Boiling water taps offer instant hot water without the need for a kettle. They are a convenient alternative and they look great too.
Most types have a small thermally-insulated tank with a heater which heats up the water. They require professional installation and they also need to be fitted with a filter (depending on model). There are several things to consider before buying a boiling water tap.
Easy to use
Boiling water taps eliminate the need to fill, return, heat and pour a kettle – all from a single hot water tap. This allows you to blanch veggies, cook pasta or noodles and make a brew in a fraction of the time that it takes with a traditional kettle.
Instant boiling water taps are very easy to use and safe too if used properly. Most have a sophisticated safety system that requires you to press the handle twice before it can be turned on and they feature child-safe buttons. This makes it much harder to accidentally dispense boiling water and is especially helpful in households with children.
The best boiling water taps rely on a thermally-insulated tank that’s plugged into your power socket and connected to your plumbing, so they keep a small reservoir of boiling water ready on demand. As the water is drawn from the tap, fresh cool water is forced in to replace it, so the boiling tap never runs dry.
This also cuts down on energy waste – 67% of people overfill their kettle, and this leads to 3500 tonnes of wasted electricity every day. It’s important to remember though that while your new boiling water tap will be a major kitchen upgrade, it is still a household appliance that needs to be treated with care and if left unattended, can become dangerously hot.
Aesthetically pleasing
Unlike traditional kettles that are often unsightly, 3-in-1 boiling water taps come in a range of stylish designs and colours. You can even choose to get a chrome or brushed steel model that will blend in seamlessly with your kitchen décor.
As well as looking the part, boiling water taps also prioritise safety. They use sophisticated systems that make it impossible to accidentally dispense boiling water (although you could still turn the tap on by mistake and not realise that there’s no hot water coming out). Using a complex press and turn mechanism, a Quooker will only dispense water at 98 degrees Celsius, which is much safer than having a kettle that might reach 1000C!
Boiling water taps are also environmentally friendly. They consume minimal standby energy and can save you money on electricity bills over time. Most are made from die-cast aluminium and recycled at the end of their life, while most manufacturers use renewable energy sources to power their production plants.
Whether you’re a busy office worker who needs to get a quick cup of coffee in the morning, or you want to revamp your home kitchen for a sleek and modern look, an instant boiling water tap is a great option. They’re easy to clean and are durable enough to withstand the everyday wear and tear of daily use.
Energy efficient
Most models have a thermally-insulated tank which stores near boiling water until you press the tap handle. When you do this, the hot tap spout opens and cool **tap water** flows in and displaces the near boiling water that was stored in the tank. On releasing the tap handle the valve closes and the spout stops flowing.
The near-boiling water is kept in the insulated tank so it doesn’t become scorching hot and emit steam, which reduces the risk of burns. There are also safety features, such as an automatic shut-off, which prevents the tap from continuing to flow when the handle is pressed down.
Boiling water taps are also more convenient than traditional kettles as they can be turned off and on as many times as you like without having to empty a boiling water tank. They can also be used to cook, steam vegetables, fill hot water bottles and sterilise baby bottles, which makes them very versatile.
While instant boiling water taps can cost more than traditional kettles to run, they do save energy because you don’t need to boil the water over and over again. They can also help you save on gas by reducing the amount of time you spend heating kettles on the hob. If you’re concerned about how much they cost to run, turn them off at night (or unplug them) as they can still use a little energy even when they’re switched off.
Safe to use
Not only are instant boiling water taps incredibly easy to use but they’re also safe. Most come equipped with child locks and a spring loaded catch that turns off the tap when you remove your hand from it, reducing the risk of accidental scalding. They’re also easier to clean than kettles and can be slid onto your worktop for convenience.
They also eliminate the need to heat up your whole house with a hot water system like a cylinder or boiler, which can be wasteful and costlier in the long run. However, it’s worth noting that all systems require a fair amount of space underneath your sink to accommodate the insulated tank of water and they can be expensive to install in some properties.
It’s also important to note that your water pressure will affect how the tap works. Most boiling water taps operate on a minimum of 3 bar and may require an additional filter to help reduce hard minerals that could build up. It’s also a good idea to check connections and the system every six months to ensure it’s in working order. For more help with this, we highly recommend watching QETTLE’s video on ‘How to keep your boiling water tap clean and functional’.
