Water Dispensers Hot/Cold, Water Coolers, Culligan Ice Makers 2023

Water Dispensers Hot/Cold, Water Coolers, Culligan Ice Makers 2023

A water dispenser, also known as a water cooler or a water cooler dispenser, is a refrigerated unit that cools (or heats), filters and dispenses water for drinking. While you may more commonly find a water dispenser in a communal area like an office, more and more people are seeing the appeal of installing one in their own home. 

Water dispensers are more widely available for personal use than ever before. If you’re struggling to decide on what the best water cooler dispenser, jug dispenser, or bottleless dispenser is for you, this guide will help you to become more familiar with your options.

Best Water Cooler Dispenser

• Avalon A5 Self Cleaning Bottleless Water Cooler Dispenser
• Brio Self Cleaning Bottleless Water Cooler Dispenser
• Avalon Countertop Self Cleaning Touchless Bottleless Cooler Dispenser
• hOmeLabs Bottom Loading Water Dispenser
• Whirlpool Self Cleaning Bottom Load Water Cooler
• Primo Bottom Loading Water Dispenser
• Giantex Top Loading Water Cooler Dispenser
• Avalon A1 Top Loading Cooler Dispenser
• COSTWAY 2-in-1 Water Cooler Dispenser with Built-in Ice Maker

Giantex Top Loading Water Cooler Dispenser

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The Giantex is a traditional top-loading water cooler with a twist: it has a useful storage cabinet underneath the dispenser unit. Offering both hot (between 190°F and 203°F) and normal-temperature (between 42°F and 50°F) water, the Giantex is a more basic water cooling and dispensing option, with a functional, simple design that’s perfect for lower budgets. 

There are three lights on the Giantex that let you know the working status of the system – there’s a light for “hot”, a light for “power” and a light for “cold”. As a top-loading water cooler, the system requires that you turn a water bottle upside down and slot it in place on the machine’s water barrel set. This seat is detachable, making it easy to remove and clean. 

If you don’t want to cool or heat your water, there are a couple of switches at the back of the Giantex that let you turn off either the heating or the refrigerating feature, or both at once. There’s also a user-friendly safety lock on the hot water dispenser that you can activate to prevent little hands from scalding. 

The traditional and ergonomic design of the Giantex makes it a water cooler for all occasions – whether you’re looking for something for your home office, a meeting room, or your kitchen. Just don’t expect it to win any design competitions – it’s pretty basic in appearance.

Pros:

• Great value for money
• Basic and user-friendly

Cons:

• Doesn’t filter water
• Not the most modern design

COSTWAY 2-in-1 Water Cooler Dispenser with Built-in Ice Maker

See price on Amazon

The COSTWAY is a top-loading water cooler with a unique feature: a built-in ice maker for extra-cold beverages. The hot and cold dispensers are in the middle portion of the unit as normal, but the space beneath these dispensers, which is usually left empty, is a slot where you can dispense ice into a basket (which can hold up to 4 lbs of ice) and scoop it into your cup before filling. 

This extra feature does come at a higher cost – the COSTWAY is about three times the average price of a basic top-loading water dispenser cooler. But if you think you’d get a lot of use out of the feature, it makes sense to buy an all-in-one unit instead of buying a separate ice maker. 

With an elegant, sleek design, in either black or silver in color, there’s nothing ugly or dated about the COSTWAY. It has three buttons for three temperature options: hot, cold and room-temperature water, each of which have their own designated spout. The dispenser’s LED screen makes it easy to see when the machine is on or off, and whether it’s cooling, heating, or making ice. 

The hot water spout produces near-boiling water, which can be used for hot beverages or instant meals. It has a user-friendly security lock to prevent children from using it. The COSTWAY doesn’t filter water, so you’d have to buy your own bottled filtered water or a separate filter if that was important to you.

Pros:

• Unique ice-making feature that can’t be found in most water dispensers
• Sleek, attractive design

Cons:

• Doesn’t filter water
• More expensive option

Water Cooler Dispenser Buyer’s Guide

Trying to select the perfect water dispenser for your home or office can be a bit overwhelming with all the options available. That’s why we compiled the following buyer’s guide to help you learn the ins and outs of water coolers and make an informed choice.

Benefits of Water Coolers & Dispensers

Having an office water cooler or a water cooler for home can help you to save money and enjoy clean water at your preferred temperature throughout the day.

