Top 9 Water Cooler Dispenser Review with Complete Guide

When you think about it, water cooler dispensers bring the best of both worlds. First, you have an easy way to access cold and hot water. Second, and rather, more importantly, most of these dispensers come with an in-built water purifier. So, as far as drinking water is concerned, you get double protection, especially if you have set up a whole-house water filter at your home.

Considering that city water that most Americans get is contaminated in one way or another, this precaution makes enough sense, you know. But, how do you make the right choice?

Just like the case of water purifiers, there is an amazing collection of water cooler dispensers in the market. Depending on your household, requirements, and convenience, you can choose from a variety of products as well. In this article, however, we have reviewed some of the best water cooler dispensers you can get via Amazon.

To keep diversity alive, we have listed water cooler dispensers from different categories. There are coolers suitable for home use while others are tailor-made for office spaces. Within each category, you can expect additional features like temperature control, ice-cube makers and advanced filtration tech. Of course, we’ve considered the price brackets as well before making the selection.

Top 9 Water Cooler Dispenser Review

Shall we check out the reviews, then?

1. Costway 2-in-1 Water Cooler Dispenser — Hot Cold Water Dispenser with Ice Maker

Costway 2-in-1 Water Cooler Dispenser is the best choice if you are looking for the added convenience of an ice maker. This water cooler comes with the standard design, but at the bottom, there is a facility to create ice cubes. The Ice Maker would be able to create up to 27lbs of ice per day and store 4lbs of ice in the container at a time. The ice-making times are as low as 6 to 14 minutes.

Compared to other products we have covered here, the Costway 2-in-1 Water Cooler Dispenser offers more options in general. For instance, there is a tri-temperature dispenser. You can get water in cold, hot or room temperatures at your convenience. There is also a child safety lock on the Hot Water button so that a lot of potential issues are averted.

Design-wise, everything is the normal story with this cooler dispenser. You will have to place the water jug on the top and can track the amount of water left. There is a powerful Control Panel equipped with enough LED lights. This panel would assist you in knowing the status of the machine as well as to turn on or turn off Ice Making.

The performance of the overall machine is just awesome as well. You will be able to get around 4 liters of cold water per hour and 5 liters of hot water per hour. It’s also great that you can control everything using its LED control panel. At the end of the day, you won’t need much time for cleaning either. The removable drip tray makes it incredibly easy to take care of the common issues.

The Costway 2-in-1 Water Cooler Dispenser is something that we can call perfect since it excels in almost every aspect.

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2. Avalon Bottleless Water Cooler Dispenser — Bottleless Water Dispenser with Filtering

Out of the many features we loved in Avalon Bottleless Water Cooler Dispenser, the most important one is that it does not require bottles. You can connect the water cooler to direct feed water and the water would be purified before it is cooled or heated. To make this possible, the water cooler comes with two filters — an 1500-gallon sediment filter and an 1500-gallon carbon block filter.

We wouldn’t recommend relying on these filters completely. However, if you are already using some other forms of purification, this layer would be an extra benefit. Even if that’s not the case, a bottle less cool can save you from the trouble of changing the bottles so often. To complement this section, the company has included an auto-cleaning technology as well.

Even when this auto-cleaning and bottle-less design are kept aside, we’d say the Avalon Bottleless Water Cooler Dispenser package is amazing at its core. There are some well-designed sprouts and indicator lights. You will be notified when it’s the time to change the filter, which is great. All the while, the auto-cleaning tech means that you are saved from that trouble as well.

The Avalon Bottleless Water Cooler Dispenser offers amazing capacities as well. It can hold 3.6 liters of cold water at a temperature of 47F. Similarly, it will keep 1 liter of hot water, at a temperature of 185F, for instant use. There is also an option to turn off the hot water heater so that your kids aren’t harmed in any manner. The removable tray makes cleaning easier as well.

Altogether, there isn’t anything negative about the Avalon Bottleless Water Cooler Dispenser.

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3. Clover B14A Bottled Water Dispenser — Best Controllable Water Cooler Dispenser

Clover B14A Bottled Water Dispenser is surely one of the best water coolers in the market by all means. It’s a wonderful combination of quiet performance, optimized energy consumption, and elegant design. Because it’s a top-loading water cooler dispenser, you have no problem in tracking how much water is left. Adding a bit of grace to the build quality, both the hot and cold water tanks are made of stainless steel.

