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       Today’s best water coolers offer variable water temperatures, touchless control and other advanced features.
        The water cooler is probably best known as the place where employees stop to chat in the office. But many people also have them at home, as dispensers can come in handy in garages, playgrounds, or other places that don’t have a faucet. They are also great for larger homes as a permanent addition. }.css-3wjtm9:hover{color:#595959;text -decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;} Filter out the jug.
        Most water dispensers are easy to operate and usually use large 3 or 5 gallon jugs available at any major retail store. (Also, some models can be connected to your home’s water supply if you don’t want to buy a kettle.)
        Many different styles of water coolers are available, including freestanding, tabletop, and even wall-mounted designs, most of which take up much less space than other home appliances such as refrigerators or washing machines. You can choose a cooler that only delivers water at room temperature or can dispense water at different temperatures. In addition, many products have additional features such as self-cleaning, built-in storage, or contactless designs.
       Read on to find out everything you need to keep in mind when choosing a water cooler, how we research and select the best water coolers, and our reviews of each one.
        A water cooler may seem pretty basic, but there are a few things to consider when buying. Most water coolers supply water from 3 or 5 gallon jugs that are usually placed at the top or bottom of the cooler. Bottom loading coolers are easier to use, but top loading coolers are often more affordable due to their simpler design. Alternatively, there are point-of-use water dispensers that connect to the building’s water supply, saving you the hassle of changing your water bottle. The downside here is that it’s a lot harder to install.
       Other factors to consider include whether you want a cooler that dispenses room temperature water, cold or hot water (or some combination of the three), and whether it needs a filtration system or other features such as a child lock or automatic cleaning mechanism.
        To help you find the right water cooler for your needs, we searched for the best models from renowned brands such as Avalon and Brio. For this list, we have selected several different styles and sizes designed for both home and office use. Many selected water coolers offer useful features and come in a wide range of prices to help you find one that fits your budget.
        Looking for other food and drink storage products outside the kitchen? Check out our stories on the best freezers, best mini fridges and best upright freezers.
        The Avalon bottom loading water dispenser is stylish, easy to use and dispenses cold water, room temperature water and hot water. It can hold 3 and 5 gallon jugs that are housed in a stainless steel cabinet at the bottom of the unit and has an empty bottle indicator so you know when to replace the jug.
        The device is ENERGY STAR certified and its high touch surfaces are treated with BioGuard antimicrobial coating to prevent bacterial growth. In addition, the cooler has a night light so the spout can be seen in dim light, and there is a child lock on the hot water button.
        This water dispenser from Vitapur is a simple and affordable countertop option. Its top-loading design holds 3- and 5-gallon water bottles and dispenses cold or room temperature water with push button controls.
        The removable drip tray makes cleaning easy and is also Energy Star certified. LED lights illuminate power and temperature indicators, and its solid-state electrical cooling module operates silently to minimize disruption to the home or office.
        The water dispenser is self-cleaning and uses ozone, an odorless gas, to disinfect the valve. It also has an attractive stainless steel finish and hides a jug in the base.
        There are jets for cold, hot and room temperature water, which are activated by a button, and a switch on the back of the device allows you to turn off hot or cold water if desired. The device comes with a removable drip tray, night light and child safety lock, and is Energy Star certified.
        If you’re looking for a water cooler that won’t stand out in your home or office, this model from Primo is a stylish one. It is available in stainless steel or black stainless steel finishes and its bottom loading design hides the jug from view.
        The water dispenser provides cold, room temperature and hot water, the latter with a child lock in case there are small children in the house. The stainless steel drip tray is dishwasher safe and even has a night light for better visibility in the dark.
        Instead of installing the water dispenser on the side of the water dispenser, you can buy this built-in water dispenser from Frigidaire. This water dispenser comes with hot and cold water dispensers and its bottom loading design allows you to hide the pitcher. Sight.
        Highlights include an attractive stainless steel finish and ozone self-cleaning technology that helps kill bacteria. Also, the water heater has a built-in night light and a child lock.
        One disadvantage of top loading water dispensers is that changing water bottles can be cumbersome and messy. But this option has a waterproof design, which greatly simplifies the task. There’s a built-in rod to pierce the lid of your new jug so you don’t cause a flood (or a laugh from your colleagues).
        This cooler dispenses hot or cold water and is suitable for 3 and 5 gallon water bottles. It is convenient and hygienic to operate by pressing the paddle, and the overall design is slim, allowing it to fit in a small space.
       The main downside is that you have to stand in front of it for a while to refill your coffee mug as it pours out very slowly.
        With this water dispenser from NJ Star, you can get fresh ice and clean water in one place. The top-loading design supplies cold, hot, and room water, and there’s a small ice maker at the base that can hold up to 4.4 pounds of bullet-shaped cubes at a time.
       Available in white or black, this ice maker can produce up to 27 pounds of ice per day (although the fridge is not refrigerated).
       It also has LED indicators to let you know when it’s running low, and there’s even a two-stage child lock that prevents hot water from spilling easily.
        For those concerned about the quality of their tap water, the Brio Bottleless Water Dispenser features a four-stage reverse osmosis filtration system that removes up to 99% of contaminants including lead, fluoride, heavy metals and more. It also has a self-cleaning function that can sanitize the water dispenser.
        The cooler connects to the water supply and delivers hot, cold and room temperature water at the touch of a button. You can turn off hot and cold water with a switch on the back of the unit, and the user-friendly design makes it easy to change the filter as needed.
        If you’re looking for a freestanding water dispenser that connects to your home’s plumbing, the Avalon A5 is easy to install. It comes with all the components needed to connect and has two water filters.
        The bottleless water dispenser dispenses cold, hot or room water, and has a built-in night light and self-cleaning feature to keep maintenance to a minimum. It is also Energy Star certified.
        This model from Farberware may look like a regular top-loading water dispenser, but it has a hidden storage compartment at the base where you can store mugs, drinks and more. The storage area is not refrigerated, but has two shelves for easy storage of kitchen utensils.
        This cooler can be used with 3 or 5 gallon jugs and has two dispensers for hot and cold water. It is available in white or black and has a simple design that is easy to handle. But if you’re picky about aesthetics, this might not be the best choice.
        The Avalon Tabletop Fountain is compact and only 19 inches tall, so you can easily place it on your countertop. However, its small size is partly due to the fact that it works without bottles, which requires connection to a water supply. (All parts required for installation are included with the cooler.)
        The desktop water dispenser dispenses hot and cold water with push paddles to minimize the spread of bacteria, and features a multi-layered sediment and activated carbon filter to help remove chlorine, lead, odors, and odors from the water. There is also a built-in child lock and night light, as well as a leak detector to monitor the flow from the water source to the machine.
        For a camping or trunk product, consider the Igloo beverage cooler, which features a compact and clean design. It holds up to 5 gallons of liquid and its insulated form can be filled with ice cubes to keep your drinks cold for up to three days.
        At the bottom of the cooler, there is a push-button water drain pipe, angled to prevent dripping. There is also a press-fit lid that can be used as a stool in a pinch. A retaining cord keeps the lid firmly in place, preventing dirt from getting in, and the handle is reinforced.
        Camryn Rabideau is a freelance writer and columnist for home, kitchen and pet products. In her four years as a product tester, she has personally tested hundreds of products and her work has been featured in publications such as Forbes, USA Today, The Spruce, Food52, and more.
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