The terms water dispenser and water cooler are often used indiscriminately, usually by individuals who do not know that there is actually a difference between the two, but there is. The truth is that all water coolers are water dispensers, but not all water dispensers are water coolers!
Before you decide to invest your hard-earned money on one or the other you need to make sure that what you are purchasing is what you want and need.
Water Dispensers
Water dispensers are basically any container which pulls liquids from a storage tank and dispenses it again via a tap, including kitchen or bathroom taps, a water jug with a tap, an inbuilt water dispenser in a fridge, or a unit that holds a large water bottle that dispenses water via a tap lower than the bottle.
A tap built into a wall to fill large receptacles or supply on-tap water is also a type of water dispenser.
Water Coolers
Water coolers on the other hand are similar to water containers in that they also hold a large water-bottle and dispense water via a tap; the one difference being that they contain a compressor designed to chill the water, and are more commonly referred to as bottled water coolers.
Water coolers dispense water via one or more taps, depending on the model and whether it has only cold water or hot, ambient and cold water features.
In the old days, water coolers were only to be found in boardrooms, hotels, offices, and sports facilities, but the smaller modern versions can be found in many homes, guest houses or cottages too.
Water coolers are available in two types; bottled water coolers which have an inverted bottle of water on the top and mains water coolers, which are plumbed into the main water supply.
Living-Water offers three types of bottled water coolers, including a table-top version which is perfect for the home or very small businesses like a hairdresser or a small shop. Living-Water mains water cooler range includes a fountain version which is great for schools and other high-traffic areas as well as an under-counter version that is ideal for the hospitality industry.
