Water Cooler Talk!

Water cooler talk is a common idiomatic expression, especially in the corporate environment. But what exactly is a water cooler?

A water cooler, or also known as a water dispenser is an electronic water storage device that keeps your water hot or cold. Water dispensers are categorized into two: bottled water dispensers and those without bottles. They are typically white, black or made of stainless steel. The size may also vary depending on the need: the most popular would be the floor dispensers, those most commonly used in offices. The smaller ones are placed on counters or table tops, ideal for more compact homes. Ordinary water dispensers have two spouts – ideal for hot and cold. Hot water is normally utilized for cooking noodles, soup or mixing oatmeal; the cold spout is normally used for drinking water. This device is also frequently found in gyms and spas. There is a tray below these spouts that is ideal for excess water, and cleaning out the water cooler regularly is ideal.

The water dispenser houses around three to five gallons of water, placed neck down. The water delivery company has been a recently growing business in most areas, and you can now buy water filled bottles that will fit right in your cooler. There are a couple of bottles made of glass, but majority of these bottles are out of plastic.

Buying a water dispenser? Before you do, here are the things that you need to take note of. If you have children around the house, using the hot water valve can be dangerous to your kids, so it is important to buy a specific lever with a child safety lock. While you may find technologically advanced dispensers with push buttons, the levers are still a more ideal choice because of its durability. The dispenser levers do not have the tendency to get wedged in like their pushbutton counterparts.

Spill free systems are also available in most retail stores. It can be a daunting task to replace the empty water bottle with a new one, as it can be quite heavy and is prone to spillage. There are newer versions on the market now that will have a spill free cap to avoid making a mess. Choosing a water cooler also involves looking at the quality of the pipe inside. Make sure that it is sturdy and will stand the test of repeated use, especially for offices with a large number of personnel.

Finally decided on buying one? Aside from local retail stores, you can find water dispensers at selected big box stores. Hardware depots and home improvement shops often have this in their product line. In terms of warranty, you can choose to avail of a 30-day to a one-year service warranty. This depends on the shop and brand of the water cooler.

One of the best options that you can take is asking your local water delivery company. Since using water dispensers are part of their business, they may have the right contacts for you to find a durable water cooler.