Keeping employees hydrated is important in every workplace, but it can be particularly important in warehouses, factories and manufacturing environments where employees may spend much of the day carrying out physical tasks.

Providing conveniently located drinking water gives employees easy access to refreshment throughout their working day.

For businesses operating larger or busier premises, choosing the right water cooler setup can make a significant difference.

Hydration in Physically Demanding Workplaces

Employees working in warehouses and manufacturing environments can be more physically active than those working in traditional offices.

Workplace temperatures can also vary considerably depending on the environment, equipment being used and time of year.

Making drinking water readily accessible helps encourage employees to hydrate regularly rather than waiting until breaks or travelling across a large site to find water.

Location Is Important

In a large warehouse or manufacturing facility, simply having one water cooler may not be enough.

Think about where employees spend most of their working day and identify locations that make drinking water convenient to access.

Depending on the size and layout of the site, this could mean installing coolers in several areas, such as staff rooms, production areas, warehouses and communal spaces.

Bottled or Plumbed-In Water Coolers?

Both bottled and plumbed-in systems can work well in industrial and manufacturing environments.

A plumbed-in water cooler can be an excellent option for busy locations because it provides a continuous supply of filtered water without bottles needing to be replaced.

However, access to mains water isn’t always available in the most convenient location. In these situations, bottled water coolers offer greater flexibility and can be positioned where employees need them.

Consider Your Daily Water Usage

A cooler serving a handful of employees has very different requirements from one used by dozens of people throughout every shift.

Before choosing equipment, consider employee numbers, shift patterns and likely water consumption.

For businesses operating multiple shifts, it’s particularly important to have a hydration solution capable of meeting demand throughout the day and night.

Don’t Wait Until Summer

Workplace hydration often receives the most attention when temperatures rise, but access to drinking water is important throughout the year.

Putting the right infrastructure in place means your business is prepared before periods of warmer weather arrive.

It also means employees have consistent access to fresh drinking water regardless of the season.

Ongoing Servicing and Support

Busy commercial water coolers can receive significant daily use, making regular servicing and sanitisation important.

Working with a reliable supplier means your business has access to ongoing support, helping ensure your equipment continues to operate effectively.

Commercial Water Coolers from Refresh Water

Refresh Water provides workplace hydration solutions for businesses across a wide range of sectors, including manufacturing, warehousing and industrial environments.

We can help you determine how many coolers your premises may need, where they should be positioned and whether bottled or plumbed-in systems are the most appropriate choice.

From installation and bottle deliveries to servicing and ongoing maintenance, Refresh Water can take care of your workplace hydration requirements.

Speak to our team to discuss the right water cooler solution for your site.

Once a water cooler has been installed, it’s easy to take it for granted. Employees fill their bottles and glasses throughout the day and, providing cold water continues to flow, you might assume everything is working exactly as it should.

However, just like other equipment within your workplace, water coolers benefit from regular professional servicing and sanitisation.

Keeping Your Water Cooler Hygienic

Water coolers are used by multiple people throughout the working day, making regular cleaning and sanitisation particularly important.

Areas around taps, dispensing points and drip trays can all be touched frequently. A professional service gives these areas the attention they need while also taking care of components that aren’t necessarily accessible during everyday cleaning.

Maintaining Water Quality

The main purpose of your cooler is to provide fresh, great-tasting drinking water.

Regular maintenance helps ensure your system continues to perform effectively. For plumbed-in systems, this can also include checking and replacing filtration components when required.

Identifying Problems Early

Not every issue results in a water cooler suddenly stopping altogether.

Changes in water temperature, unusual noises, leaks or reduced water flow can indicate that something isn’t quite right.

Routine servicing provides an opportunity to identify potential problems before they develop into more disruptive faults.

Helping Your Equipment Perform Properly

A well-maintained water cooler should provide reliable service for your workplace day after day.

Regular maintenance helps ensure components are working correctly and gives your supplier an opportunity to spot signs of wear that may need attention.

This can be particularly important in busy workplaces where a water cooler receives heavy daily use.

What Happens During a Water Cooler Service?

The exact process will depend on the type and model of your water cooler, but professional servicing can include cleaning and sanitising the system, inspecting components, checking operation and replacing relevant filters where required.

Your engineer can also identify any maintenance issues that need further attention.

Everyday Cleaning Still Matters

Professional servicing doesn’t replace good everyday housekeeping.

Businesses should keep the area surrounding their cooler clean and regularly empty and clean removable drip trays where appropriate. Employees should also avoid touching bottle openings or dispensing nozzles.

Combining everyday care with scheduled professional servicing helps keep your workplace hydration system in good condition.

Water Cooler Servicing from Refresh Water

At Refresh Water, our service doesn’t end when your water cooler is installed.

We provide ongoing servicing and maintenance for workplace water coolers, helping businesses keep their equipment clean, reliable and ready to meet the hydration needs of their employees.

