Water: It's essential to life. There's nothing more refreshing than a glass of water on a hot day, after a bout of hard work or any time you feel thirsty. Most business owners understand that fresh, clean, filtered water is expected by employees, guests and visitors to any office or commercial space.
In the past, offering drinking water meant taking up space with a dispenser and a supply of jugs or else palettes of plastic bottles. It also meant a significant ongoing expense, either for replacement jugs or bottles. Fortunately bottleless water coolers offer a new space- and money-saving solution that is green to boot.
Find out what makes bottleless water coolers an attractive option for many business owners today, and what options are available.
The benefits of bottleless
There are so many reasons to opt for a bottleless water dispenser, whether you are buying your first cooler or are trying to get away from using a water dispenser with inconvenient, space-hogging jugs and expensive, annoying service contracts.
Environmentally friendly and significantly more affordable than bottles, counter top coolers or floor model dispensers offer a lot benefits:
- Eliminates impurities and chemicals from drinking water
- Provides water on demand to drink, as well as brew coffee, tea, flavor packets, instant food and more
- Takes up drastically less space than cases of bottles or jugs
- Keeps millions of pounds of plastic out of our landfills
- Costs less than other water solutions, such as bottled water or a cooler with jugs
So, basically if you like fresh water, saving money and doing what's right by the planet, a bottleless water cooler makes sense.
How do bottleless coolers work?
A bottleless water cooler dispenser gets hooked to a potable water line, much like an ice maker or commercial coffee maker. You'll want an experienced and appropriately licensed plumber to install the unit.
Installation near an existing sink or another plumbing source may make sense, but ask your plumber if you have space constraints or unique installation needs.
During installation, your technician will likely be able to adjust your office water cooler for the appropriate level of filtration for the water in your area, if you choose a filtering unit. Once your water cooler is hooked up, it will dispense fresh, potable water from your local water source.
You may or may not need to do ongoing maintenance, such as changing filters. But many units are install and enjoy!
Coolers come with a variety of filtration types. Some options may include:
- Sediment and carbon
- Reverse Osmosis
- UV
- No filtration
- Ultra-Filtration
If you live in an area with hard water or water containing a high level of contaminants, water filtration may be of particular concern. Talk to a reputable dealer about which filtration method makes sense for the composition of water in your area and your needs.
Free-standing floor model dispenses versus countertop coolers
Two main options for bottleless water coolers exist: free-standing floor models — much like the jug models you might be used to — and space-saving countertop water cooler units. There are a variety of reasons you may want to consider one or the other type. Learn a little bit more about the features of each.
Free standing: Floor model water coolers are typically available in several styles, filter choices and colors with water that dispenses in two or three temperatures. Free standing bottleless water coolers often make a great choice for:
- Offices
- Factories
- Homes
- Medical centers
- Customer reception areas
- Beauty salons
- Retail outlets
- Gyms or fitness businesses
Countertop: If you have limited floor space or don't like the look of a free-standing water dispenser a countertop model might make the most sense.
Counter top water dispensers come in variety sizes and work for home owners and businesses. Some business settings that make ideal locations:
- Office lunchrooms
- Business break rooms
- Medical offices
- Teachers lounges
- Cafeterias
Countertop models can be less expensive than some free-standing models, but both will save you money you'd spend on jugs or water or water bottles over time.
Water cooler features
Depending on what your bottleless water cooler dispenser dealers have in stock, you may have a variety of other options to consider. These may include:
- Colors
- Number of temperatures
- Type of display
- Filter choices
- Capacity
Coolers you are considering may have anywhere from two to three temperature options — room temperature, hot or cold — along with digital display options. Some temperature combinations may include:
- Hot/Cold
- Hot/Room temperature/Cold
- Room temperature/Cold
Coolers often come in black, white or stainless steel finishes. There are also a variety of styles and colors available to work with the aesthetics of your space, if that's a concern. Some color options may include:
- Gray
- White
- Black
- Stainless Steel
Models may have different filters, which will need to be replaced according to the the manufacturer's instructions. The tank sizes for hot and cold water will also vary.
You may also want a cooler with an extra rooming filling area for sports bottles and the like. Again, there are myriad options depending on your needs and the aesthetics of your space.
Costs and maintenance
Countertop models range from about $350 to $750. Freestanding models range from about $500 to $1,500. The size and features you choose will determine your cost.
Bottleless water coolers quickly pay for themselves. Without having to budget for bottled water, jugs or service contracts, you can still provide the basic amenity of fresh, filtered to your employees, customers and visitors. Another potential savings is the cost of transporting the water coolers.
Concerned about leaks and flooding? Many units have shutoff controls to help prevent flooding. Ideally, your water cooler dealer and the plumbing company that installs your unit can be a resource, if anything goes wrong with your water cooler during operation down the line.
Finding the right model of cooler
Find a company that has a variety of options of coolers available — and isn't trying to lock you into an expensive contract. Your dealer should be able to weigh the different options to figure out exactly what you need.
If you just need drinking water, you may not need a variety of temperatures, but if you're installing a bottleless water cooler in a lunch or break room, you may want hot water options that allow users to easily brew hot drinks or make instant meals. If you are really tight on space, a countertop water cooler may make the most sense. If you're putting a dispenser in a waiting room area, aesthetics may be of particular concern.
Make a list of your needs before shopping for a bottleless water cooler online or talking to an environmental systems company. Having fresh, clean drinking water available in your office or commercial space can be convenient, space-saving and cost-effective.
For a free consultation on assessing your water cooler needs, contact Pure n Natural.
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