A water cooler, as the name implies, will provide cold water on demand. You do not need to cool the pitcher in the fridge or use ice. They have a water tank or container and a faucet that dispenses water at a cold temperature. It may seem like all of them are the same, but with a close inspection of each product, you will easily realize that they are different in many ways.
Are you looking for the best water cooler? Let me warn you! Making the right decision is not an easy task. At all times, do not rely on price alone. You have to look at their features and evaluate their pros and cons. With this, keep on reading the rest of this guide and we’ll help you come up with the right decision.
Types of Water Coolers
The following are the three types that you will be confronted with:
Top-Loading Water Cooler
With this type, a water jug will be placed on the top of the water cooler. Depending on the specific product that will be chosen, they offer various filtration system, such as carbon treatment, allowing water to be filtered before its consumption.
Bottom-Loading Water Cooler
With this design, on the other hand, you no longer need to lift and flip the water jug as they are stored in the bottom. Also, it is a good thing that they are designed with a door, which hides the container from sight.
Point-of-Use Water Cooler
This is a less popular type of water cooler, but the good thing about this type is that there is no need for refilling. It is connected directly to a water line for continuous supply.
Benefits of Water Cooler
Still thinking if you should purchase a water cooler? Below are some of the things that can compel you to invest in one:
- Reduced Cost: Some people might be drinking bottled water all the time. This can be expensive in the long run. You will be able to save a lot by having a water cooler instead.
- High-quality Drinking Water: As long as you choose the right product, you can be assured of safe and clean drinking water all the time. Many have built-in purification and sanitation systems to prevent the possibility of contamination.
- Produces Cold Water Quickly: Another good reason to invest in a water cooler is the fact that you will have ice-cold water in an instant. There is no need to go to the fridge and retrieve ice cubes.
- Stay Hydrated: Drinking eight glasses of water in a day may seem to be a hard task for many people. If you have a water cooler, this will be easier since cold water is easily accessible at home.
Essential Factors to Consider when Buying
Below are some of the things that should be given careful thought as you try to narrow down the possibilities:
- Reviews: Before anything else, a good starting point would be the feedbacks of other people, most of which can be found online. With their experiences and insights, it will be easier for you to weigh the pros and cons of the possibilities.
- Filtration System: One of the most important things that you should look for is the ability of the cooler to filter water as it is dispensed. Through a variety of filtration systems, water comes out not only cold, but also clean and safe.
- Energy-Efficiency: Water coolers will most likely be plugged all day and night. With this, choose one that consumes minimal energy so that it won’t be a cause for your electricity bill to shoot up.
- Size: You also need to consider how much space is available in the kitchen, office, or anywhere the cooler will be placed. Also, think about how many gallons of water will be used to determine the right size of the cooler.
- Noise: The compression system of the unit is the one that is responsible for making noise. Pick a product that comes with a whisper-quiet motor, which means that it will never be a distraction in any way.
- LED Lights: It will also be good if the water cooler comes with lights, making it easy to refill water even in low-light conditions. Also, there needs to be light to determine which one is cold or hot. There are some models as well with light that will provide immediate notification when there is a need to replace the bottle.
- Warranty: It is good to pick a product that comes with an extensive warranty coverage. In this way, if there are defects that are experienced within the duration of the warranty, the manufacturer will offer free repair or replacement of the damaged parts.
- Cleaning and Maintenance: See to it that the unit is designed in such a way that having it cleaned will be an effortless task. It will be good if it comes with a self-cleaning feature.
Below is a short video that will provide you with quick insights on how to properly clean a water cooler:
Top Picks for the Best Water Cooler
If you have no idea on which one will make the best choice, below are the best products that you might want to consider.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2020-04-07 at 13:48 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- Coupons for Primo water included - Redeemable at thousands of retail locations nationwide
- Dispenses ice-cold, cool, and piping-hot water with the push of a button. Hot water includes child-resistant safety feature
- Self-Sanitizing feature uses harmless ozone to sanitize water reservoirs and lines. Stainless steel water reservoirs provide durability and the removable, stainless steel drip tray is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning
- Easy bottom loading design eliminates lifting and flipping while loading Primo water. Bottles are concealed inside the cabinet for a clean look. No plumbing required!
