Most kettles have this clearly visible on the exterior but some are more awkwardly placed, such as behind the handle. Kettles with large viewing windows are best if you want to know exactly how much water is in the kettle at any time. A power element of 3kW is generally considered best for fast boiling and all of our top-scoring kettles have this wattage. For every millilitre of water you add to your kettle, an extra gram is added to its overall weight, meaning they can get quite heavy. If lifting may be an issue, look for a model that weighs no more than a kilogram when empty.

Take care not to charge laptops or mobile phones overnight and ensure you don't plug too many items into the same adaptor at any given time. CIE is one of the UK's leading and most innovative professional AV distributors and are widely accepted as the experts in commercial sound systems design and supply.There are two main types of kettle: jug and dome. Jug kettles are taller, tend to have handles located on the side and will generally hold a larger volume of water. There are finer details to think about too, which can make a real difference when you’re using your kettle day in, day out: A smart plug turns a traditional electrical outlet into a smart home system. You can use one to turn on lights with an app or your voice, or monitor the power consumption of appliances, such as a fridge. But doing proper research before you buy is essential if you're to avoid the issues we found. Given how regularly our kettles get used, it’s worth thinking about what features you want and those that you can pass by. Here are the key things you need to consider.

Dome-shaped kettles look more like traditional stovetop models. Electric dome kettles often have lift-off lids, which can be a bit more fiddly than flip-top models to use, and these kettles usually have a smaller water capacity. Their handles are often located on top, too. Variable temperature kettles can heat the water to different temperatures to provide the best results when brewing different types of tea and coffee. It’s a handy feature if you like to drink more delicate herbal and green teas, which should be brewed below boiling, at around 80C. Be wary of cheap extension leads - they are almost always cheap for a reason. It's not worth the risk,' he said. A surge protector can absorb only so many surges before it stops functioning. Although it's practically impossible to tell exactly when this happens, the longer it's been used for the more at risk you are. If it's absorbed a serious power surge you should always replace it immediately.Direct lightning strikes can also produce huge surges from up to 2km away. Surges can be induced in cabling systems, even when there is no direct connection to the point of a lightning strike. Good smoke detectors warn you early when there's a real fire and give you time to escape - here are the best smoke alarms. The external casing of some kettles can get extremely hot. Often, those with a brushed stainless steel exterior reach hotter temperatures than other materials – not ideal if you have young children in the kitchen. Kettles with an auto shut-off feature will automatically stop when water begins to boil or if the kettle is lifted from its base. Most kettles have removable, washable anti-scale water filters that sit at the base of the spout. These collect pieces of limescale from the water to prevent them from being poured into your drink, and they stop scum forming on the surface, making them a must for hard water areas. We advise people to buy electronic goods from reputable retailers and to stop using them immediately if their chargers are showing any signs of heating or damage."