Countertop Water Cooler Basics

Smaller than full sized coolers, for home and small office use they are the top choice.  That’s because like their name suggests they can easily fit on just about any counter top and provide clean drinking water to family member or co-workers.  

2 Basic Types

With Bottles

There are basically 2 kinds of available: those that use bottles and those that do not. Models that do use a bottle look just like a standard water cooler but more compact in size and proportions.  The bottle is placed neck-down into a reservoir on the top of the unit where it is kept cool for drinking. There are also models that can boil water for you, making it a convenient choice for offices since you won’t have to use an electric kettle or microwave. The heated water can be used for noodles, coffee, tea and soup.

There are also coolers that are marketed as counter top water dispensers. They use bottles and are basically the same except that dispensers do not use electricity and for that reason the water is served at room temperature. This kind is less expensive than the electric variety.

Water cooler bottles come in many sizes. This means that coolers can be filled with 2, 3 or 5 gallons of water depending on the amount you need. An easy way of determining the bottle size is to figure out how many people will be drinking from the cooler. Five gallons is the most popular choice and is often ideal for both the average family or office space. Smaller bottles are better for offices and kitchens with limited space.

When purchasing bottles you can buy from most supermarkets or you could use tap water for refilling depending on its quality. If you are thinking about buying water bottles, you also need to think about storage because bottles can take up a lot of space. Buying a rack can help you protect floors and organize bottles in a neat and efficient manner.

Without Bottles

Another option is to consider a bottleless counter top water cooler. These do not use bottles but are connected instead to the water line of your home or office. They are more expensive because they have their own filtration system to clean the water for drinking. In some models the filter used can be used for thousands of gallons before it needs to be replaced. Even though they are more expensive up front you’ll save on not having to buy water.

Counter top water coolers make staying hydrated easy and affordable.  By placing one in your home or office you’ll always have a refreshing glass of water at your disposal.  And of course you’ll be saving cash and helping the environment.