Some of the advantages of a water cooler dispenser are:

Convenience

When you want to drink clean, filtered water, in both your hot and cold drinks, a water dispenser gives you immediate access. There’s no need to make a trip to the supermarket to pick up a crate of water bottles. Water coolers give you access to clean water in your own home or workplace.  

Environmentally Friendly

Bottleless water coolers eliminate the need for buying bottled water, which means you can do your bit for the environment and massively cut down on plastic waste. As water filter dispensers essentially give water the same treatment that bottled water receives, you can enjoy a near-identical taste without having to stock up on water bottles. 

Temperature Options

Most water coolers have a cold water spout as well as an option for filtered boiling water, which you can use for your hot drinks. This gives you more flexibility than most water filters, which don’t work with hot water. 

In this case, water dispenser coolers heat water to boiling after filtering it, so the hot water won’t cause any damage to the filters. 

Ease of Refill

You don’t need to constantly refill a water cooler, which is one of its biggest conveniences. If you get a countertop water dispenser, you can usually just connect it up to your main water line and use water from your plumbing. 

Top-loading and bottom-loading water dispensers require more work – they contain a large water bottle (around 3 to 5 gallons in size), which you’ll need to take out and refill when empty. 

This job is easiest in bottom-loading water dispensers, which allow you to put the bottle inside the unit with no lifting. Top-loading water coolers require a bit more strength and precision, as you’ll have to flip a heavy water bottle upside down, attach it to the dispenser’s cap, and slide it in place. 

Cost Savings

The biggest cost saving of owning an own at-home water dispenser is that you’ll no longer need to buy bottled water. Though water coolers are a bigger up-front investment at around $150 to $400, if you spend $30 to $50 on water bottles each week, you’ll quickly earn back that initial spend.

Types of Water Dispensers

Although other common appliances like a kitchen faucet or water filter pitcher are technically also water dispensers, there are three types of water dispensers that are popular today which we will cover: countertop, top-loading, and bottom-loading. 

Top-Loading

Top-loading water dispensers, as the name suggests, have an upside-down water bottle that connects up to the cooler from the top. The bottle has a cap and hose connected to it, which fits it properly into the water cooler when it’s slid in place. 

Bottom-Loading

Bottom-loading water dispensers have an opening at the bottom of the unit for water bottles. Bottles sit upright on the base of the unit, and connect up to the system via a water probe inserted into the bottletop. 

Countertop Water Cooler

Countertop water coolers sit on a kitchen countertop and are usually connected up to a kitchen sink cold water line. These coolers are smaller and more compact but don’t have limited storage space, as they take their water straight from your plumbing.

Water dispensers are ideal for those who want access to clean, filtered water without the need to install an expensive whole house filtration system. They offer a nice alternative to other ways of getting filtered water such as a refrigerator water filter or countertop filtration system.

Considerations When Buying a Home Water Dispenser

There are a number of considerations you should make when deciding on a home water dispenser for you, including:

Capacity

Most top-loading and bottom-loading home water dispensers are designed to hold water bottles of up to 5 gallons in size. You should expect a unit to hold a 3 gallon water bottle at the very least – this will reduce the number of times you have to refill the bottle during use. 

Bottleless drinking water dispensers have the advantage of having no maximum capacity, as they’re connected up to your home’s water line. 

Ease of Use – Water Dispensers

There’s no complex science to using any type of filtered water cooler – you just press the hot or cold water button depending on what you want – but some do require a bit of extra maintenance. 

Top and bottom-loading water dispensers need to be refilled every 2 to 4 days, depending on the size of your household and how much water you use. If mobility is an issue for you, you might struggle with a top-loading cooler in particular, which requires lifting a heavy water bottle up high. 

Energy Efficiency

Most water coolers are constantly switched on, which allows you access to hot and cold water all the time. If you don’t want to wait around for your water to heat up or cool down, look for a water cooler dispenser that has an Energy Star rating, which means it’s been designed to be energy conscious and won’t waste energy while switched on. 

You might not want to use your machine for hot or cold water all the time. If, for instance, you wanted hot water for cups of tea or coffee only in the morning, there are plenty of machines that allow you to turn off the heating function in the afternoon and only have the refrigerator running, which would help you to cut down on energy-wasting. The same also goes for the cooling function. 

Temperature Features

The basic expectation for a water dispenser, whether it’s a countertop, top-loading or bottom-loading unit, is that it’ll have both hot and cold temperature options. 

The hot should be near-boiling, hot enough to use in hot beverages and instant foods. The cold is usually around 50°F, or 10 degrees cooler than room temperature. Some water coolers also have a room temperature water option, but this isn’t common. 

