Choosing a Water Dispenser for Office use.
You may not think it, but there is so much choice for a water dispenser for office use. Be it a hot water dispenser, sparkling water tap, boiling water tap, chilled water dispenser - or a combination of all of the above.
We often receive enquires at Connect Vending for machines such as a hot water dispenser tap, or cold water filter tap. Most of the time when these specific requests come through, we dig in to the detail and find that the client is not fully informed or aware of all the options available to them.
As a business, we don't agree with selling solutions that aren't fit for purpose. We work to a consultative approach, provoking thought and gathering information throughout the process, until we know your specific challenges and goals - and can build an ideal solution to achieve those goals for you, removing any headaches in the process.
Even for the smallest office, you'll be surprised at the sheer variety of water dispenser options. Before we get started on our range of water dispensers, let us take you through some of the considerations when looking to purchase. We'll limit the jargon and talk from our own experience in the industry, to make it easier to digest.
Free Standing vs Instant Tap Water Dispensers
Free Standing Water Dispensers
A free standing office water dispenser is great for when you have the space to accommodate it. They’re also easier to dot around than water filter taps, as the latter are usually reserved for kitchens.
You may install a free standing water cooler dispenser in a reception, hallway, canteen, warehouse and more. They are a lot more flexible in this regard than commercial water taps, whilst still offering the full selection of cold, ambient, hot and sparkling water if required.
Is the only place you have available to install a water dispenser tap above a sink? We don’t usually recommend this for safety reasons, but a free standing filtered water dispenser can solve this issue if you have space in your kitchen or within easy reach for your employees.
Instant Tap Water Dispensers
A water filter tap for hot, cold, ambient and even sparkling is a popular choice in office kitchens both large and small. Popular options are matte black or stainless steel taps, which all include their own drip tray to keep your kitchen tidy. You can choose with many for them to be raised away from the worksurface, or opt for a more stylish look that is flush to the counter. Many instant tap options include hot, cold and ambient all-in-one – and some include sparkling water.
At Connect Vending we absolutely love the innovations in instant hot and cold water taps that our suppliers have brought to market in recent years, such as the beautifully designed Alto taps from Aqua Libra. With a wide variety of colours to choose from, you can get them on-brand. Another benefit, realised by many of our existing customers, is that you can colour code them for safety. Red for hot, blue for cold – simple. The taps have in inbuilt filter as well, avoiding the hassle of sourcing this separately.
Flavoured sparkling water is also possible through Aqua Libra’s taps and this is now being realised throughout our supply chain. Be it popular flavours such as mint or grapefruit – this market is really coming into its own. Healtheir alternatives to alcohol is a growing market, and we expect it’s only going to get bigger.
Ultimately, it depends which solution is right for you, because every site is different and will benefit in various ways from each solution. We’re experienced in asking the right questions to provoke thought and ensure we build the right solution for your business.
Hot, Cold or Sparkling Water Dispenser - What's right for us?
Instant Hot Water Tap or Hot Water Dispenser
Firstly, the benefits. Small kitchen, lots of staff arriving to work or lunch at the same time? Regardless, waiting for the kettle to boil is time wasted – and productivity wasted. Not to mention wasted energy. If it’s anything like your standard office, you likely go through kettles like nobody’s business. Except, it is your business! So, why allow it?
The benefit of a hot water dispenser is a dedicated place (or places, if you dot them around) for employees and visitors to easily access filtered water, without the hassle of waiting for the kettle to boil. Dispensers can even come with contactless, zero-touch add-ons, to enhance hygiene. These are particularly popular in sites such as hospitals.
Instant Cold Water Tap or Cold Water Dispenser
Having the option of an instant cold water tap or dispenser available in the office is a great benefit and means staff can use their own reusable bottles, reducing single-use plastic. If the water in your area is too hard or soft, people can also be reluctant to drink the unfiltered tap water as the taste is poor.
The general benefits of keeping hydrated include benefits to mood, your immune system and even weight loss.
Instant Sparkling Water Tap or Sparkling Water Dispenser
Installing a sparkling water tap is becoming increasingly popular. In fact, since 2022, we have seen sales of sparkling water increase dramatically in the UK. Not only is it still just as hydrating and satisfying as still water, it’s incredibly versatile and has that refreshing kick that still water lacks.
There are a few factors that are making sparkling water increasingly popular. Drinkers want something different that doesn’t make them feel as guilty as a fizzy drink, or contribute to that 3pm sugar crash.
The market also has a lot more to offer these days – and this is largely due to the rise alcohol-free options. Some favourites around the Connect office are cucumber and mint, lemon and grapefruit flavoured water. There was a gap in the market for refreshing and tasty soft drinks that effectively mimic alcoholic drinks, but without the hassle of a taxi home, the health concerns, or a hangover!
An all-in-one office water dispenser or tap?
If you can’t decide, or space is limited, there is the option to have a multifunction water dispenser or tap that delivers hot, cold, ambient temperature and sparkling filtered water.
It’s incredibly convenient, but if you’re wondering about it being complicated to work or unsafe – don’t worry. The options we have available are all intuitive and come with safety locking features to ensure that nobody will get an unexpected splash of hot water.
Benefits of Filtered Water
Not sure if you should invest in a hot water dispenser for the office? One of the bonuses is having filtered water. If you don’t know why that’s such a big deal, read on…
Taste
“It’s just water, it all tastes the same”. Does it?!
Having filtered water for the office means all the impurities such as chlorine, metals and disinfectants are removed (to name a few). In addition, all the good minerals are retained that we want to consume, such as calcium and magnesium.
