Boiling water taps are right at the top of the list for anyone planning a new kitchen or kitchen makeover. But with so many makes and models to choose from, not to mention an array of different features, choosing the best boiling water tap for you and your family might seem quite a challenge.
QETTLE, the British boiling water tap brand offers the following buying tips.
100°C Really Matters!
“It’s critical to understand the difference between a truly boiling water tap and an instant hot water tap. 5°C might not sound like much, but when it comes to hot taps, those few degrees make all the difference. For a proper British cuppa, it’s 100°C or nothing, and for all those snacks in seconds – instant noodles, porridge, soup – truly boiling water is a necessity. Genuinely boiling water is also essential if you’re planning to use your boiling water tap for making up babies’ bottles – and for sterilising them afterwards.
“So, take a moment to find out exactly what temperature the tap will dispense water at. After all, no one wants a tepid cup of tea. For drinks that benefit from near-boiling water – green tea or freshly ground coffee, for example – a tap such as QETTLE, which also dispenses filtered drinking water is your friend. Run a splash of the cold, filtered drinking water into your mug, then top up with boiling water.”
3 in 1 or 4 in 1?
“4 in 1 taps are ingenious; they’ll give you boiling water, filtered drinking water, plus normal hot and cold flows. So, you have one kitchen tap that does everything – from making instant cuppas and refilling your water bottle to the washing up. They’re great space savers on the work surface, too – no more kettle, no more mini hot tap.
“3 in 1 taps dispense boiling water, plus normal hot and cold flows. They’re still useful, but typically, there is only a marginal difference between the cost of a 3 in 1 and 4 in 1 tap – so if you can also enjoy the convenience of filtered drinking water on tap, for not very much more money – why not? The savings on bottled water or buying cartridges for filter jugs or fridge dispensers are significant.”
Safety Considerations
“Used correctly, a boiling water tap is arguably much safer than a kettle. It’s fixed – usually to the rear of the work surface – and there are no cables that can be grabbed or pulled. It’s also likely you’ll be dispensing relatively small volumes of boiling water – there isn’t a situation where you’ll have a vessel containing up to 1.5 litres of boiling water that could fall, from a height.
“Even so, if you have young children, vulnerable users or just guests who might not be familiar with boiling water taps, it’s vital to ensure you choose a boiling water tap at least two-stage safety. In practise, this means a safety clip and a handle lock. When the clip is in place, it should be impossible for boiling water to be accessed. A handle lock will ensure that even if the safety clip has been removed, an exacting action is still required for boiling water to be dispensed.”
What Size Boiler Tank Should I Choose?
“Thinking about how you intend to use your boiling water tap will help you to decide what size boiler tank to choose. QETTLE’s 2 litre boiler tank will provide up to 4 cups of boiling water in one go – so would probably be ideal for a couple who don’t expect to use their boiling water tap for much other than instant hot drinks and snacks on the go.
“But if you’re a family of 4 or 5, and you’re intending to use your boiling water tap for more – cooking rice, pasta, blanching vegetables etc – then it might be sensible to choose a bigger boiler tank. As a guide, QETTLE’s 4 litre boiler tank provides up to 8 cups of boiling water in one go, and the QETTLE 7 litre tank will give you up to 14 cups of water.”
What about Chilled Water?
“A chiller is a great addition to your tap; it’s especially lovely in the summer, but chilled filtered water is pleasant all-year round and for many people, is actually the difference between drinking 1-2 glasses of water a day and the recommended 5 plus. The QETTLE Chiller can be fitted as part of a new QETTLE tap and system or is easily ‘retrofittable’.”
What’s Involved with Installation?
“Fitting a boiling water tap shouldn’t be difficult – whether in a newkitchen or as a kitchen tap upgrade – and your kitchen designer will be able to advise you. As a rule, taps have a few, simple requirements e.g. you’ll need a 13 amp power socket under your kitchen sink – but all of these can form part of the plan for your new kitchen.”
Filter Cartridges & Servicing
“An important consideration before your buy your boiling water tap, is what servicing and maintenance requirements it will have. All boiling water taps use a filter system (steer well away from any that don’t!). This can use one or two filter cartridges – so it’s wise to find out how often these will need to be replaced and how much they cost.
“Replacement filter cartridges vary enormously in efficiency and cost. Ask too, whether an annual service of the tap is needed. Lastly, any object that has a life cycle should be as eco-friendly as possible. So, understand whether you’ll be disposing of just the filter cartridge, or its housing/canister, too. The latter are often manufactured from plastic. Is it recyclable – or destined for landfill? It might be one of your final considerations prior to purchasing your boiling water tap – but it’s still one of the most important.
There is also a wide range of German brands available; if you want your kitchen appliances to be in line with your German kitchen.