certain the switch is worn out. I bought a replacement U1876 switch on ebay, but it is not quite the right "long" version for my 13A kettle. All the ones on ebay appear to be the same shorter 8A version.

https://strix.com/component/u18-series/

I contacted Strix sales to ask for a spares distributor, and they said they only supply OEM's, because of the the safety issues around making repairs and their insurers, a cynic might say they are in league with the manufacturers.......and I thought there was an EU directive about sustainability and repairability.....

Thanks for the link to the life scientific, I'm going to look that up!