When it comes to temperature control, the Clover B14A Bottled Water Dispenser is a star. You will be able to adjust the temperature of cold water between 35.6F and 53.6F. This control is not available when it comes to hot water, but a fixed temperature of nearly 185F seems suitable for hot brews and instant soups. In the shortest version, the machine offers you control and convenience.

This could also be called one of the most usable water coolers, in that the design is great. You have two well-built faucets that indicate which is which. Similarly, there is an option to clean up the faucets easily by simply removing the drip tray. Once again, with child safety in mind, there is an on/off switch for the heater. You’d be able to turn this off during summers, so you avert the potential risks.

Compared to other products we have listed above, the Clover B14A Bottled Water Dispenser is a bit bigger to be exact. However, if you are purchasing it for a home or office, it won’t be a problem. People love it for the simplicity the cooler is offering to customers. As we said, we are getting a no-frills experience when it comes to dispensing hot and cold water.

There aren’t any problems with the machine as per reviews. The units seem to be simple and effective.

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4. Whirlpool Self Cleaning Water Cooler — Self Cleaning Water Cooler Dispenser

Made for those who want quality and advanced control, Whirlpool Self Cleaning Water Cooler is one of the water coolers suitable for commercial needs. You can use the machine to provide high-quality cold and hot water without compromising the amount of space. Unlike the other products we discussed, this cooler needs the water can be placed in the bottom, not top.

Built with a solid steel frame, the Whirlpool Self Cleaning Water Cooler looks cool in every scenario. The LED-light indicators, buttons, and water faucets are arranged so nicely. But the most important feature here is Self-Cleaning technology. Using unstable Oxygen, the water cooler can remove potential contaminants from the feed water, which is great.

We would not say the product is compact or lightweight though. Don’t expect it to be moved around that frequently either. Due to the same reason, the frame can handle a huge amount of weight with ease. Indeed, it’s worth noting that the cooling technology is top notch. So, at the end of the day, this cooler would last longer than others.

We would not say every home needs the Whirlpool Self Cleaning Water Cooler. However, if there are many members with different needs, you can try this device. Just so you know, it can almost instantly provide you water that is as cold as 40F. As you may already have guessed, the price is a bit high, but you are paying for its longevity as well.

There aren’t any reported issues with this device. Customers, in fact, love the product for its heavy quality and easy-to-refill design.

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5. Primo Stainless Steel Water Cooler Dispenser

Another product from Primo Water, this water cooler dispenser is different from the other product. Apart from having a bottom-loading design, the device has a single sprout only. Whether you get hot or cold water from the sprout depends on the buttons you are pressing. In addition, you also get Primo Water coupons — which offer an ultra-savings option to get water.

Coming to water supply, everything is standard with the Primo Stainless Steel Water Cooler Dispenser. You can get both types of water at extreme temperatures and the sprout is of good quality itself. In addition, you have an option to disable the hot water feature for child safety. These are certain things we expect from an overall water cooler dispenser like this.

Self-sanitization is yet another feature that we loved in the Primo Stainless Steel Water Cooler Dispenser. It is using harmless ozone technology to keep the water supply and reservoirs cleaner. It should also be noted that anyone can easily remove, clean and replace the reservoirs and cables for maintenance. Also, it should be noted that the design is quite elegant.

Installing this water cooler dispenser is like a piece of cake. You don’t need plumbing knowledge to use this product and the bottom-feeding mechanism saves a lot of space as well. Needless to say, the control panel does a great job when it comes to making selections and controlling the temperature. A lot of users prefer the easy-to-set-up design, though.

There aren’t many problems with the Primo Stainless Steel Water Cooler Dispenser. Some people say that its durability could have been better.

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6. Primo White Bottom-Loading Water Cooler

If you need the ease of bottom-loading water supply, you can consider this water cooler dispenser from Primo Water. It does not come with any bells and whistles but gets the job done when it comes to cooling and heating water with effectiveness. The stainless steel design makes Primo White Bottom-Loading Water Cooler an awesome addition to homes and office spaces.

Installation and getting started with the Primo White Bottom-Loading Water Cooler would be like a piece of cake. You have to push the water bottle into the bottom cabinet and arrange it properly. In minutes, it will start providing you hot and cold water. The push button method makes it easy to access the water and the drip tray makes cleaning easier than ever.

