How to Choose a Hot and Cold Water Dispenser: What Actually Matters

There’s a lot of noise in the water dispenser market. Here’s a straightforward guide to what actually matters when choosing a hot and cold water dispenser for your Australian home or office.

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

1. Does It Actually Filter the Water?

This is the most important question — and the one most people don’t ask. Some dispensers simply chill or heat tap water. Our bottle-fed dispensers use a BPA-free bottle with a built-in 8-stage KDF filter cartridge that removes chlorine, heavy metals, sediment, and bacteria. That’s the difference between chilled tap water and genuinely filtered water.

2. Benchtop, Freestanding, or Plumbed-In?

• Benchtop: sits on a counter, compact, ideal for small households and apartments. Browse our benchtop range.
• Freestanding: floor-standing, higher capacity, suits families and offices. Browse our freestanding range.
• Plumbed-in bottleless: connects to mains water, no bottles, best for high-volume offices. Browse our bottleless range.

3. Hot and Cold, or Cold Only?

Most people find the hot function gets used more than expected — instant filtered hot water at 92°C for tea, coffee, and instant meals is a genuine time-saver. All our models include a child-safe hot tap lock. Cold-only models are available at a lower price point if hot water genuinely isn’t needed.

4. Warranty and Australian Support

All Awesome Water Cooler equipment comes with a 12-month warranty. We’re an Australian business with real phone support — call us on 1800 789 781. When something goes wrong, you’re talking to someone in Australia, not a call centre overseas.

5. Ongoing Costs

Factor in the filter cartridge replacement every 6–12 months. Browse our replacement cartridge range to plan ahead. Filtered cooler water costs a fraction of a cent per litre — far cheaper than bottled water over time.

Frequently Asked Questions