Electric kettles boil water significantly faster in Europe and the UK because the electrical grid operates at a higher voltage. Most European homes use 220–240 volts, while homes in the United States and Canada operate on 110–120 volts. In the UK, a typical electric kettle is rated at 3,000 watts (3kW), which allows it to heat a liter of water from room temperature to boiling in about 120 seconds. In the U.S., the lower voltage limits most household circuits to about 1,500 watts; if a kettle drew the same current as its European cousin, it would trip the circuit breaker. Consequently, a U.S. electric kettle takes nearly twice as long—over 4 minutes—to boil the same amount of water. This dramatic difference in efficiency is why electric kettles are a ubiquitous kitchen staple in every European home, whereas many Americans still prefer to use a stovetop kettle on a gas range or even a microwave to heat water for tea, as the electric versions sold in North America often feel painfully slow by comparison.