One thing about Primo Water is that you can rely on the same company for water supply. They even have some self-refill stations where you can go with the water can and get water. The manufacturer has not yet mentioned the temperature of hot and cold water, but reviews affirm that they are up to the expectations, especially when it comes to cold and hot drinks.

Of course, the best part would be that you don’t need the manual. You can finish the installation in no time and there is an option to know when it’s time to change the water supply. This is where the LED-enabled info panel comes to help you. At the end of the day, this somewhat-affordable water cooler is offering you a superb level of convenience.

Some users say that the build quality could be better, but that’s not for everyone.

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7. Farberware FW29919 Water Cooler Dispenser — Compact Water Cooler for Home

Farberware FW29919 Water Cooler Dispenser is an amazing choice if you need a more compact water cooler for home or office needs. Unlike the first pick, this one has smaller dimensions and can fit even in a smaller room. In addition to the water sprouts and water supply connector, there is built-in storage space. It’s not refrigerated but allows dry storage.

You will be able to keep a water tank of 3 or 5 gallons for supplying water to the system. Once inside, thermo-electric cooling would give you cold water of 59F and hot water of 194F. As you can see, it cannot cool down water as much as the first one but is surely suitable for brewing tea or other hot drinks. Due to the tech in use, it offers low-noise performance as well.

There isn’t anything fancy about the water sprouts in the Farberware FW29919 Water Cooler Dispenser. You can use the three indicators to know the status of hot/cold water while the dedicated sprouts make things easier. There are also options to switch off and switch on the cooler/heater individually. However, it would have been awesome if there was a dedicated child lock feature.

Most people recommend this water cooler for its compact design itself. While it can offer cold water to an entire family, the system itself does not take up much space. Similarly, although not refrigerated, the bottom storage is useful in many instances. We should also mention that the design is so elegant that it even suits office spaces.

The lack of a child lock option is a problem with Farberware FW29919 Water Cooler Dispenser, and users do report a low flow rate as a problem.

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8. Avalon A1WATERCOOLER A1 Cooler Dispenser — Affordable Water Cooler Dispenser

One of the most popular products in the category, the Avalon A1WATERCOOLER A1 Cooler Dispenser suits both home and office purposes. The innovative top loading design not only improves the look but also adds convenience for keeping the water supply. Similarly, the design helps the cooler fit into smaller places in the kitchen and you can have a look at how much water is left.

Coming to water supply, this cooler dispenser has both hot and cold-water sprouts. It can provide cold water of 47F and can store up to 3.1 liters for instant access. Likewise, it can store and provide up to 1 liter of hot water, with a maximum temperature of 185F. The temperature options are great for both cold and hot beverages, be it an iced tea or a hot cup of coffee.

Operating the Avalon A1WATERCOOLER A1 Cooler Dispenser is like a piece of cake. The sprouts have a great design and there are indicators to know which type of water you are getting. Because the storage tank is of stainless steel, you need not worry about health issues either. Also, adding peace of mind to parents, there is a child lock for preventing kids from potential accidents.

It’s also great that the dispenser offers a consistent temperature without taking up a lot of energy. Because it comes with Energy Star approval, you can be sure of the latter. Customers also praise the unit for its sturdy design and quiet working procedure. Despite all these, the water cooler does not cost a lot either. That again makes it a suitable choice for home users.

There aren’t any reported issues with the Avalon A1WATERCOOLER A1 Cooler Dispenser. It offers a bang-for-the-buck deal for most.

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9. Primo Deluxe Water Dispenser — Bottom-Loading Water Cooler Dispenser

If you want the convenience of bottom loading without spending much, you should consider Primo Deluxe Water Dispenser. It has been designed to provide you ultimate convenience and control without making the frame so big. Unlike the commercial-grade product we listed just above, this one has been made for homes and offices alike.

First things first, it’s incredibly easy to get started with the Primo Deluxe Water Dispenser. You will be able to connect the water supply in seconds and it would start working. When it’s time, the machine can provide you with piping hot water as well as super-chill drinking water. There are also indicators to know when the water is ready.

Because it’s a bottom-feeding water cooler, you cannot always know how much water is left. Conveniently, though, the water heater has a dedicated LED for this matter. You’d know when it’s time to change the feed water bottle. The company does not mention the temperatures its hot and cold water can reach, but users are satisfied with the results.

