Which is the Best Water Cooler for My Business?

Choosing the best water cooler for your business involves careful consideration of various factors to make sure it meets your company’s needs and provides the best value for money. Water coolers are a must in today’s fast paces business arena, contributing to employee hydration and wellbeing. We’ve put together a guide to help you make an informed choice when looking to purchase or hire a water cooler.

Types of Water Coolers

Bottled Coolers

These are traditional units where a large water bottle is placed on top (our bottled water is sold in 18.9 litre bottles as standard). These are easy to install and can be moved if needed.

Mains Fed Coolers

These coolers are connected directly to the mains water supply and have a built-in filter ensuring a continuous supply of filtered water.

Countertop Coolers

These coolers are ideal for smaller businesses as they are compact and can sit on top of kitchen worksurfaces and can be connected to the mains water supply.

Usage and Capacity

The type of water cooler you choose will depend on the size and type of business. One with a large workforce and frequent visitors will need a larger cooler, connected to the mains so that there is no need for frequent bottle changes. A smaller business with only a few employees would benefit from a bottled machine, where you pay for bottles of water as and when you need them.

Temperature Options

Consider the water temperature options that your workers may prefer.

Hot and Cold dispensers

These have a dual purpose, offering hot water for teas and coffees and cold water for drinking.

Cold and ambient

These are suitable if you do not need a hot water dispenser, and offer chilled water, or ambient depending on the choice of the individual.

Filtration

Water quality is important, especially when you’re drinking it! Bottled water coolers offer the safety of natural mineral water whilst mains fed coolers have filtration systems built in, which remove impurities such as chlorine, sediment, heavy metals, bacteria and viruses.

Ease of Use and Accessibility

Water Coolers should be easy to use for everybody. Look for features like ergonomic design and contactless dispensing. They should be a comfortable height for all users.

Ensure your cooler is placed sensibly and is accessible to all employees including those with disabilities. Consider models with touchless dispensing (Bluetooth is ideal!) and large dispensing areas to accommodate different bottle or cup sizes.

Maintenance and Cost

Consider the long-term maintenance and costs associated with the water cooler. Do you have a maintenance contract with your supplier? Do they offer next day delivery on water bottles? You’ll need to evaluate the total cost of ownership against a rental contract, bottled cooler against mains fed, including installation, energy consumption, and potential water delivery costs.

Space

The available space in your place of business will undoubtedly influence your decision about which water cooler you ultimately choose.

Freestanding Coolers

Whether they are bottled or mains fed, a free standing unit will require floor space. They can be conveniently placed in staff or common rooms. There is more flexibility with a bottled cooler, as these can be place anywhere close to a power supply, where a mains fed cooler will require plumbing.

Countertop Coolers

These will save floor space, but you’ll need to sacrifice some worktop space to accommodate them. They are ideal for smaller offices or kitchens.

Aesthetics and Branding

Ideally the appearance of the water cooler should align with your office décor or branding. Sleek modern designs are available in various finishes, so there should be models that are suitable for the aesthetic of your business, but if you want to go a step further, then some machines can be ‘wrapped’ with your company’s logo, colours or branding.

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Selecting the best water cooler for your workplace needs a thorough understanding of your office needs, water quality and the space available to house it. Do some research before you commit. If you need help then CoolerAid’s expert team can guide you, and give you the best advice. Providing safe, clean drinking water for your employees is law. Our technicians will take care of the installation and maintenance, ensuring your experience with CoolerAid is completely worry free. Contact us here.