Whether you have a bottled or plumbed-in water cooler, speak to our team about servicing and ongoing support.

Providing easy access to fresh drinking water is important in any workplace, but with so many different water cooler options available, how do you know which one is right for your business?

From small offices to busy warehouses, manufacturing facilities and larger commercial premises, every workplace has different hydration requirements. Choosing the right system comes down to factors such as employee numbers, water usage, location and access to a mains water supply.

Consider How Many People Will Use the Water Cooler

One of the first things to consider is how many employees, customers or visitors will regularly use the cooler.

A small office may only require one conveniently positioned water cooler, while a larger workplace could benefit from several units located throughout the building.

High-traffic environments also need a solution capable of keeping up with demand, particularly during warmer weather.

Bottled or Plumbed-In?

There are two main types of workplace water cooler: bottled and plumbed-in.

Bottled water coolers offer excellent flexibility because they don’t need to be connected to the mains water supply. This makes them suitable for locations where plumbing isn’t readily available or where the cooler may need to be moved in the future.

Plumbed-in water coolers connect directly to the mains supply, providing a continuous source of filtered drinking water. They can be particularly well suited to busy workplaces with higher water consumption.

Think About Where It Will Be Positioned

Location matters. Your water cooler should be somewhere that employees can easily access throughout the working day.

Popular locations include kitchens, breakout areas, reception spaces, meeting areas and factory or warehouse communal areas.

If you’re considering a plumbed-in system, the location of the nearest suitable water connection will also need to be considered.

What Water Options Do You Need?

Modern water coolers can offer more than chilled drinking water. Depending on the model, options can include chilled, ambient and hot water.

Think about how employees are likely to use the system. If staff regularly make tea and coffee, for example, a hot and cold system could provide additional convenience.

Don’t Forget About Servicing

Choosing the water cooler itself is only part of the decision. Regular servicing and sanitisation help keep your equipment hygienic and performing as it should.

Working with an experienced water cooler supplier means you can benefit from ongoing maintenance and support rather than simply purchasing a piece of equipment and being left to manage it yourself.

Finding the Right Solution for Your Business

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to workplace hydration.

At Refresh Water, we work with businesses to understand their individual requirements before recommending a suitable solution. From bottled and plumbed-in water coolers to installation, servicing and regular water deliveries, we can provide ongoing support to keep your workplace refreshed.

If you’re unsure which water cooler would work best for your business, speak to the Refresh Water team and we’ll be happy to help.

If you’re looking to provide fresh drinking water for your team, one of the first decisions you’ll face is whether to go for a bottled water cooler or a plumbed-in water cooler. Both are popular choices for UK offices and workplaces, but they work quite differently. The right answer depends on your setup, your team size, and how much flexibility you need.

In this guide we’ll walk through the key differences, the pros and cons of each, and help you figure out which option makes the most sense for your business.

What is a bottled water cooler?

A bottled water cooler uses large refillable bottles, typically 18.5 litres – which sit on top of or inside the unit and feed water through a cooling system. When a bottle runs out, it’s simply swapped for a fresh one. Empty bottles are collected and replaced on your next delivery.

Bottled coolers require no plumbing, which means they can be placed virtually anywhere with access to a standard power socket – making them ideal for offices where running a water line isn’t practical, or for businesses that need the flexibility to move the unit between locations.

What is a plumbed-in water cooler?

A plumbed-in water cooler, sometimes called a mains-fed water cooler, connects directly to your building’s water supply via a standard 15mm pipe. Water is filtered and chilled on demand, meaning there’s a continuous, unlimited supply without any bottles to manage or replace.

Because they draw from the mains, plumbed-in coolers tend to be more cost-effective over time – once installed, there are no ongoing bottle delivery costs. Most models also include a built-in filtration system to ensure the water tastes clean and fresh.

Bottled vs plumbed-in: key differences at a glance

Which is better for a small office?

For smaller offices; fewer than 15 people – a bottled water cooler is often the more practical choice. Installation is quick and straightforward, there’s no need to involve a plumber, and the running costs are easy to predict based on how many bottles your team gets through each month.

A compact countertop bottled cooler is particularly popular for small offices where floor space is limited, while a freestanding model works well in a kitchen or breakout area.

Which is better for a larger office or workplace?

For larger teams or high-footfall environments, a plumbed-in water cooler usually makes more sense. Running out of water mid-morning because a bottle has been emptied isn’t ideal in a busy workplace – and with a mains-fed unit, that’s never a concern. The unlimited supply and lower long-term running costs make it a sound investment for businesses that are settled in their premises.

Plumbed-in coolers are also popular in warehouses, manufacturing sites, healthcare settings and educational facilities, where consistent access to water throughout the day is essential.

What about sustainability?

Both options have environmental credentials worth considering. