Best Water Cooler 2017 – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

Are you in need of a reliable water cooler for your family? Then, don't miss this opportunity to read reviews on some of the great brands in the market now. The best water cooler should be easy to use, durable, and energy efficient.

Purified or distilled drinking water has become popular, especially when water sanitary issues are on the rise for tap water. Purified water is best enjoyed when chilled, so getting a water cooler has become a necessity for every household. Learn more about this essential machine in the text below.

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What Is A Water Cooler?

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A water cooler can cool water above freezing temperature and dispense at the same time. Usually, a water cooler can also dispense hot and room temperature water.

Since water sanitation is important, some water coolers have a self-cleaning feature. If you like to buy a cooler without this feature, you can clean it manually by following the sanitizing process shown in this video.

Typically, water coolers have a top load design, meaning that it gets water from an inverted water bottle at the top of the unit. Refilling water can be a bit exhausting since you have to lift a 3 or 5 gallon of water on top of the unit. Now, recent water coolers are designed with a bottom load mechanism, which places the refilled bottle at the bottom.

What To Look For In A Good Water Cooler

1. Energy Efficiency

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Since water coolers are powered by electricity, we can't help but be concern over the possible high energy costs they entail. If you like the equipment to have a less impact on your electric bills, look for an energy-efficient model.

A clear indicator of being energy efficient is an Energy Star Label. Other models save energy by having an on/off switch for the hot tank.


2. Durable Construction

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Via therewillbeeffects.tumblr.com

Water coolers may be constructed of various materials, like stainless steel and plastic. If you aim for durability, stainless steel is a good choice since it can resist corrosion and discoloration.

The water reservoir should be made with stainless steel so your water will taste pure and not plastic. Likewise, the faucets need to be made with a solid steel frame so they can endure the pressure of frequent use. Typically, the price of stainless steel water coolers is expensive because you're paying for quality.


3. Self-cleaning Feature

To ensure the sanitation of your equipment and the purity of your drinking water, a self-cleaning feature is much desired. This feature usually uses automatic bursts of unstable oxygen to annihilate microbes and viruses on contact. These microbes and viruses are responsible for the biofilm formation in most regular coolers.


4. Ease Of Use

A good water cooler should be easy to use. One of the banes in keeping a cooler at home is the mounting of the water bottle on top of the unit, which requires a great amount of energy.

This is usually required for top-loading units. This may be difficult in the beginning, but you'll get the hang of it over time.

If you don't like this hassle, you can look for a bottom-mounting unit. With this type of mount, you don't need to lift the water bottle. All you have to do is position the bottle at the bottom of the unit.


5. Efficient And Durable Compressor

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Via ebay.com

The temperature of water depends on the size of the compressor. If you like your water to be very cold, look for a large compressor. A compressor may last long for many years if it turns on less frequently.

5 Top Picks On Market 2016

*Below, you'll find our more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.

The Whirlpoo water cooler is made with stainless steel making it elegant-looking and durable. It features a 6th Sense Self- Cleaning technology that kills bacteria and viruses. The LED indicators manifest when the Self Cleaning feature is activated as well as when the water has become hot and cold.

This cooler uses a bottom loading technology that allows you to load the water bottle at the bottom of the unit. It uses a durable water pump and a water siphon to transfer the water from the bottom to the top. Designed with a proprietary cooling system technology, its compressor turns on less often than other brands.

97
/100

Editor's Rating: 97/100


Pros

  • Durable stainless steel housing and unbreakable water faucets
  • Efficient and long-lasting compressor
  • ​Convenient bottom loading mechanism
  • ​Hassle-free self-cleaning feature
  • Hot button is child resistant

Cons

  • A bit noisy
  • The space allotted for water dispensing is a bit short for tall bottles
  • LED lights keep flashing all the time

The Glacial Water Cooler self-cleans a couple of times daily to kill the bacteria that form a biofilm inside the tank. It features a Glacial Chill technology to keep water at a constant above freezing temperature. Its compressor promises to lasts long as it turns on around 30 times less than the typical coolers.

