You definitely want your drinking water to be clean, fresh and cool (or hot), and available all the time. That’s why many people prefer to have a portable water cooler dispenser in their offices and even in the comfort of their homes.
It really makes sense why you should have the best water dispenser for home. We will tell you more about this remarkable device and giving you several options on how to choose the best water dispenser before you buy.
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Top 5 Best Water Cooler Dispensers in 2024
Here is the industry’s 4 leading brands of water coolers for homes, offices, and other locations. These brands are selected because of their more sensible uses with reasonable prices and versatility in utilization; like a hot water dispenser for tea or coffee, and a cold one for juices, etc.
The Brio 520 Series No-Line Bottom-Loading Water Cooler is a premium hydration solution designed for convenience, efficiency, and enhanced water purity.
This dispenser’s bottom-loading design eliminates the need for lifting heavy bottles, making bottle replacements effortless while maintaining a streamlined look.
Unique to this model is the built-in two-stage water filtration system, which purifies water directly from the bottle, ensuring cleaner, better-tasting water with each pour.
With no direct water line required, it’s highly versatile and suitable for any space, whether in the kitchen, office, or break room.
The Brio 520 Series also includes customizable temperature settings to provide chilled, warm, or hot water on demand, making it perfect for any drink or meal preparation.
Its sleek design combines both functionality and style, offering an ideal choice for those who prioritize both convenience and high-quality water in their hydration experience.
Igloo Retro Bottom Load Water Cooler Dispenser – Hot, Cold, or Room-Temperature Water
The Igloo Retro Bottom Load Water Cooler Dispenser is a versatile and stylish solution for any home, kitchen, dorm, or workspace.
With its convenient bottom-loading design, the need to lift and flip heavy water bottles is eliminated, making it easier to replace bottles without the hassle.
This dispenser can accommodate both 3- and 5-gallon water bottles, providing plenty of fresh water on demand.
Equipped with three temperature options—hot, cold, and room temperature—it’s perfect for a wide range of uses, from making hot drinks and soups to enjoying chilled water on a hot day or having room temperature water ready at any time.
Safety is a top priority in this model, with a child safety lock that prevents accidental hot water dispensing, making it an ideal choice for families with young children.
Crafted with a stylish black and stainless steel finish, it not only provides reliable functionality but also adds a retro, modern touch to any space.
Durable and thoughtfully designed, the Igloo water cooler dispenser is built for easy use and long-lasting performance, offering a practical and attractive hydration solution wherever you need it.
Valon Bottom Loading Water Cooler Water Dispenser with BioGuard
Bottom-loading water cooler dispensers are popular primarily because they don’t require heavy lifting and often feature sanitary elements like ozone or UV light.
For larger office spaces, the Avalon A4 falls slightly short of our ideal 6 liters of cold water per hour. It dispenses 183 fl. oz. (5.4 L) per hour, or a 10 fl. oz. (300 ml) glass every 3 minutes and 20 seconds—not far from the target. This amount can satisfy about 18 people or glasses per hour.
On the plus side, the Avalon A4 delivers a good amount of hot water, producing 27.3 fl. oz. (807 ml) or three decent-sized cups in quick succession. This makes it ideal for home or office use, particularly during busy morning or lunch hours.
Heating a full tank takes around 9 minutes and 27 seconds—slightly longer than average—but results in a generous supply of water at 199℉ (92.7℃) with a smooth flow rate of 34 ml/second.
The build quality is reliable, with comfortable, easy-to-clean buttons and a spacious drip tray. However, the tray is attached to the door, so it’s best to open the cabinet from the base. This model lacks ozone or UV sanitation, which makes it more budget-friendly.
Primo Stainless Steel 1 Spout Self-Sanitizing Bottom Load Hot, Cold and Cool Water Cooler Dispenser
Equipped with push-button control, the Primo 1-Spout Water Cooler Dispenser stands out above the rest. With just a single faucet, this sleek and slim water cooler has ice-cold, cool, and piping hot water features. The Primo bottom load self-cleaning water dispenser has a plumbing-less system which features a reverse osmosis water filtration technique keeping your water pure and clean.
The Primo Deluxe Stainless Steel water dispenser can load a 3- or 5-gallon bottle container back of the bottom of the unit for a clean look. You don’t need to lift a heavyweight just to have your water piping hot or chilling cold in an instant. Moreover, aside from a crystal clear water, your drinking liquid is also packed with minerals added for a unique taste.