- UL Certified and Energy Star Rated. Includes a 1-Year Limited Warranty
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2020-04-07 at 13:48 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- * * WARRANTY ONLY VALID IF PRODUCT PURCHASED FROM AUTHORIZED SELLER REIL MACHINES * * *
- 6th Sense Self Cleaning automatically technology uses unstable Oxygen to get rid of the stuff you don't want in your water. The LED indicator shows when the Self-Cleaning is running, as well as when the cold and hot water are at optimum temperature.
- Outlasts other brands as the compressor turns on less frequently because of the proprietary cooling system technology. The robust commercial design has unbreakable water faucets, a solid steel frame that can take over 300 lbs of top weight, and cold rolled steel sides
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2020-04-07 at 13:16 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- THREE TEMPERATURES: Three temperature settings allow you to customize your drinking experience. This dispenser features a crisp cold, cool, or piping hot output
- SELF CLEANING FEATURE: The self cleaning ozone feature sanitizes & purifies the dispenser, which prevents the accumulation of harmful germs & bacteria for your safety. BPA Free
- LIGHT THE WAY: Our built-in nightlight makes the water spouts clearly visible at night & has an empty-bottle indicator that lights up when the bottle needs to be replaced
- BOTTOM LOADING: Our water cooler is bottom loading to eliminate the strain of lifting, reduce spills and is suitable for 3-5 gallon water bottles (BOTTLE NOT INCLUDED)
- CHILD SAFE: This product is UL/Energy Star Approved and features a child safety lock on the hot water spout so the entire family can use it worry free.Cord Length:6 Feet
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2020-04-07 at 13:48 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- INSTALLATION KIT: The user-friendly cooler comes with all that you need! Full installation kit comes with a pre-assembled 1/4" tubing, 3-way plastic 1/4" push connect adapter, under sink 3/8" and 1/2" adapter with shut off valve, and detailed instructions with illustrations.
- FREE REPLACEMENT FILTERS: Indulge in water that has been filtered to provide the purest form of hydration. This cooler is equipped with a 2-stage filtration system that includes a 5-micron pre-carbon and sediment filter, which will last 6 months or 1500 gallons. We provide a year of filtration for FREE, a total of $180 savings, ensuring continuous access to clean water.
- HOT, COLD & ROOM-TEMPERATURE WATER: Three temperature settings allow you to customize your drinking experience. Brio Essential dispenser features cold, room-temperature or hot for either refreshing and satisfying hydration or a soothing hot beverage.
- POU BOTTLELESS FILTRATION: Gone are the days of going to refill bottles when you switch to Brio POU Bottleless Water Cooler. Trust the cooler that transforms your tap water to a five-star hydration experience with every pour.
- SELF-CLEANING: Enjoy minimal maintenance with the water cooler that utilizes a self-cleaning feature. A clean cooler shouldn’t be complicated, so we simplified it for you. Keep the unit in pristine condition at a touch of a button when you activate the Self-Cleaning Ozone that sanitizes the water tank and lines.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2020-04-07 at 13:48 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- Hot & Cold Water Nozzle: With this water cooler you can choose between cold & hot water, making it ideal for cool refreshments or toasty beverages; Cold water temp: 40 45°f hot water temp: 170 175°f
- Water Cooler Accommodates: This counter top water Cooler has the ability to accommodate 3 or 5 Gallon Bottles/jugs, it will save you hundreds of water bottles per year
- Water Cooler Features: This tabletop water cooler is operating with an automatic electric plug in water dispenser system for quick water cooling; Enjoy its ultra quiet operation
- Ideal for Home & Office: With its innovative tabletop design it's perfect for office & home, simple and hassle free operation, no bottles around you messing up your office and fits in any corner; You will love convenience of this handy tabletop water cooler
- Child Safe: This product is equipped with a child safety lock on the hot water spout so the entire family can use it worry free
Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2020-04-07 at 13:48 PST - Details/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Conclusion
Now that you are done reading the rest of this post, I hope that choosing the best water cooler is an easier task. Do not decide solely on the basis of price. At the end of the day, it should be seen as an investment, and hence, it does not matter even if it is costly, as long as quality reigns supreme.
If there is only one product that I can personally recommend, it would be Whirlpool Self-cleaning Water Cooler. The latter has a durable construction and stylish design. It cools water efficiently. Plus, the self-cleaning feature provides it with the ability to sanitize the unit to get rid of contaminants in the water.