Safety Features – Water Dispensers

If you’re planning to have your whole family use your water cooler, you’ll want to look for one that has a safety lock on the hot water spout. 

Accidents can happen, and you don’t want your young children to scald themselves by switching the hot water on when you’re not around. Luckily, almost every water dispenser we’ve come across has some sort of hot water locking feature, so you’re not limited for choice. 

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Material It’s Made Of

Some water cooler dispensers have a plastic exterior, which can make them look a little clinical and practical. The more expensive water dispensers have a chrome or stainless steel exterior, which tends to look a lot more natural and attractive in a modern kitchen. Plastic may not be as durable as stainless steel, but, for the most part, you shouldn’t experience any issues with opting for plastic instead of metal. 

The inside components of a water cooler dispenser are generally made up of stainless steel. There may also be plastic involved, though the majority of manufacturers use food-grade plastic that won’t leach chemicals into your water. If this is important to you, look for “food-grade”, “BPA-free” or “BPS-free” in a product’s marketing material. 

Household Size – Water Dispensers

If you have a big, thirsty family, it’s worth considering carefully whether you would fare better paying slightly more upfront for a countertop water dispenser that connects straight to your plumbing. 

The setback of a top-loading or bottom-loading water cooler dispenser is that both need their water bottles refilled or replaced when the water is used up. Most dispensers can hold a water bottle of 3 to 5 gallons, and with the rule of thumb being that 1 person drinks 1 gallon of water per day, a family of 4 will use roughly a whole water bottle in one day. 

Smaller households, on the other hand, wouldn’t have to change or refill their water bottles quite as regularly, because they’d naturally consume less water per day. 

Available Space to Put It

The majority of water dispensers are designed to be space-saving, at around 10-12 inches wide and 10-12 inches deep, but if you don’t have any floor-to-mid-wall space available, a full-size dispenser (at around 35 to 40 inches high) might not be the best option for you. 

Countertop water dispensers are designed to fit on kitchen counter space, so if you’ve got plenty of that free, opt for a countertop system instead. Most people choose to store their water dispensers in the kitchen, but you could also put yours in your study or your dining room if those rooms had more available space. 

Maintenance

No matter what type of water dispenser cooler you buy, maintenance is a must. Your water cooler will have specific cleaning instructions, which will probably include draining your system from time to time and filling it with a cleaning solution, then scrubbing the inside to get rid of any scale or contaminants. Water coolers also have drip trays, most of which can be removed for easy cleaning in your sink. 

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Another maintenance job for some water cooler owners is replacing or refilling the water bottle.This is only applicable if you opt for a top-loading or bottom-loading water dispenser cooler, which refrigerates or heats water from an attached bottle. The regularity of this maintenance task depends on how much water you use on a daily basis, and, therefore, how quickly your water bottle runs out. 

For water dispensers with filters, changing these filters as advised by the manufacturer is an unavoidable maintenance requirement. Water filters only last for so long – in the case of water dispenser filters, around 1,500 gallons or 6 months – before they need changing. 

Failing to change the filters will result in unclean water, which devalues the whole point in having a filter in your machine. It will also slow down your water flow, which would result in waiting a lot longer than necessary for your glass to fill. 

Associated Costs – Water Dispensers

It is possible to buy a water dispenser cooler and pay nothing (aside from the odd repair) after your initial purchase. But it would mean buying a countertop water dispenser that doesn’t contain filters, which would limit your selection somewhat. 

In most cases, you should expect to pay one of several associated costs when buying a water dispenser. 

If you buy a bottom or top-loading dispenser that doesn’t contain a filter, it might be important to you that you only use bottled mineral water in your machine. If you need to replace your bottle every 1 to 3 days, at a price of $5 per 5-litre bottle, that cost will add up over time. With that said, if you buy bottled water  for your family anyway, the cost will be no different from usual.

Another associated cost to be aware of is the cost of replacement filters. If your water dispenser cooler filters water, it probably has two filters: a sediment pre-filter and an activated carbon filter. 

Universal filter replacement kits for water coolers, which include the sediment-pre filter and the activated carbon filter, cost anything between $40 and $60, depending on the brand. It’s quite a high cost, but you’ll only need to pay it once every 6 months, which isn’t too bad.

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Water Dispenser Cleaning And Maintenance

Unfortunately, even so-called self-cleaning water cooler dispensers require some manual cleaning from time to time. Cleaning your system prevents harmful microbes from accumulating inside your water tank, so it’s important that you do it as often as your cooler’s manufacturer recommends. 

