Food and Drink

Water Dispenser and Water Cooler Buyer’s Guide

If you're buying a water dispenser or water cooler then this article is a must-read. It will cover all of the things you should know when searching for and buying a water dispenser. This article will help you avoid common mistakes and make the best decision possible when buying a water cooler.
What is a water dispenser?

A water dispenser (also known as a water cooler) is a machine that dispenses cold, hot or room temperature water. In general there are two distinct categories of water dispensers: bottle-less water dispensers and bottled water dispensers. Bottle-less water dispensers are typically plumbed into an existing water line and then dispense the water with limited filtration involved in the process. Bottled water dispensers on the other hand take larger water bottles (typically 3 or 5 gallon bottles) and then dispense the water from these bottles. As consumers begin to seek the purest water available bottled water dispensers are becoming more prominent since the water in the bottles can be of higher quality than water filtered through a bottle-less water dispenser.

The new styles of bottled water dispensers are typically free-standing machines that take 3 or 5 gallon water bottles that are placed bottle neck down into the cooler. The water is then dispensed via pulling a spigot lever or pushing a button. The 3 or 5 gallon water bottles can either be purchased from a retail water store or more commonly brought to you by a bottled water delivery company in your area. Normally, the water bottles placed on top of the water dispenser are made from either plastic or glass.

Water dispensers are available in different colors and finishes such as white, black or stainless steel. These machines can vary in sizes which include counter-top models or the more popular floor models that are used in offices, job sites and homes throughout the world. Most models on the market today offer options to dispense hot and cold water in a controlled manner. The hot spigot normally dispenses water that is instantly hot and will allow the user to make tea or instant foods such as soup and oatmeal. These dispensers require an electrical source and can be plugged into most standard wall outlets. Excess water from the spigots will usually gather below in a small drip tray and need to be occasionally dumped.

What to look for in a water dispenser?

When looking for a water dispenser, there are certain desirable attributes to seek out. If you are buying or renting a water dispenser with hot water then you should definitely get a water cooler with a child safety spigot lever to prevent burns from an accidental or inadvertent pressing of the lever. In general it is best to get a water cooler that features spigots with levers for dispensing the water as coolers with push buttons tend to be of lesser quality and the buttons often become stuck in position.

It is also desirable to find a water dispenser that utilizes a spill free system which will puncture and interlock with a bottle that has a spill free cap on it. This will ensure that no water is spilled during the placement of the water bottle on the top of the dispenser. Water dispensers without a spill free system require the difficult task of flipping an open water bottle on the top of the cooler so that the water then pours into the cooler reservoir. This can be a messy process and water can spill all over the cooler and the surrounding area.

You should also seek a water dispenser that uses high quality tubing inside of the cooler. Oftentimes people will mistakenly purchase the cheapest cooler they can find only to then realize that the cheap tubing inside of the cooler makes the water they are drinking taste bad.

Where to get a water dispenser?

Water dispensers can be purchased at select retail stores such as home improvement or big box stores. Dispensers purchased at these types of stores can be of varying quality and there is normally a warranty of 30 days to 1 year depending on the store and manufacturer.

In most cases the best option for purchasing a water cooler or water dispenser is to go directly through a bottled water delivery company. Since these companies regularly deliver bottled water that is used on the dispensers they are more likely to carry high quality water coolers that are reliable. These companies do not want to provide dispensers that will break down and cause problems for their water delivery customers.

Another issue to strongly consider is the warranty on the water dispenser. Typically, just like a dispenser purchased in a retail store there will be some sort of warranty period offered by the dispenser manufacturer. However, some bottled water delivery companies will offer extended warranties for no additional charge for periods of up to 5 years. If you have a bottled water company in your area that offers an additional warranty at little to no extra cost then that is definitely the way to go. Finally, another option when dealing with a bottled water company is to simply rent a water dispenser from that company. This alternative will allow you to have a water dispenser but with none of the warranty concerns associated with a purchase.