After it's very first use, and it was for heating plain water only, the basket has large blackened (actually dark grey) areas and spatter patterns, and the floor of the urn around the spout is blackened. The unit did not go dry or make any strange sounds
Coffee Makers & Espresso... - West Bend - 33600 Coffee Maker
Answers & Comments
I read your question but I am slightly confused... I see that you use it to heat water only, I presume that it is for tea or hot choc. Since you say it is new... Have you always used the perkolator parts? This unit is not designed to work without these parts. There is a thermocouple that helps regulate the water temperature, If the perk parts (the basket and the rod placed correctly in the bottom heating element) there is a good chance that is causing a problem. Try 1/2 pot of water and the parts I mentioned in place (as if you were going to perk coffee) and try it again, I think it will heat correctly and give you satifactory results. As far as the "blackening" it maybe "Brillo'ed or SOS pads to clean unless you have the plastic basket, the metal parts can be scrubbed. I hope I have understood your question correctly. Good Luck!
Douglas