Which? has warned that this common household appliance is a major energy drain
Brits are being cautioned that an item present in virtually every kitchen throughout the UK could be silently inflating energy bills, especially during colder weather. This common appliance has recently been identified as one of the most significant energy drains in a warning issued by consumer champion Which?.
Whilst boiling the kettle might appear innocent enough, those regular cups of tea throughout the day can stealthily add pounds to your monthly energy bill. It secured its position near the top of the list alongside other ‘vampire’ appliances, including washing machines, tumble dryers, irons and vacuum cleaners.
The graphic, shared online, revealed the watts (W) of electricity consumed within a single hour. A standard kettle can take up to five minutes to bring a ‘full’ tank of water to the boil (typically around 1.5 litres for most models) and consumes roughly 3,000W on average, reports the Mirror.
In an Instagram post, the consumer watchdog group stated: “Ever wondered how much power your appliances use? Here’s a quick breakdown. From phone chargers (12W) to kettles (3,000W), knowing the watts can help you save energy and reduce bills.”
Experts issued an additional warning for households to be cautious and “not to exceed 3,000W from one socket”. This power surge can lead to overloading, which can cause plugs to overheat and could potentially spark a fire, reports the Daily Star.
Why do kettles consume so much power?
Kettles are engineered to boil water swiftly, necessitating a high-powered heating element that rapidly imparts significant energy into the water. This potent power is crucial for speed, as it directly converts electricity into heat via a robust element.
Some energy inevitably escapes during the process as steam or heat from the kettle, leading to brief but notable surges in power usage.
A report by Which? from November 2025 estimates that the average annual cost of boiling a kettle in the UK is approximately £39.
This figure presumes that individuals boil a litre of water twice daily and fill up to the minimum line three times per day. While usage varies between households, most could potentially save money by only boiling the amount of water needed for each round of hot drinks.
A simple trick is to fill your mugs with water and pour them into the kettle for precise measurements, bearing in mind that some water may evaporate during the boiling process. Regularly descaling your kettle is another handy tip to preserve the efficiency of the heating element over time.
Is it worth investing in an energy-efficient kettle?
Electrical retailer Currys suggests that energy-efficient kettles can use up to 20 percent less energy per boil. These devices typically consume a similar amount of power as ‘standard’ kettles, given their function.
Certain models boast energy-saving features like rapid boiling, which operates for a shorter duration and often offsets the high power demand. Some might have ‘keep warm’ functions to reduce the frequency or duration of kettle reboiling.
Currys stated in an online post: “If you have several hot drinks a day, you might end up heating the same water several times – which can be a real waste. So, power-saving kettles take the idea of thermos flasks – keeping liquid hot once it’s boiled, sometimes for hours. That way, you don’t need to keep heating up the water once it’s already hot.”