A water dispenser is one of those appliances you use twenty times a day without thinking about it, so it is worth choosing well. Here is how to pick the right one for your home or office.

1. How many taps do you need?

• Hot and normal: the most affordable option. Great for tea, coffee and instant meals.
• Hot and cold: adds a cooling unit for chilled water, a big plus during hot afternoons.
• Hot, normal and cold: three temperatures, ideal for families where everyone has a preference.

2. Top-load or bottom-load?

Top-load dispensers are cheaper and simple: you flip an 18 or 20 litre bottle onto the top. Bottom-load models hide the bottle in a cabinet at floor level, so there is no lifting. If anyone in your home finds lifting heavy bottles difficult, a bottom-load dispenser is worth the extra cost.

3. Storage and extras

Many free-standing dispensers include a lower cabinet for cups, tea bags or a spare bottle. Some have a small fridge compartment. Models with a built-in coffee and tea station turn a corner of the kitchen into a drinks bar.

4. Power and safety

• Look for a child-safety lock on the hot tap if you have young children.
• Switch the heating and cooling off at night if you do not need them; it saves electricity.
• Clean the reservoir every couple of months with warm water and a little vinegar.

Brands we stock

We carry Sonar, Von, Ailyons and Electromate dispensers, from compact hot-and-normal units to bottom-load models with storage. Compare them in our water dispensers section, and ask us about delivery; we deliver across Kenya.