Best Kettle For Hard Water 2024

Hard water is very common in the UK, over half the country is affected by hard water. Because it is such a nationwide problem, the tech guys at many electrical manufacturers have worked hard to find ways, not to beat hard water, but to get around it. This is a bonus for those of us living in hard water areas because drinking tea made with hard water isn’t a very pleasant experience.

Best Selling Hard Water Kettle UK

What Is Hard Water?

Rainwater is naturally soft water, in other words, if you collected the water that fell from the sky during a rain shower and tested it, that would be classified as soft water. What happens to the water after it falls from the sky determines the hardness of the water. As the water passes through porous rocks on the ground, like limestone, chalk etc, the water collects minute particles from those rocks.

How many particles determines how hard the water is. General hardness guidelines classify water by how many particles of calcium carbonate per litre of water. The range looks like this:

• Soft water
  Water with between 0 to 60- milligrams of calcium carbonate per litre (mg/l)
• Moderately hard water
  Has between 61 to 120 mg/l
• Hard water
  Contains 121 to 180 mg/l
• Very hard water
  Anything above 180 mg/l

Hard water eventually clogs up pipework just like cholesterol clogs arteries. Hard water is harsh on clothing too, clothes washed in hard water wear out faster than clothes washed in soft water. One of the solutions is to install expensive water softener systems, but these not only cost a lot of money, but the chemicals used to soften the water can cause damage to pipes.

How Does Hard Water Affect Kettles?

There’s nothing wrong with drinking hard water, in fact, hard water is considered healthier by many health authorities. This is due to the high mineral content of the water, but it’s those same minerals that cause problems with our kettles. Once the water containing the calcium carbonate is boiled, it activates those minerals.

As the water left in the kettle cools down, the steam returns to water and the minerals stick to any metal surface, surfaces like the heating element, or the bottom of the kettle.

How Do Kettles Designed For Hard Water Work?

All electric kettles work in a similar way, the water is heated via a heating element that automatically cuts out once boiling is achieved. The first thing to do to help reduce limescale build-up is, remove the coiled element inside the body of the kettle. This is the first place limescale adheres too so to counteract that the designers put the heating element underneath the body of the kettle.

Filter Kettles For Hard Water – Limescale Removal

This type of kettle has a filter unit situated at the top of the kettle, as you open the lid to fill the kettle you will see the filter. Just allow the tap water to filter through the filter, this extracts any impurities in the water and allows you to effectively boil soft water in the kettle. Many can be switched on to boil even before the water has fully filtered through. The main drawback to these types of kettle is the filters need replacing regularly, and they can be a bit on the pricey side.

Mesh Filter Kettles For Removing Limescale

This type of filter is usually placed in the spout of the kettle and removes limescale as you pour the boiled water from the kettle. These work well and once the filter is full it can be removed, washed and replaced. 

What Are The Advantages Of Kettles Designed For Hard water? 

The advantages of using a kettle designed for hard water, are many let’s look at a few of the main advantages:

• No scum on the drinks
  It can be quite off-putting to see scum floating on the top of your cup of tea, using a kettle with a hard water filtration system eliminates the cause of the scum.
• Cheaper electricity bills
  As limescale deposits build-up on either the heating element or the bottom of the kettle, it takes the kettle longer to reach boiling point. That uses more power which in turn, costs more money.
• They last longer
  Clean heating elements or no limescale build-up in the bottom of the kettle allows for faster boiling times. This means the kettle is working for less time, which means it won’t pack up so soon.
• Hot drinks taste better
  Limescale deposits leave a taste behind that’s evident in the drink. No limescale – no dodgy tasting tea.

What Are The Disadvantages Of Kettles For Hard Water Use?

There are a few disadvantages to kettles that deal with hard water, the main one, filters. The filters will need replacing at regular intervals usually around every 4 weeks (sooner if used more than average) and with 6 filters costing around £20, that’s an extra £40 a year on average.

 Plus, you have to actually change them, physically, although most models have warning lights to remind you when it’s time to change the filter. Also, the filters are (in most cases) made from plastic, some people don’t like to use plastics at all, so this should be factored into any decision.

Hard Water Kettle Buyers Guide

If you’re sold on the idea of a new kettle and you live in a hard water area, it probably makes sense to go for one that’s designed for use with hard water. Points to look out for include:

Kettle Handles

Some kettles designed for use with hard water have handles that are awkward to hold. Look for ergonomic handles that are easy to grip, remember a full kettle of water weighs around 2 kg so it needs to feel comfortable to hold and pour safely.

Replaceable Filters

If you decide on a kettle with an internal water filter, consider how much the filters cost to replace, how easy they are to obtain, what they are made from and how often they need replacing. 

Kettle Design

Some hard water kettles look exactly like standard kettles, others look like glass jugs with lids. Consider which type will look best in your kitchen. Also the colour of the kettle, hard water kettles come in a range of colours to suit your style and choice.

Noise Level

All kettles make a noise when boiling, but some are louder than others. It’s worth considering where your kitchen is situated in your home. If, for instance, your kitchen is near to a bedroom and you fancy a midnight cuppa, will the kettle be waking anyone else up?

Corded Or Cordless?

Most modern electric kettles are cordless, but it’s worth checking before you buy. Cordless kettles are much safer than corded as there is less chance of pulling a cordless kettle off the counter by accident. 

Heating Element

To help prevent limescale building up, it’s best to have a kettle that doesn’t have a coil heating element inside the kettle. The best elements for hard water kettles are situated in the base of the kettle, not inside the kettle.

Kettle Capacity

Most kettles seem to have a capacity of 1.7 litres, which is usually more than enough for the average home. But always check as some models only hold 1 litre, others 1.5 litres and so on. It’s best to check before you buy to avoid disappointment.

Does It Have A Water Gauge?

Although not necessarily essential, a water gauge allows you to only boil the amount of water you need. This will save you time, energy and money. Is the gauge in an easy to see position? Is it easy to see the markings?

Kettle Spout

This feature is often overlooked, but the spout is probably the most important part of any kettle. The shape and design of the spout will determine how water leaves the kettle once you pour. Is it a controlled flow, or does it splutter and spill?  Can you refill the kettle through the spout, or do you have to remove the lid every time you refill the kettle?

Kettle Base

Some electric cordless kettles have a swivel base that allows you to place the kettle in any position, face either way and it’ll still boil. Is that a function that will be useful to you?

Boil Speed

The speed at which the water boils can make a huge difference to your day. That first cup of tea in the morning can always be appreciated better with more time. But waiting for the kettle to boil could be the difference between catching the train or not.

Hard Water Kettle Price 

Standard electric kettles start at around £9 or £10 pound for a cheap and cheerful model. Hard water kettles tend to start at around £26, but they can rise up to as much as £350 for designer models. The average price for a decent hard water filter kettle is around £35 to £45.

Is The Kettle Safe?

This used to be a major concern a few years back, but nowadays, as long as you buy from a reputable retailer and from a well-known brand, it will automatically have been tested to British safety standards.

Brand Name

We always recommend buying house-hold brands on electrical appliances. Well-known companies have more experience within the industry and have usually been making appliances for many years. Added to this, if anything does go wrong with your product they will usually have a helpful customer service department.

Warranty

Even though you’re not spending the earth on your kettle, it’s reassuring to know it has a warranty. However, any warranty is only as good as the company that issues it, that’s why we recommend well-known manufacturers and retailers.

Frequently Asked Questions