7 Tips to Consider Before Buying an Office Water Cooler/Dispenser
If you spend most of your working time in the office, then you must understand how important it is to have a source of cool drinking water around. The availability of a water cooler or a water dispenser encourages you to drink water often and thus be able to stay rehydrated most of the time. Office water coolers can be bought or rented with the former being the better option as you enjoy a 100% control and ownership of the equipment. There are so many office dispensers/coolers online and before you make the purchase, you should consider these 7 tips.
1- A Dispenser Isn’t Necessarily a Cooler
Even though both terms are often interchanged to mean the same thing, they aren’t. The term water dispenser refers to dispensing equipment that is either non-electric or electric. The electric option is able to cool the dispensed water and this is what we call the water cooler. Either option will carry the standard water bottles.
2- Freestanding vs Countertop Dispenser/ Cooler
It’s important to know beforehand how the water dispenser/cooler will be positioned in the office before buying it. If you have a table or counter surface that you can place the equipment, then the countertop unit will work. Besides, it’s cheaper than the freestanding option. Nonetheless, if you have no place to position the equipment, then you’ll need to consider the freestanding option.
3- Look for Best Storage and Dispensing Features
Essentially, a water dispenser/cooler comes with a single faucet, but if you are targeting to enjoy hot water, which is highly advisable, it can come with two faucets. This allows you to prepare a cup of hot chocolate or coffee in the office conveniently. Other than the extra faucet, the other best features to consider are:
- A stainless-steel reservoir
- Adequate spacing for refilling water bottles
4- Identify Health and Safety Features
It’s important that the water you take is safe and the equipment does not pose any danger to you in the office. Thus, you should look for:
- A design that does not expose the water to external contaminants
- A simple-to-clean nozzle
- A stable base so as not to topple easily
- A child lock feature to avoid spillages
5- Get the Ideal Storage Capacity
The water dispensers/coolers come in different capacities, so you should pick the one that suits your office. Most units will accommodate the standards bottles but you should confirm the detail before buying the unit.
6- There is No Standard Drinking Temperature
The temperature of the drinking water dispensed varies from one brand to another depending on the technology. Nonetheless, a water cooler with a bottom storage space is more likely to give out cooler water than the one with a top storage space.
7- Delivery and Installation
Lastly, you have to know how the equipment will get to your office and who will install it so as to avoid unnecessary expenses and inconveniences.
These 7 tips are a must-check before you buy an office water dispenser/cooler. They’ll enable you to identify a unit that is right for your office and one that guarantees quality and safe drinking water at all times.