Choosing a mains powered water cooler

Mains Fed Water Coolers - What, Why and How

If you're installing water coolers in your home or place of business, you'll have a number of choices to make. Should it be a freestanding or table-top model? What features are important? Which design? Should you rent your water dispenser or should you buy it outright? But before you fine-tune your requirements, the most important decision you'll have to make is whether to choose a model that uses bottled water or whether you will use your mains water supply.

What is a mains-fed water cooler?

As it says on the tin, a mains fed water cooler uses the same supply that brings water to your household taps. A mains-fed water cooler system is one that is plumbed in directly to your existing pipes and uses the water from your standard water supplier.

Why choose a mains-fed cooler?

If you choose to install a mains-fed water chiller, there are multiple bonuses: 

• Mains-fed coolers are an economical choice. Mains water is carefully monitored by the operating companies to make sure its top quality, but costs a fraction of that for bottled water. Mains water is as good as, fresher and even higher quality, than bottled and 'designer' waters.
• It's the easy option. There's a guaranteed, regular supply. You don't have to order bottled water, keep changing the bottle when it's empty or deal with constant visitors.
• Even though plastic bottles are recycled, it's an energy-intensive option that includes: deliveries, bottle manufacturing and the recycling process. Each one contributes to your carbon footprint. 

How do I go about installing a mains-fed water system?

For full details, ask the experts who will supply and plumb in your mains-fed water cooler.

It's possible to install a mains-fed water cooler in almost all buildings - around 85% of them. You will need to be sure that your water supply comes from a mains water supplier, and not from a storage tank.

The reason for this is that, though most water coolers will filter your water again, storage tank water may not be suitable for drinking, or, will be labour-intensive to sanitise. If your water comes from a tank, the alternative - a bottled water cooler - is the way to go. Very few of us have tank water, but it is worth making certain to save money.

If you have a mains water supply, it's a relatively simple matter to plumb in the mains-fed water cooler model of your choice. It takes less than an hour in most cases. A plumbed-in system isn't a pricey procedure that requires a plumber for the job. It doesn't involve messy re-piping and soldering. Connecting is a straightforward matter, and systems include hygienic, food-grade plastic piping. You won't have to perform or pay for structural changes or tedious redecorating afterward.

You also shouldn't have problems placing your new water dispense in the location that's convenient for you (and your staff, if in the workplace) to refresh yourselves throughout the day. Plumbed in coolers can be installed some distance from the connection point - up to about 15 metres (50 feet), and the piping is discreet and unobtrusive. A mains fed water cooler, where you want it, isn't a problem for the vast majority of residential homes or business premises.

You can rent your water dispenser / cooler or buy one. It's entirely up to you. The advantage of renting is that standard maintenance needs are catered for. If you buy your water dispenser unit, you can take on a service contract option or maintain it yourself. They aren't complicated appliances, and it is possible to do it yourself, if you have the time and the will. Tasks include emptying the drip tray, sanitising the containers and cleaning the filters (in models that include them).