Encased with stainless steel and chrome-nickel plating, this cooler generates a nice look. This can fit 3 or 5 gallons of water bottles at the base. Instead of the usual lifting of bottles on the top, the bottom loading design effortlessly loads bottles at the base.

92
/100

Editor's Rating: 92/100


Pros

  • Durable stainless steel and chrome-nickel construction
  • Easy to load water bottles at the bottom of the unit
  • ​Great self-cleaning feature
  • Keeps water ice cold

Cons

  • Very expensive
  • The unit is noisy when cooling
  • The night lights seem to be distracting

The Primo top-load water cooler is designed with a spill-proof bottle receptacle. Built with LED light, it aids you when dispensing in dim areas. You can turn the hot tank on or off to save energy.

As compared to conventional dispensers, Primo uses 25% less energy and delivers very cold water twice as fast. To protect your children from getting burn to hot water, a child safety latch is designed. Like the Avalon, this unit is also Energy Star Approved and accepts 3-5 gallons of water bottle.

85
/100

Editor's Rating: 85/100


Pros

  • Elegant and durable stainless steel construction
  • Easy to use push-button controls
  • ​Energy efficient and energy saving
  • ​Spill-proof and safe for children
  • Offers LED light for low lighting conditions

Cons

  • No self-cleaning feature
  • Tank is a bit flimsy
  • The front is not fully made in stainless steel

The Avalon top loading water cooler dispenser delivers hot and cold water efficiently. This cooler is Energy Star Approved, meaning that it has met the energy efficiency requirements established by United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It features a child safety lock on the hot faucet to prevent your children from getting burn.

Built with a slim fit design, you can fit this unit in any corner of your kitchen. The paddle spouts are easy to use since you only need to press your cup against the paddle to dispense the water out.

83
/100

Editor's Rating: 83/100


Pros

  • Energy efficient
  • Safe for children as it comes with a child safety lock feature on the hot faucet
  • ​Slim fit design gives minimal footprint
  • ​The compressor is efficient in cooling and heating the water perfectly
  • Nice paddle spout design

Cons

  • The area where the bottle meets the dispenser tends to leak
  • Water seems to tale like metalIt tends to make a lot of noise

The Hamilton Beach BL-1-4A offers room temperature, hot, and cold water. Loading water bottles is already a breeze since this unit is designed with a bottom loading mechanism. You can tell that the bottle needs replacement if the indicator light flashes.

This cooler is made of a stainless steel water tanks to offer clean drinking water. You ca dispense water in just a push of a button. For easy cleanup, this model is built with a removable spill tray. The hot water control is also protected against the access of children.

79
/100

Editor's Rating: 79/100


Pros

  • Comes with a nice one-year warranty
  • The bottom loading design makes it easy to refill water
  • ​Offers lighting during the night
  • Great child safety lock feature for the hot water button

Cons

  • Dispenses water at a very low speed
  • Water seems to taste like plastic
  • The plastic parts seem to be flimsy
  • No self-cleaning feature

Final Thought

All of the water coolers are nice investments for your family, but the Whirlpool Stainless Steel Water Cooler with LED Indicators stands out as the best. This is because this unit has most of the features desired for a good water cooler like durable construction, self- cleaning feature, ease of use, and an efficient compressor. Although, the Glacial Maximum has the same positive features of Whirlpool, it is more expensive.

Let us know what you think in the comments section below. Don't hesitate to link this post if you find it helpful.

1 thought on “Best Water Cooler 2017 – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide”

  1. Hi Paula. Your review is so explicit! You leave nothing unexplored, checking every little detail of all the water dispensers that you target. I agree that whirlpool and stainless models are the ideal dispensers given that they spot some of the most desired features of the best coolers. The other most significant factor I would consider in a dispenser is the hot, cold, lukewarm feature because it provides home and office users a variety of water temperatures. All in all, I am impressed by the review. Keep up the good work!!

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