How a Hot and Cold Water Dispenser Actually Works

Ever wondered what’s actually happening inside your water cooler when you press the hot or cold tap? It’s simpler than you might think — and understanding it helps you get the most out of your unit.

Browse our water dispenser range or see our Water Coolers Guide.

The Cold Side: Refrigeration

The cold water tank uses a small refrigeration compressor — the same basic technology as a bar fridge. A refrigerant gas circulates through a sealed system, absorbing heat from the water in the cold tank and releasing it through a condenser at the back of the unit. This is why you’ll feel warm air coming from the back or bottom of your cooler — that’s the heat being expelled.

Our coolers chill water to approximately 4°C. The compressor cycles on and off to maintain that temperature, which is why you’ll hear a quiet hum periodically — that’s completely normal.

The Hot Side: Electric Heating Element

The hot water tank uses a stainless steel electric heating element — similar to a kettle element, but designed to maintain a constant temperature rather than boil and switch off. Our units heat to approximately 92°C and maintain that temperature continuously while plugged in.

This is why the hot water is ready almost immediately after plugging in (20–30 minutes for initial heat-up), and why it’s always at temperature when you need it — unlike a kettle that cools down between uses.

The Filtration Stage

Before water reaches either tank, it passes through the 8-stage KDF filter cartridge in the bottle. The filter removes chlorine (activated carbon), heavy metals (KDF media), bacteria and protozoa (ceramic stage), and sediment — then re-mineralises the water through mineral stone stages. Both the hot and cold water you dispense have been through this filtration process.

Child-Safe Hot Tap Lock

All our dispensers include a mechanical child-safe lock on the hot tap. It requires a deliberate two-step action to dispense hot water — pressing a safety button while operating the tap — which prevents accidental burns from children pressing the tap without understanding the risk.

Frequently Asked Questions