Performance is not the strongest forte of the device, though. It can take a considerably long amount of time to cool down the water and the final temperature depends on how much you’ve been running it for. Also, it has been noted that the cold function is louder than other models. So, you may want to keep this machine away from your bedroom.

Apart from the noisy nature, there aren’t other issues with the Primo Deluxe Water Dispenser. On the other hand, it offers convenience in management.

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So far, you have seen some of the best water cooler dispenser reviews out there. But, how do you figure the best one for you? Well, our Buyer’s Guide will definitely help.

Types of Water Cooler Dispensers

There are different kinds of water cooler dispensers available in the market. Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages. Having a clear idea about these different types is important if you want to make the right choice.

1. Top Loading Water Dispensers

Top Loading Water Dispensers are the most common in the market. To use this, you will have to place the water can on top of the dispenser machine. The advantage here is that you can always keep track of how much water is left and know when it’s time to replace the water can. The disadvantage is that you will have to lift a heavy bottle every time you need to replace the supply. These types of coolers usually take up a lot of space too.

2. Bottom Loading Water Dispenser with Cooler

In this category, you have to keep the water can at the bottom. There will be a water connection that goes deep into the water can. Then, using suction, the water would be brought to the tanks and cooled or heated. The main advantage here is that you don’t have to do the heavy lifting when you need to replace the water supply. Devices like these often have a detailed control panel where you can check whether water is about to run out.

3. Countertop Water Cooler Dispenser

Countertop water cooler dispensers can be a good alternative to water filter pitchers that you commonly use in kitchens. As the name says, this type of water coolers would be kept on the countertop, saving up a lot of space. Depending on the product, you may be able to connect feed water supply or place water can on the top. In either case, countertop water coolers are known for saving a lot of space without any level of compromise on performance.

4. Wall-Mounted Dispenser

As the name says, water cooler dispensers from the category are usually mounted on the wall. It primarily poses an issue of tough installation. You will need some plumbing and drilling skills to attach the water cooler in the first place. Because most of the devices are connected to feed water, you don’t have to worry further, and you will be getting cold/hot water for the rest of your life.

Choosing between these options is dependent on your requirements and the place of use. For instance, wall-mounted dispensers may not be suitable for office spaces or when the consumption is high.

Factors to Consider Before Choosing Your Water Dispenser

You should lookout for the following factors while choosing the right water dispenser for you. If you choose wrong, you may end up having an oversized or underpowered water cooler at your home or office.

1) Temperature Features: You should check the maximum temperature the cooler dispenser can reach in Hot and Cold sections. The normal range would be 47F to 190F, but the figure varies according to performance. You must also see if you need a dedicated sprout for room temperature.

2) Household Size: This matters because water dispenser units take up a considerable amount of space. So, before buying, you should check the dimensions and see if it fits your place. If you don’t want to dedicate a lot of space, we’d recommend going for countertop or wall-mounted water dispensers.

3) Location: The usage pattern can be a real deciding pattern when it comes to water cooler dispensers. You should consider where the device will be going and who will be using it. For instance, if you are getting a water cooler for the office, you should ensure ultimate performance and bigger water tanks.

4) Budget: The good thing about water coolers is that you can find them in any budget bracket. That having said, if you have a bigger budget, you should get something advanced. You can also look for features like a dedicated Ice Maker.

5) Maintenance: Before you commit to a product, make sure it’s easy to maintain. Some water coolers come with the auto-sanitization feature, but others require manual labor. In any case, it’s good to have a device that you can easily clean and re-arrange.

6) Convenience: The choices here are three: top-loading, bottom-loading and feed-connected. You also need to check who will be loading the water supply. For instance, if there are seniors in the house, it is good to go with the bottom-loading version or, even better, feed-water-connected ones.

7) BPA: Safety and health first, you must confirm that the water cooler is free of BPA content. You will be able to do this by looking at certifications and other aspects. In the list above, however, we’ve included BPA-free products only.

8) Safety: If you have children in the house, you should watch out for safety features as well. The best feature is an option to turn off the water heater module. This way, you can prevent your kids from getting water burned.

9) Capacity: Capacity refers to the amount of cold and hot water that the water cooler dispenser can hold. If you are someone who needs a lot of water, you should choose a product with high-capacity water tanks.

In addition to these, you can also check aspects like design, sprout style, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions