How to Choose the Best Water Dispenser for Your Home or Office

Water dispensers and coolers are a great addition to all homes and offices because they provide fresh water for all your beverage needs, whether you want to drink chilled water to cool down during the summertime or even hot water for soup and coffee during the colder months. However, there are many different features and options to choose from when deciding which water dispenser best suits your needs. Read this guide to learn how to choose the best water dispenser for your home or office.

Do you want hot or warm water?

Nowadays, the best water dispensers are built with two separate tanks to house the water at different temperatures. Most of the time, these stainless steel, rust-free water tanks house only hot and cold water. However, models like the Clover B7B serve warm, room-temperature water instead of hot water. This unique feature prevents any accidental scalding, making these units perfect for family areas where children are always present. However, a warm and cold water dispenser is only suitable for you if you want to keep a constant supply of ready-to-drink room-temperature water; if you want to be able to cook noodles and soups, you would be better off with a regular hot and cold water dispenser.

Choosing a countertop versus a freestanding water dispenser

After deciding which type of water your home or office needs, you may be faced with the decision of choosing between a freestanding water dispenser and a countertop water dispenser. Most people decide to stick with a freestanding water cooler when the unit is used for offices with many employees or homes with limited counter space. On the other hand, many have recently started switching to smaller countertop units to save space, especially in the kitchen. Countertop water dispensers usually measure about half the size of their freestanding counterparts, so you can easily place them on tables and desks as well! A common myth about countertop water dispensers says that these units actually take up more space because they use smaller water bottles, thus needing more frequent bottle changes. However, this is not true: most countertop water dispensers are able to use 2-, 3-, or 5-gallon water bottles, similar to the freestanding models.

One of the best water dispensers on the market: the Clover B9A-POU hot and cold countertop point of use water dispenser

The most important decision: bottled or bottleless?

Though many water dispensers use water bottles as a source of water, a relatively new option has since been introduced that helps you save money and provides you with cleaner water: bottleless water dispensers. These units, also called point-of-use water dispensers, connect directly to a pipeline for a constant flow of clean water to serve water immediately without the use of any plastic bottles. As a result, these water dispensers make sure you don't have to ever worry about running out of water again! Additionally, point-of-use water dispensers don't rely on plastic bottles, which can deteriorate over time and affect the taste and quality of the water you drink. Though bottleless water coolers may be a little more costly during the initial installation, they save you more money in the long run because they have no need for any plastic bottles.

What else would you like to find on your water dispenser?

Brands like NewAir, Clover, Avanti, Vitapur, and Greenway also offer other options and features with their water dispensers, including:

  • Ice maker: One of the best water dispensers on the market, the NewAir AI-400SB also delivers ice in only seven minutes and provides up to 28 pounds of ice per day!

  • Analog clock: Greenway water dispensers show you the current time at a glance.

  • LED night light: A few water dispensers offer a convenient LED light, making them perfect for nighttime use.

  • Cleaning reminder light: You'll know exactly when to clean your water dispenser when the cleaning reminder light turns on.

  • Adjustable cold water thermostat: You can easily adjust the temperature for a constant supply of perfectly chilled water.

Energy efficiency is also very important

No matter what appliance you're looking at, it's smart to find energy efficient models because they can save you a lot of money over the years and they're great for the environment! Thankfully, most - if not all - of these water dispensers are rated for energy efficiency from Energy Star. Moreover, some of the best water dispensers offer additional energy-saving qualities to save you more money. These features include: separate stainless steel water tanks, bottleless point-of-use technology, and self-closing faucets.

What about safety?

The most important feature when deciding which water dispenser to buy is always safety. For households or offices where children are constantly present, an important option that needs to be considered is a child safety hot water faucet lock. This safety feature protects curious hands from scalding and other dangers near 185° hot water.



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