Filtered water makes a tremendous difference to the taste of drinks. Tea, coffee, soups, porridge… you name it. At Vendex 2024, Brita conducted a taste experiment using plain cold water. The only variable was the level of filtering, ranging from zero to distilled water. The difference in taste was dramatic and unsurprisingly, filtered water was the preference.
Does having filtered water really make your coffee taste better? For more of a deep dive, take a look at Brita’s article on the science of water.
Reduce Single-Use Plastics and Cost
Did you know that plastic can take up to 500 years to degrade? The alternative to filtered water is bottled water. Not only does this increase use of single-use plastics, it’s not cheap either. Let’s do a quick cost analysis;
- Say your office has 50 staff, 15 on site full time and 35 in the office 3 days per week
- On average, each employee consumes at least 2 x 500ml bottles per day
- You’re already purchasing an average of 360 bottles per week
- 48 working weeks in a year makes a grand total of 17,280 bottles
- That’s 720 packs of 24 500ml bottles per year
- With the average wholesale price of a 24 pack being £10.24 to your business, that’s £7,372.80/year on bottled water alone
- The average cost of replacing a filter twice a year on your tap or water dispenser is £410, saving your business almost £7,000
Not to mention the amount of plastic you won’t have to use. It’s a no-brainer.
Maintenance
As mentioned above, your water filter only really needs replacing twice per year. Some taps such as the Aqua Libra Alto even have the filter built in, with their 5-step purification system.
With one of Connect Vending’s maintenance contracts, you can spread the cost of your filter replacements over the year – and we’ll deal with all of the logistics for you.
Where can I put a Water Dispenser for Office Use?
Deciding where to place a water dispenser is fairly easy when you have lots of space, but may become more difficult if you want a space where all staff can easily access it on a large site. Equally, in a small office, space and plumbing can be a concern.
Accessibility
For a moment, picture an instant hot water tap in the workplace kitchen. It has its own allure, whispering of home and familiarity. However, it may require a detour for employees and visitors to access it.
The layout of your site is a big consideration here. Map the daily journeys of your employees and try to pinpoint communal hubs where a water dispenser could become a gathering point, a place to pause and refresh. It’s not just about the numbers; it’s about understanding the rhythm and pulse of your workplace (and ensuring nobody will trip over a free-standing dispenser)!
Consider footfall. From one perspective, a bit of a walk is a welcome and necessary break away from the desk. On the other hand, it’s a break in workflow and an irritating loss of productivity for some. You may wish to consider placing multiple dispensers around your site, with a mix of free standing and taps, depending on your budget.
Plumbing
You may have an idea of where a water dispenser would fit nicely, but it’s important to work out where it’s feasible to plumb one in. That way, you’ll know what’s realistic sooner rather than later. The obvious place for a water outlet is the kitchen, but there are likely other spaces around your site where you can fit a water dispenser.
We don’t recommend water dispensers that are not plumbed in, because these tend to be more hassle than they’re worth with the constant refilling. Not only this, but there’s higher risk of the water being left and stagnating, causing hygiene and freshness issues. It’s supposed to be about convenience – and tank fed water dispensers don’t do this well.
The downside of installing an instant cold water tap is it will need fitting and in nearly all cases, it will mean drilling an appropriate hole in an existing worktop. There needs to be some cupboard space underneath the tap for the filter and boiler etc. You’d be surprised how small a hole needs drilling (depending on your choice of tap), but its still a point to consider. Once its done though, you can enjoy instant hot, cold or sparkling water on tap!
Do Water Dispensers leak? How can I make it safe?
Ultimately, you can avoid most issues with any vending machine by looking after it properly. This includes the way it is treated, how well and how frequently it is cleaned.
This is a key reason that we offer comprehensive service and maintenance plans. Limescale buildup is bad for your water quality and boiler efficiency, so we always say that prevention is better than cure.
It’s not complicated to quickly clean your water dispenser and empty the drip tray. Depending on how hard or soft the water is in your area, descaling is required less often than a regular clean. We will make sure at Connect Vending that instructions based on the individual supplier and model are clearly explained at point of install.
Perhaps think about regular routes for the cleaners, so that if anyone does spill their water, they can mop up before anyone slips. All dispensers we supply have their own drip tray and safety features to avoid leaking – and this helps keep them looking presentable for staff and visitors.
What are some of the Water Dispenser features on offer?
Technology has moved on since the days of leaky tank-fed water coolers. Most water dispensers include their own version of a safety valve, to prevent leaks. If you’re not sure and this is a concern, just let us know and we can go over the specifics.
As an example, Borg & Overström‘s cooling system requires no water to be kept in the tank. Their DryChill® technology reduces water stagnation, bacteria and water leakage. This is the benefit of the system being plumbed in, as we discussed.
In addition, our experienced team of engineers here at Connect Vending will make sure on install that the water dispenser of your choice is fitted properly and connected to the mains. We’ll ensure everything is properly connected to make sure that you have the perfect start.
When service callouts are needed, our team will usually be with you within 4 working hours. If not, 100% of callouts are attended within 8 working hours – for that extra peace of mind.
Is there a risk of burning or scalding?
In short, where boiling water is concerned (as with any hazard), there is risk.
To minimise this risk, the instant water taps and dispensers we offer all come with features to mitigate risk of scalding. For example, requiring the hot water button to be double pressed, or held for a number of seconds before it will dispense.
You can also ask for the temperature of water to be adjusted, along with the flow, portion control and more. Let’s face it, nobody needs a scalding, steaming cup of water and you’re likely wasting energy and money if your water is heating far beyond the requirement.
Although you have responsibility as an employer to take reasonable precautions for employee safety, it is down to the individual to exercise common sense when interacting with potential hazards. We are happy to train your team to use the equipment on install to further reduce risk.