Why does my kettle leave a burnt smell or taste in the water?

A burnt smell or taste can come from residue, limescale, stale water or a heating fault. Because these kettles include automatic shut-off and boil-dry protection, the appliance should not produce a burnt taste during normal use.

1. Empty the kettle and rinse it with fresh water. Expected result: stale water or loose residue should be removed. If the smell remains, continue.
2. Descale the inside carefully, then rinse several times. Expected result: the smell or taste should reduce if limescale was the cause.
3. Check the kettle for scorch marks, discolouration or melted residue inside the body or around the spout. Expected result: there should be no signs of burning. If there are, stop using the kettle.
4. Boil a fresh fill and discard that water before making drinks. Expected result: any lingering odour should lessen after cleaning. If it does not, continue with caution.
5. If the smell or taste is sharp, persistent or linked to overheating, stop using the product. Expected result: a safe kettle should heat water without creating a burnt odour.

If the problem continues after cleaning, or if the kettle looks damaged, stop using it and contact the retailer or store where it was purchased.