Kettle Leave ON or OFF

[in a mo]

WE have a Kettle only 2 weeks old that has a docking station (the lead is not atatched to the kettle) which we leave on the DS at all times, only needing to switch the kettle to boil .We have had a visit from the local Fire Brigade safety at home team ,who say that when not being used, the complete unit should be turned off at the plug ,as there is electricity running through at all times ,how many members knew this was the case ,or how many leave the kettle on at all times,please let me know as I will pass on the results to our local Fire Service,
As always Thank you.

[Wak]

We just use the switch on the kettle and leave the wall socket switched ON all the time.
The electricity runs TO the kettle but not THROUGH it, the same as it runs TO the wall socket but not THROUGH it until you actually switch the kettle ON.
The kettle base could be dangerous if the kettle was removed from the base and water was spilt on to the central connector of the base, OR, if a child started poking something metal into the central connector but you have to make your own decisions about the likelihood of those things happening and take the appropriate action.

If leaving the kettle on was at all dangerous then the manufacturers wouldn't be allowed to put a switch on the kettle in the first place.

The above is how I personally see this situation.
Hope this helps.

[redcrx]

Its fire service policy. They have to advise you to turn everything off at wall sockets and unplug if not in use.
They cant say its ok to leave things switched on at wall as these can cause fires in some circumstances.

I think we all know this is the case, but day to day no-one takes much notice.

I live with a fireman and i can tell you that even he doesnt turn everything off at wall unless we are going away.

[Meg888]

I have a similar kettle and when I'm at home I leave it switched on; however, when I go out or to bed - I switch everything in the house off by the plug apart from my fridge freezer. This is more down to my own phobia of faulty wiring / fires. But in saying this, my kettle also has a backlight when on standby - so I suppose switching it off saves money & energy - same as my washer, which is all jazzed up also when not in use but switched on at the wall.

[coccinelle]

Just to add to this thread; in France there aren't any switches next to plugs on the wall so this would mean we'd be continually pulling plugs in and out, after a while I'm sure this could weaken the plugs.

[bushbaby_de]

We must be anal, we switch the kettle off at the wall and only switch it on when we want to use it! Same with the toaster, coffee machine etc etc