How to Clean a Water Cooler system (step by step)

To clean your drinking water dispenser, here’s what to do:

Water Hoses

1. Remove your hoses

Take your water hoses out of your water cooler system, being careful not to damage them in the process. 

2. Make a white distilled vinegar solution

White distilled vinegar is a great natural cleaner, owing to the fact that it has a high acidity that cakes it capable of lifting hard-to-reach stains. To clean your hoses, you just need to fill a small bowl (big enough to fit your hoses) with distilled vinegar. Make sure the vinegar is white and not colored, so that it won’t stain your hoses. 

3. Add your hoses to the solution

Put your hoses into the vinegar solution, making sure it’s fully submerged, and leave it for 10 minutes for the acid to get to work. 

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4. Remove the hoses and re-attach them to your cooler

Once the 10 minutes is up, remove your hoses and run them under your kitchen faucet to clear out the vinegar from their insides. Then re-attach them to your water dispenser unit and continue to use as normal.

Sanitizing – Water Dispensers

1. Make your cleaning (sanitizing) solution

Before you get started on sanitizing the inside of your water cooler, you will need to make the solution for the job. (Note that you can also buy a cleaning solution specifically for water coolers online, but it’ll do no better of a job than you can with your own products). Take 15 ml of 5%, unscented bleach, and combine it with 5 liters of warm, clean water. Make sure that your bleach is approved for use on food contact surfaces before you use it in your cooler. 

2. Prepare your water cooler

To ensure your water gallon dispenser is safe and ready for cleaning, unplug it from its power socket and remove the empty water bottle. There may still be some water inside the cooler, which needs to be drained from the system’s plug, known as the spigot. Remove the baffle and the drip tray, and leave them on the side for washing in your sink or dishwasher.

3. Fill the cooler reservoir with your cleaning solution

Carefully pour the cleaning solution into the water reservoir inside the cooler. Take a long-handed brush with bristles, such as a scrub brush, and use it to scrub the inside walls and base of the reservoir. Opt for a brush with softer bristles, so you don’t damage the reservoir during cleaning. 

Drain the cleaning solution

Drain some of the cleaning solution out of the spigot, then leave it for 2 minutes to allow the solution to clean the inside of the spigot. Don’t leave the solution in your machine for any longer than 5 minutes, as corrosion could occur. Drain the rest of the solution into a bucket and tip it into your toilet. 

5. Fill the reservoir with clean tap or bottled water

To properly rinse away your cleaning solution, fill your reservoir three times with clean tap or bottled water, draining the water through the spigot each time. Once you’ve finished draining the last of your water, you can wash and replace the components you removed, then add a new water bottle to the unit.

External Cleaning – Water Dispensers

1. Make a cleaning solution

For cleaning the outside of your cooler, you only need a mild cleaning solution. Mix 5 parts water to 1 part dish soap, and you have a solution that should remove any dust or dirt build-up from your surfaces. 

2. Dip a cloth in your cleaning solution and dab it on your cooler

Turn your cooler off or unplug it from the wall, then rub it with your damp cloth to clean away the stains. Be sure to get into all the nooks and crannies, including around your machine’s water spouts (if it has them) and its buttons. 

3. Finish off with a dry clean

To wipe your cooler dry, take a paper towel and rub it around the areas you’ve cleaned. Once you’re done, switch your cooler back on, or plug it back in, making sure there is no leftover water on your surfaces.

How do bottom load dispensers work?

Many people are curious about the way water coolers work. This applies in particular in the case of bottom loading dispensers. So how do they work to provide you with fresh water 24 hours a day? Unsurprisingly, the bottom loading dispensers feature a different design. They usually incorporate a probe assembly.

This is inside the cabinet. This is what attaches the bottle to the pump, facilitating transport to hot or cold water tanks. At the same time, a hanger is also often included in the construction of the units.

This keeps the probe assembly clean during the bottle change process. However, the most important thing is that the key lies in the efficiency of the pump, which is responsible for the actual transfer of water.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are water gallon dispensers noisy?

It depends on the product, but you will hear some noise from your machine’s refrigeration unit. Many people prefer to keep their water coolers in the kitchen, alongside other appliances that are known for “humming” while they’re switched on. The noise shouldn’t be overwhelming, but you might not be able to sleep with it. 

How fast does water come out of the spouts?

