Mains-fed vs Bottled Water Coolers: Which is Best for Your Office?
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Keeping your staff and visitors hydrated is not only a necessity, but it can also boost productivity and mood in the long run. Making sure you have easy access to great tasting, filtered water can help keep your staff motivated throughout the day with reliable workplace hydration solutions.
Mains-fed Water Coolers
Mains-fed water coolers are plumbed directly into your mains water supply. This means they don’t need to rely on bottled water deliveries to keep running. This doesn’t limit the water varieties you can get from this type of water cooler; your office can still enjoy chilled, hot, and even sparkling water from a mains-connected water dispenser.
Because they are plumbed in, mains-fed coolers cannot be easily moved once installed. However, they are ideal for permanent workplace water solutions and busy office environments.
Bottled Water Coolers
Bottled water coolers are the traditional style of cooler, which feature a large pre-filled bottle which is screwed into the top. They are ideal for smaller workplaces or places with reduced demand. They are also good for those who need a temporary solution that can be easily moved around the office.
What is the Difference in Cost?
At first glance, bottled water coolers are cheaper than mains-fed coolers. This is because their setup does not require tapping into the mains supply, which can be more labour intensive and take a little longer to install.
However, mains-connected coolers are more cost-efficient in the long term. As they are plumbed in, they don’t require frequent bottled water deliveries to maintain a constant water supply. They also reduce the time it takes for your staff to receive deliveries and replace heavy water bottles.
Hygiene & Maintenance
Both mains-fed water coolers and bottled water coolers require similar hygiene and maintenance standards to be carried out. Both types of machine should be regularly wiped down and have drip trays emptied to prevent stagnant water building up.
With both of our contract types — rental and purchase — maintenance is included, meaning you don’t have to worry about the internal upkeep of the machine. This supports workplace water hygiene standards and reliable operation.
Environmental Impact
Mains-connected water coolers are also more environmentally friendly than bottled water coolers. They don’t require regular bottle deliveries, which helps reduce plastic usage and keeps delivery vans off the road, helping reduce CO2 emissions and support sustainable office solutions.
Filtered Water
Both mains-connected and bottled water coolers can be fitted with water filters to help improve taste and remove potential contaminants. All our coolers come with filters as standard, so you don’t need to worry about any added extras when choosing your commercial water dispenser.
Which is Right for My Business?
For smaller businesses who need flexibility, we recommend bottled coolers. As they don’t require being plumbed in and they can be moved around easily (although we ask that you notify us if you wish to move your cooler). However, we will always try to conduct a site survey prior to installation, so it may be that a mains-connected water cooler is better for your workplace.
Medium to large offices, which require multiple machines, should look at mains-fed water coolers first. This is because they often have the infrastructure to support plumbing machines into the mains water supply. They are also more cost efficient, helping larger sites save money in the long run on workplace hydration costs.
If you are thinking about getting a new office water cooler and would like a quote, or you would like to further discuss your options, get in contact today. We can help book a free site survey to see what would work best for your business.
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