Additionally, if you have a Primo Self-Service Refill Station near your neighborhood, you can use coupons with your dispenser purchase. At their refill station, Primo provides a 4-step reverse osmosis water filtering system that ensures high water quality. And not only that, but this process also offers ultraviolet sterilization which removes harmful contaminants in the water. It also improves the taste of your water.
Brio Bottom Loading Water Cooler Dispenser for 5 Gallon Bottles
The Brio Essential Series Bottom Load water cooler dispenser is a UL/Energy Star Approved product. The water bottle container in this unit is hidden at the front bottom of the machine which is covered with a stainless steel hinged door (just like a refrigerator). You can load the water bottle easily with this setup. You will be spared from the heavy lifting and flipping of jugs, unlike top loading water coolers.
This slim 41-inch tall water cooler is perfect for home or office use where space is very limited. Moreover, its operation is one of the most efficient and easiest to maintain. The LED indicators will tell you if the hot & cold water is ready and if its time for a refill (a 5-gallon water bottle fits).
The Brio Essential Series is also equipped with a child safety lock and a 3-faucet dispenser (which can be used at the same time). The unit has the following dimensions for your easy reference: 44 x 15 x 14 inches.
What is a Water Cooler Dispenser?
A water cooler dispenser is a machine that cools (or heats) and dispenses water. But do you know that a water dispenser is totally different from a water cooler? Some people might be confused about these two different products. But we can explain to you their distinctions while giving some of the best-selling brands out in the market today.
A water cooler dispenser is an electronic device that gives you instant access to hot or cold water at any time. Modern water cooler dispensers are now equipped with safety features (like the child lock) that will avoid untoward incidents to children which protect them from touching the hot liquid. Some products offer self-cleaning water dispenser units that kill bacteria which are present on the water tank and the pipeline when used for a long time.
Some water cooler dispensers are energy efficient which allow you to save more on your electrical bill. Moreover, some units are so systematic, they can maintain the temperature of the water you want with minimal control. Find out more about the latest products of this type in the market today as we go along with our discussion.
Difference Between a Water Dispenser & a Water Cooler Dispenser
Manufacturers claimed that all water coolers are water dispensers, but not all water dispensers are water coolers. It is best to know the differences between these products to make you decide on what to purchase. But we can assure you that a water cooler has a lot of differences from a water dispenser, they should not be mistaken for the other.
Most of the best water cooler dispensers in the market today are movable, lightweight, and has a sleek design to save space. They have also efficient hot and cold water features, unlike a simple water dispenser. Whether used in your home, in the office, or any other workstation, this machinery is always ready to provide people with hot or cold water at any time of the day (or night).
Water Dispenser
If you talk about a simple water dispenser, the one that pops up in one’s mind is a basic container which provides liquids from storage (like a tank). The liquid could be dispensed via a tap. The taps may include those from the bathroom or the kitchen. The built-in water dispenser system of a refrigerator is also considered as such.
Moreover, a receptacle that holds a large amount of pre-filled water and dispenses through a tap, can also be classified as a water dispenser. This also includes a water jug with a tap. Additionally, a simple water dispenser usually dispenses water at ambient temperature.
You have no chance of drawing hot water for your coffee or tea when you just rely on a water dispenser. You need to boil water if you want to blend your favorite coffee or get some from your thermos which may not be too hot for your liking.
Water Cooler Dispenser
A water cooler dispenser lets you draw hot and cold water in a single receptacle. This is just one of the conveniences of having this type of appliance in your office or in your home. Similarly, a water cooler dispenser gives you access to cold water in no time without waiting for the tap to produce cold water. This will save you a lot of time and energy. This type of water cooler is becoming more popular in homes.
The water coolers of yesteryear were only used in guest houses, inns, boardrooms, offices, hotels, sports facilities, and other places where many people converged. Refrigerators were then popular as the perfect place to chill water for drinking while you need to boil water for hot beverages. But now, there are modern water cooler dispensers used in homes that will not cost much on your budget.
Bottom Loading vs. Top Loading vs. Bottle less Water Cooler Dispensers
There are two styles of water cooler dispensers currently offered by different manufacturers. These are the bottled water dispensers and the bottle-less water coolers. The bottled type, in turn, is classified into 2 varieties; the bottom load water dispenser and the top load water dispenser.
The bottled type water coolers usually use a clean 5-gallon water bottle as a water supply vessel. You can buy the content from vendors from your neighborhood’s water station. You can also store more bottles with content so you don’t have to worry about emptying the cooler unexpectedly.
