A water dispenser is, as its name implies, a device that dispenses water.

It is used to provide easy access to drinking water. Water dispensers have become a necessary part of society.

  • Some water dispensers provide clean, filtered water from a replaceable bottle.
  • Other water dispensers provide water straight from a municipal water line.
  • Some dispensers perform functions like filtering water, heating water, or cooling water

A water dispenser can be useful in many situations. Some offices prefer to have a water dispenser because it provides clients and employees with convenient access to water, without having to take extended breaks or drive to the store.

  • Water dispensers are also commonly used in residential homes that do not have ideal drinking water from the tap, or for people who simply do not like the taste of the tap water.
  • Water dispensers are typically an environmentally friendly option, as personal bottled water leaves a lot of plastic waste.

Whether psychologically, or for real reasoning, people tend to enjoy water from a dispenser over water from a sink. Because many water dispensers provide the option to have water immediately cooled or heated, its convenience has become a necessity in many businesses and residential homes.

In addition, many water dispensers have the option to use filtered water, which many people enjoy more than hard water from a tap.

How Does a Water Dispenser Work?

Most water dispensers typically use the same simple concept: deliver water from a source through a tap or spigot, usually using a button or knob for users to dispense the water.

However simple the concept, how a dispenser works depends on the type of dispenser. There are different types of water dispensers:

Bottled Water Dispensers

Bottled water dispensers are commonly referred to as a water dispenser or a water cooler. Most water dispenser work by having a 5-gallon water bottle upside down on the top of the machine. This allows gravity and vacuum pressure to do the job of filling a glass when someone presses water spigot. When this happens, air is allowed into the bottle so water can escape into your glass or bottle.

  • Bottled dispensers are similar to point-of-use water dispensers as they are often available with options to cool and heat the water prior to dispensing it.
  • Usually, a five gallon water bottle is placed upside down in the water dispenser’s tank. This is an ideal option for those who do not wish to drink tap water, or for those who do not have the option to connect into the main water line.
  • Usually the water in bottled water is high quality, filtered water.
  • The bottled water dispenser works the same way as a point of use dispenser, as the user simply presses a button or turns a knob to release the water into the funnel.
  • Bottled water dispensers may require more maintenance than point of use dispensers because, bottle service is usually necessary to ensure enough water is available. The dispenser only delivers water from the water bottle source, so if there are no water bottles available there is no water available in the dispenser.
  • In most areas, water service is fairly inexpensive however, and come with a periodic inspection of the tank along with delivery of fresh, filtered water.
  • Bottled dispensers are made to use pre-filtered bottled water, so they do not usually have or need a filter inside.

If the explanation wasn't enough, watch this short video from Creator Guy to understand the dynamics of how a water dispenser works. Plus you can try making your own for fun!

The bottled water dispenser has many of the same components as a point of use dispenser, as they contain many similarities and are built the same way. Although, there are simple bottled water dispensers that do not have any cooling or heating options. Typically, a bottle water dispenser have the following parts:

  • A tank (or two)- to store the water to be heated or cooled prior to dispensing.
  • A water heater- to heat the water
  • A refrigerating system- to cool the water.
  • A tap or spigot- to release water
  • A button or knob- for users to dispense water
  • A collar- which holds the water bottle in a downward position, and allows water to channel into the tank(s.
  • Electricity is required if the dispenser has the option to cool and heat water.

Mounted Water Dispensers

Mounted Water Dispensers are commonly referred to as water fountains. They are found in public places such as theme parks or boardwalks, in parks, or in large office buildings.

  • The dispenser mounts to a wall, or can be freestanding on the ground, and taps water from an existing water line.
  • The water is dispensed by the user by turning a knob or pressing a button, which sends a stream of water until the knob or button is released. The water is sent in an arched formation to make drinking easy.
  • Typically a water fountain is not used to fill cups, but rather to take a quick drink from the receptacle.
  • Mounted water dispensers are usually tapped into the municipal water supply which means the water is not usually cooled, heated, treated or filtered. So on cold days, the water is cold and on warm days the water is warm.
  • However, some water fountains, like that in large cooperation’s, office buildings, or in places that have electricity available, do have water coolers inside to cool the drinking water prior to dispensing it.

