When you want a drink of water, you usually get a bottle out of your fridge at home or turn on a tap. And when you want to make a hot drink, such as tea or coffee, you boil a kettle, right? That’s the story for most people in the UK.
But what if we told you that you could have instant hot and cold water that wasn’t just the perfect temperature, but was also better for the environment, your health and your pocket?
For many people, the tap water in their area is not particularly tasty, and it’s well known that substances such as chlorine, lead and microplastics can all be present in your mains water at home. And while bottled mineral water is certainly healthier, the overall cost of this per year can skyrocket quickly, as well as increase environmental damage by putting more plastic landfills and seas. And when it comes to hot water, boiling kettles is also expensive and, with energy prices in the UK at an all-time high, more and more people are thinking of ways to cut down on their energy consumption.
So how do you get access to clean, drinkable water without breaking the bank? The answer lies in a water dispenser. Today, we’re going to answer the question ‘what is a water dispenser?’ We’re also going to look at reasons why you need a water dispenser at home or in the office, as well as compare these water units to other typical sources, such as water coolers and kettles.
What is a Water Dispenser?
As the name that suggests, a water dispenser is a unit that dispenses water! Perfect for an office or commercial environment, water dispensers are ideal for your home as well, as they are modern, compact and economical.
As opposed to water coolers, which dispense just cold water, and kettles which only serve hot water, a water dispenser gives you instant water at the temperature you want, at the touch of a button.
When it comes to offices, hydrated workers are happy workers! Plus, by having access to instant water, workers spend less time queuing for the kettle and waiting for it to boil. This is also the case at home! No more waiting around for your morning cup of tea or coffee.
In addition to convenience, water dispensers are also plumbed into the main water supply, meaning that nobody needs to fill the machine manually. This in turn leads to fewer accidents, like burns and minor injuries, as well as minimising trip hazards that can be caused by kettle wires both at home or in the office.
But don’t just take our word for it! Let’s see how water dispensers stack up against traditional hot and cold water sources.
Water Dispensers vs Water Coolers
Chances are you have used a water cooler in your lifetime. These large, cumbersome stands with a giant bottle of water on top are great in an office environment for providing clean and chilled water. However, because of the size of the water bottles, changing them over can be challenging at best and dangerous at worst.
Because water coolers rely on bottles rather than mains water, the constant cycle of changing them over is tedious and expensive. Oh, and they’re pretty heavy! Plus, these bottles are usually made of plastic, which increases environmental damage. Not to mention, if you work in an office that doesn’t have ample storage space on site, you might find yourself staring at a pyramid of old bottles and/or tripping over them on a regular basis.
By comparison, water dispensers are a lot more compact and convenient than a water cooler. They are also plumbed straight into the existing water supply, meaning that nobody has to change over any bottles and/or pay for the water company to send out a technician to make the change for you.
Furthermore, water dispensers don’t just supply cold water, as is the case with water coolers. So, not only can you save yourself space, time and money, but you also give your workers and guests more options when it comes to drinks.
Kettles vs Instant Hot Water Dispensers
The humble kettle has served office workers for decades. But if you work in a space with more than a few people, waiting around for the kettle to boil, then refilling it to make more drinks, is a long and time-consuming task.
Kettles are certainly the smallest of the hot water machines, plus they are highly portable, given their light weight and the fact that you can move them around the office or your home at ease. That said, a rogue kettle can be responsible for both minor and major injuries, including burns, slips and even trips caused by trailing cables. Not to mention, if a kettle has a small crack or other break in it, you could run the risk of seriously harming yourself or others.
By comparison, hot water dispensers can fit on a work surface, taking up very little room, but with all their wires safely tucked away. Plus, you never have to refill a hot water dispenser, so you always have a constant supply, which means making drinks for more than a few people at a time is a breeze.
Furthermore, you cannot control the temperature of a kettle, but with a hot water dispenser you can choose from boiling or warm, all the way down to perfectly chilled. Can you make an iced coffee with a kettle? Nope!
Water Dispensers vs Bottled Water
Many of us who live in a hard-water area often opt for mineral water as a healthy way to stay hydrated. However, if you regularly buy mineral water then you already know that this is an expensive undertaking. Plus, throwing away countless plastic bottles per year isn’t very good for the environment.
On the flip side, a great water dispenser will give you not just hot or cold water at the touch of a button, but also perfectly filtered water that is safe, clean and delicious.
For example, our BIBO water dispensers use a carbon filter and UV-ray filtration system. That means that the water comes out of your mainsand goes through this ultra-efficient process where things such as chlorine, microplastics, herbicides and even pesticides are removed, before leaving you with a glass of safe and tasty water.
Filtered Water Dispenser vs Unfiltered
That is always the argument that ‘there’s nothing wrong with tap water’. After all, half of us grew up on the stuff, and there’s nothing wrong with us, right? But did you know that UK tap water consists of up to 14 different chemicals, including chlorine, nitrates, microorganisms and even heavy metals, such as lead and copper. So although you might have been lucky so far, the build-up of these materials in your body isn’t good news for anyone.
Therefore, why not filter your water and give yourself the very best levels of hydration possible? With a carbon filter and UV filtration system, the water that comes out of our dispensers is healthy, fresh and perfectly safe.
But wait! There’s more. Filtered water actually tastes better than tap water, and it’s better for the environment because you don’t need to buy it in plastic bottles. Also, by opting for filtered water, you don’t have to spend a fortune and cart around stacks of bottled mineral water, making a water dispenser at home more convenient and more cost effective in the long run.
By using our BIBO plumbed-in water dispensers, you can have fresh and filtered water, hot or cold, at the touch of a button and still save money. In fact, some of our customers reported a 25% decrease in the overall energy bill after choosing one of our water dispensers over a traditional kettle.
We all need to drink water to stay happy and hydrated! And the safer the water, the better we’ll feel. But drinking water can also be a delicious experience that’s kind to our wallets as well. And by installing a BIBO water dispenser, you can have clean, safe drinking water, hot or cold, at the touch of a button. And all while saving yourself some money and being kinder to the environment, which sounds like a pretty good deal to us!
For help selecting your new water dispenser, as well as answers to our most frequently asked questions about installation and maintenance, check out our FAQ page, call us or fill out our online webform.
