BLACK+DECKER KE1555GY: problems, parts and running costs

Checked: 2026-10-30

Summary

The KE1555GY is a 1500-watt, 1.7-liter boil-only kettle whose most reported annoyance is the awkward-to-clean plastic interior, with one verified owner calling the interior very difficult to clean and the materials poor. There are no filter cartridges and no subscription, so the yearly running cost is electricity only: roughly $13.60 a year at $0.20/kWh for one full 1.7-liter boil a day, computed at an assumed 85% heating efficiency. It is a good buy at $20–$25, reasonable at $26–$30 if you want the two-sided illuminated level windows, and weak value at $43 against glass or stainless kettles at $27.99 and $34.99.

Common problems and fixes

Hard-to-clean interior — one verified Walmart Business purchaser found the interior very difficult to clean and felt the materials were poor. The jug is not dishwasher safe: only the detached mesh filter may go in a dishwasher utensil holder, while the jug must be rinsed and wiped by hand. The fixed interior geometry and inner red cup tabs make scrubbing awkward. The two-year limited warranty does not cover routine cleaning difficulty. [2][4]
Mineral scale slowing boiling — the manual states that mineral deposits can eventually make the kettle heat without reaching a boil. Descale with white vinegar by boiling four cups of water, adding two cups of vinegar, standing at least one hour or overnight, discarding, then boiling and discarding a full jug of water twice. Poor boiling performance is often a descaling job rather than a failed thermostat, and no model-specific thermostat failure rate has been published. [2]
Plastic body and inner water-contact parts — the jug body, handle, lid and inner red water-level tabs are plastic, with a stainless steel heating plate. Buyers who need an all-metal water path should pick another design; the exact internal polymer type and any migration testing for this model have not been verified. Warranty coverage of materials is not documented. [1][2]
Heavy and awkward when full — 1.7 liters of water weighs about 1.7kg/3.75lb on top of the quoted 1.85lb empty weight, and the manual advises gripping the handle and pouring slowly when full. One verified owner said the unit felt less substantial than other kettles; another liked the lightness. These are handling opinions, not defects. [1][2][3]
Steam and scald risk, plus cutout failure — automatic shutoff and boil-dry protection do not remove burn or fire risk; opening the lid while heating can cause burns, and filling above the maximum mark is prohibited. If the switch fails to cut off, the base leaks or arcs, or the plug is damaged, stop using the kettle and request service through the warranty channel rather than bypassing the switch. [2]

Parts and consumables

Yearly running cost

Subscription and mandatory filter cartridges cost $0 a year; the mesh filter is washable and scale is handled with household vinegar. Heating 1.7kg of water from 20°C to 100°C needs at least about 0.158 kWh of heat, so at an assumed 85% heating efficiency a full boil draws roughly 0.186 kWh — about 68 kWh a year for one full boil daily, or about $13.60 a year at $0.20 per kWh. Boiling one liter once a day comes to roughly 40 kWh a year, about $8 a year at the same rate. The 85% efficiency is an assumption, not a measurement of this model, and starting water temperature, load size, scale, altitude and tariff change the result. Descaling vinegar is a small variable cost with no verified typical annual spend. [2][6]

When it is a good buy

The kettle lists at $42.99 on the BLACK+DECKER appliance site, at Walmart and at Target Plus (October 2026), with the Walmart listing sold by Spectrum Brands HPC and fulfilled by Walmart, and the Target Plus listing sold and shipped by Spectrum Brands. Above $43 it is weak value for boil-only use unless you specifically want the lightweight plastic jug and the longer published two-year warranty. Alternatives: the Chefman Fast-Boil 1.8L RJ11-18-PL glass kettle at $27.99 on the Chefman site (October 2026), better for easy lid-open cleaning, a transparent water chamber and lower price, but heavier glass and only a one-year assurance; the Chefman 1.8L RJ11-18-AM glass/stainless kettle at $34.99 on the Chefman site (October 2026), better when a light plastic shell is undesirable; and the BLACK+DECKER KE1700SD stainless-exterior 1.7L kettle at $34.99 at Walmart (October 2026), better for a metal look for less money. [1][3][5][9][10][11] [1][3][5][9][10][11]