You have probably seen one at the office or your friend’s house, but you have never thought of buying a water dispenser for your home. However, this appliance is a must-have for every kitchen and office. You might be surprised by how convenient and energy-efficient a water dispenser can be. Besides, water is an essential part of life. Why not make it easier for you to access it?
Types of Water Dispensers
Before you choose a water dispenser for your kitchen, you have to be familiar with the different types of this appliance first.
Top Loading Water Dispensers
Top loading water dispensers are the most common and probably what came up to your mind when you thought of water dispensers. It has a dispenser at the bottom, and the container for the water is the jug on top.
This type is affordable and straightforward to set up. However, because you’ll be loading the water jug on top, it can be a hassle to constantly lift up to 5 gallons for every refill. At the same time, you’ll need to allow space for the dispenser because of its height.
Bottom Loading Water Dispenser with Cooler
If you prefer a more modern-looking set-up like this, you should be looking at a bottom loading water dispenser. Because the water tank is not exposed, you’ll get a more aesthetically pleasing water dispenser. In fact, it’s easy to mistake that there is no water bottle involved because it is hidden in the bottom compartment.
Because of its design, you don’t have to manually lift a massive water jug when you need a refill. You’ll just slide it into the bottom compartment and let the pipes do the suction for you. There are also models with indicators, so you don’t have to peek inside the compartment if your jug is empty.
Inline Water Dispenser
If you don’t want a standalone model or you have no space in your home, you can get a dispenser connected to your main water line. This way, you’ll get a limitless amount of water directly from your faucet. You can choose to get both hot and cold temperatures and even filter your water, so you don’t need separate appliances. However, you need to get someone knowledgeable in plumbing for this type of water dispenser.
Why Get a Water Dispenser?
A great motivator to start using a water dispenser is that it helps lessen the negative impact on the environment. Imagine how much plastic water bottles are thrown in a household. You can even find Energy Star-certified water dispensers so you’ll get energy-efficient models for your home. Less impact on the environment and less impact on the budget as well.
At the same time, you’ll get consistent clean, and freshwater anytime. If you’re someone who found himself/herself using the water heater or kettle often throughout the day, you can benefit from this guide. How convenient would it be to get hot water on demand right from the sink? You can add a filter as well, so you can use the water for drinking safely. At the same time, you won’t need to risk scalds and burns from carrying and pouring a hot water container.
What to Consider When Buying a Water Dispenser
Ease of Use
If you opt to get a bottom loading water dispenser, you won’t have to worry about refilling the jug because you don’t have to lift a new one for the dispenser. An inline water dispenser, on the other hand, does not need any refilling because it is connected to your water line at home. You can choose from an array of faucets as well so you can get a generous clearance for tall pitchers and mugs.
Overall, if you don’t have someone who can do some heavy lifting at home, you’re better off with the two types we just mentioned. Another factor related to the convenience of a model is how easy it will be to maintain and clean.
Remember that any water reservoir requires regular cleaning to prevent the buildup of mold. And if you have hard water in your area, the tank can also accumulate mineral deposits over time, so you have to remove them regularly.
Models with a self-cleaning function might cost more than standard units. But in the long run, you’ll save more on a unit that is easy to maintain since it will take long before it needs a replacement.
Lastly, the set-up of the dispenser should be easy to understand. This way, you don’t risk damaging your dispenser from user failure. The buttons and controls should be intuitive, and you might also want a drip tray to catch the spills for quick clean-up.
Safety
As we have previously mentioned, you should consider a model designed well with a drip tray to catch spills. This way, you don’t have to worry about accidentally slipping on spilled water at the floor.
And if you’re getting a water dispenser with a hot temperature option, you should find a unit with a safety lock. If you have kids at home, they might accidentally turn on the hot water dispenser, so it’s best to stick to those with locks.
Since the dispenser will also heat the water, it’s best to get a model with safety features that will turn off the heating element when the water reaches the ideal temperature. Some models will turn off automatically or you can manually turn them off when you’re not at home.
Now, as for the water itself, it should be free from any contaminants. For starters, the water dispenser should be free from chemicals like BPA. BPA or Bisphenol A is a chemical commonly found in plastics and can contaminate the water. Therefore, be sure to check the materials of the dispenser beforehand.
You can also step up the cleanliness of your drinking water by buying a filtration system that you’ll connect to your dispenser. This way, you don’t have to worry about any parasites and chemicals in your water.
Size and Capacity
Bottom loading water dispensers are generally compact and require a smaller space than top-loading dispensers because the jug is at the bottom. Because of this, you can easily fit them in any area without having to consider a large space for the jug. But if you are truly limited with space, an inline dispenser is the clear winner. It will give you hot or cold or both temperatures of water directly from your tap.
Besides the space available in your home, the capacity of the dispenser itself will also depend on your intended use. How frequent and how much water do you consume per day? It’s less of a hassle to purchase a 5-gallon dispenser to lessen the need to refill.
The takeaway here is to measure the dimensions of the space available at home and your ideal water capacity.
Temperature
Lastly, the last feature to consider when buying a water dispenser is the temperature options it offers. Water dispensers are more energy-efficient as opposed to heating water every time you need hot water. You may also benefit from getting a limitless amount of cold water than buying and storing bottled water in the fridge.
You can find dispensers that only offer one temperature system. But ideally, you should get a unit that serves room temperature as well for your convenience. Check out what the users have to say on the effectiveness of a model’s cooling and heating systems to get a gist in their quality. And for those that serve hot water, be aware of its peak temperature for safety.