Again, it depends on the product. If you buy a water dispenser cooler with a filter, it may take slightly longer – nothing more than a couple of seconds – for water to start flowing out of the spouts. In all cases, the water should come out fast enough to fill a tall glass of water in less than 10 seconds. 

Do I have to use branded water for my dispenser?

No. There’s no obligation for you to use the manufacturer’s own water for your dispenser. Just make sure that if you buy unbranded, the bottle is designed to fit in your unit. 

Where can I buy replacement filters? Water Dispensers

For water dispensers with filters, you can find replacement filters online, in both independent stores and on online marketplaces like Amazon. You don’t necessarily need to buy your manufacturer’s own filter, either – there are plenty of off-brand filters that are made to fit the majority of water dispensers. Just be sure to double-check before you make a purchase, and read customer reviews to ensure a filter is of good quality.

How long do water dispensers last?

To determine how long a water dispenser cooler will last, check out the manufacturer’s product warranty. Most offer a 5-year warranty, but if you look after it well, you can expect your gallon water cooler to last up to 10 years. You may need to carry out the odd small repair every now and then, but nothing too major. Electric faults are more difficult to deal with yourself, and it’s at this point that it’s probably wise to buy another system. 

Should I clean a dispenser before I first use it?

Yes, you’ll be instructed to do this by the manufacturer in your dispenser’s user manual. Cleaning your dispenser before use will help rid it of any contaminants or chemicals that may have entered into the system while it was in storage. You can clean the dispenser as per your manufacturer’s instructions or by following our own cleaning tips mentioned earlier in this guide. 

How do you clean a water dispenser?

To ensure that you enjoy healthy, good-tasting water, you should always clean your water dispenser. This makes sense, doesn’t it? This will prevent the accumulation of unwanted bacteria. What you need to do in this regard is to follow a number of guidelines.

First of all, you need to unplug the cooler and remove the empty bottle. You should remove the baffle and reservoir cap and add about 3 cups of hot water and a cup of vinegar. Also, you should clean the inside surface of the tank with a clean cloth.

At the same time, you need to drain the reservoir through the taps. You can usually fit the taps inside the dishwasher, which is time-saving and practical. Subsequently, you must rinse the tank at least twice, filling it with water and draining it through the taps. It is recommended to sanitize your water dispenser every six months, or per individual manufacturer’s specifications. Also, it’s a good idea to check the manufacturer’s guidelines on this topic.

Are there any advantages to buying a water cooler dispenser instead of renting?

You might have previously rented a water cooler, or you might be renting one currently. Though the monthly payments feel smaller and more manageable than splashing out on your very own water cooler, those “small” fees soon add up. By the time you’ve rented a water cooler for a year, you’ve paid the rental company more than what it would cost to own one. It’s worth putting the cash aside to buy instead of rent.

How much does it cost for a water dispenser?

Market-leading mains-connected water coolers from top brands start at $700. Related costs such as plumbing connection and installation will vary depending on your building layout and water access.

Is it cheaper to buy a water dispenser?

The water bottle, in particular, costs much less than the water dispenser and can even be purchased with just less than a dollar. … The water dispenser, on the other hand, requires a one-time expensive purchase cost however in the long-run saves on the budget.

Best Water Cooler Dispenser

• hOmeLabs Bottom Loading Water Dispenser.
• Whirlpool Self Cleaning Bottom Load Water Cooler.
• Primo Bottom Loading Water Dispenser.
• Giantex Top Loading Water Cooler Dispenser.
• Avalon A1 Top Loading Cooler Dispenser.
• COSTWAY 2-in-1 Water Cooler Dispenser with Built-in Ice Maker.

Is water dispenser good for health?

Homeowners with water dispensers have better health as they take clean and fresh water every day. Drinking water is healthy for our bodies; more water keeps everyone active and rejuvenated. Water helps the skin and keeps the whole body system healthy. The water dispenser is known to encourage people to take water.

Conclusion

If our guide to the best water dispenser reviews has helped you feel less overwhelmed in your search, then our job is done. Whether you are looking for an office water dispenser or a home water cooler, be careful with your decision because with the right choice, you will enjoy clean drinking water for years to come.

Whether you’re hunting for bargains or searching online for water dispenser coolers, take the time to carefully read customer reviews of the best water dispensers, as well as manufacturer specifications. Even the best brands come up short from time to time with different models, so it’s worth doing your homework.

Don’t let water quality or lack of access to water affect your business or the life of your home. The right water cooler dispenser will provide you with cold water on hot days and help you start your morning at the office with boiling water for your morning drink.

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Last update on 2024-07-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API