More establishments prefer this type of water cooler because of its easy maintenance and the availability of bottled water from nearby vendors. This dispensing machine is also portable where you can put it anywhere you want in your home. Some water dispensers have three taps; for hot, cold, and ambient waters.
Some of the best water coolers in town are manufactured by well-known companies and could be delivered right at your doorstep.
On the other hand, the bottle-less water cooler dispenser doesn’t need a bottle receptacle to produce drinking water (hot & cold). This type of water dispenser relies on your own home’s water supply. With this type of set-up, you don’t need to buy bottled water from vendors.
Here’s a quick explanation of the different types of water coolers:
Bottom Loading
The bottom loading water cooler dispenser is perfect for housewives and oldies who don’t have someone to rely upon in lifting a 5-gallon water bottle. Additionally, the big bottle is hidden at the bottom back of the unit for quick and easy loading. This also makes the machine better looking and sleek.
Some of the best bottom loading water dispensers available today without the high price tag include the Whirlpool, Primo, Avalon, and the Brio brands. These brands are also comparable in quality to high priced ones.
Top Loading
The bottled water container in a top-loading water cooler dispenser is placed spout-down into the dispensing device. This set up needs a little lifting of an 8.33lbs (3.8kg) weight of a 5-gallon water bottle. This type of cooler also comes in countertop water dispenser, which is ideal for tight spaces in homes or offices. This variant can be placed on top of the table or your kitchen’s countertop, as the name suggests.
Bottle-less
The bottle-less dispensers are also called POU (point of use) water coolers because the piping is directly connected from an in-house water source. This kind of unit continues to supply hot and cold drinking water while you don’t need to buy replacement water bottles.
Bottle-less water dispenser models, unlike the bottled variety, don’t have a built-in compressor and pump that will deliver hot and cold water without interruption. Its control system (like water temperature) is also at par with bottled water dispensers. However, to ensure that you have clean and hygienic drinking water, you need first to establish a thorough filtration system.
How to Choose the Best Water Cooler Dispenser
Water cooler dispensers are becoming more popular because of their low maintenance and low cost as compared to large volume filtration systems. This amazing product comes in several brands but there is surely one or two models which would fit your needs.
Hot coffee, tea or instant soups had been part of your everyday lives any time of the day. When you have this type of machine that provides you and the family with the convenience of having hot water the minute you want it, you’ll never regret having one. While cold water will quench your thirst especially during the summer months, you don’t have to wait for a pitcher to cool in the fridge.
Choosing the best water cooler for your needs is not a delicate task to do. There are more ways to know the type that will serve your purpose well. As a first step, we have discussed the type of water coolers (bottom loading, top-loading, and bottle-less) above. You can start the selection by considering what kind of unit do you want from these 3 types.
Here are some other tips on what you have to look for in finding the right water cooler dispenser for your home or office.
1. Material
Some water drinkers are very particular with taste. They always prefer the taste that they are accustomed to or a tasteless water at all. Some water cooler reservoir (or the tank where water is stored) are made of plastic. Some are made from stainless steel.
These two materials are the most prevalent among water cooler products because they don’t corrode. Some units made from plastic have plastic-like taste, but not all of them. If you don’t want this funny plastic-like taste, you can pick a water cooler dispenser made from stainless steel.
2. Safety features
Most water cooler dispensers nowadays are equipped with safety features like the child lock (or safety lock). This safety measure prevents accidents involving kids. For a family with small children on the household, some products are provided with the child lock feature to protect kids from hot water accidents.
3. Ease of maintenance and operation
To protect your family from water-borne bacteria, some models are designed with a self-cleaning feature. Those products with self-cleaning feature use ozone to kill bacteria present in the water receptacle and pipelines. It’s not a must, but its a very welcome feature.
Moreover, you can select a unit that offers easy operation. Some products deliver sufficient water flow rate with just a touch of the finger. Other units have three temperature settings (hot, ambient, and cold) allowing you to customize your drinking experience.
4. Price of the unit
You can definitely choose the most affordable water cooler in town. You can also consider the features a unit could offer. You must be aware that each cooler comes at different prices, depending on the brand and its features.
If you have a tight budget but want a unit that could offer you the basic features, go for it!
Conclusion
There are too many water cooler dispensers out in the market today. But the finest of them all is only a handful, just like what we have on our list. We don’t mention here about the bottle-less variety because this system requires that you install a filtering system that some perceived to be more costly.
On this regard, we provide you with only two options: the bottom load and top load water cooler dispensers which both have built-in filtering and compressor systems. You can pay for these main systems without altering your home or office landscape. Moreover, the cost is only a fraction of what a bottle-less system offers.