Mounted water dispensers are usually the most primitive of water dispensers, as they usually don’t have any special functions like heating, cooling, or filtering water. For this reason, mounted dispensers don’t usually have many parts. The parts on a mounted filter are usually:

  • A tank- to draw water into from the main line
  • A spigot- that sends a stream of water into the air in an arched form to make drinking easier.
  • A button or knob- that when pressed releases the water
  • A cooler or refrigerated system- if the water fountain is designed to cool water

Point of Use Water Dispenser

Point of use water dispensers are similar to a mounted water dispenser, as they are used by tapping into an existing water line.

  • Point of use water dispensers are typically found in businesses and residential homes that require convenient access to water.
  • Point of use water dispensers are a convenient option because they have an unlimited supply of water available, since it’s connected to a water line.
  • Point of use water dispensers do not require replacing bottles periodically in order to ensure water is available through the dispenser.
  • Point of use water dispensers usually has the ability to cool and heat water by storing water in a tank and using electricity to warm or heat the water prior to dispensing it.
  • Point of use water dispensers usually filters the water coming from the water line.
  • A point of use water dispenser is connected to the main water line, it stores water in a tank, heats and cools it, if applicable, and is dispensed by users by turning a knob or pressing a button. Water is funneled through a tap located in the front of the dispenser.

Point of use water dispensers come with various uses, the best of them cool, heat, and filter water. Point of use water dispensers have more parts than a mounted water dispenser because they usually have more components.

  • A tank (or two) – to store water to be chilled or heated prior to dispensing.
  • A water heater- to warm water
  • A refrigerating system- to cool water
  • Water filters- to filter the tap water
  • A tap or spigot- for users to receive water from
  • A button or knob- to release water
  • These types of filters typically require electricity to function

 

Other Water Dispenser Parts

In addition to the standard water dispenser parts, many water dispensers are outfitted with additional tools for convenience or luxury.

  • Some have cup dispensers attached to the housing for easy access to disposable cups.
  • Some dispensers have an installed mini-refrigerator underneath the water tap that can be used to hold a small amount of canned or bottled drinks or food items.

Choosing The Right Water Dispenser

All types of water dispensers come in an assortment of sizes and uses.

Some are fitted for small areas like countertops or tabletops in residential homes or offices; others are more suited for larger areas like building hallways or kitchens.

You can find some mounted water dispensers outside in parks or other public places as well.

Water dispensers are popular because they add much needed convenience to an everyday need. Everybody needs water on a daily basis, and water dispensers fill that need. Choosing the right water dispenser depends on the necessity.

  • If simple access to water is the only need, then a standard mounted water dispenser is probably the best option.
  • If filtered water that can be heated or cooled is necessary then a bottled water or point of use water dispenser is the better option.

Choosing between the two would depend on the circumstances available. If the dispenser can easily been hooked up to a main water line, a point of use dispenser would be a good option because it can provide an unlimited supply of water.

  • However, if there is no access to a main water line, a bottled water dispenser is an easy way to provide clean filtered water.

Deciding on the needs of the dispenser will help when deciding on a water dispenser option. Also, considering the size of the location can be helpful in determining the right water dispenser.

Browse Water Dispensers

6 comments

  • Nice information! Thanks for sharing:)

    Daniel Lew on

  • Thank you I really appreciate your blog because I was finding this solution about water dispenser all over the internet from so many days

    ronne on

  • Nice explanation 👍👍

    Ambika on

  • nice explanation

    kennedy on

  • nice blog about water dispenser and very easy to understand

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    mukesh on

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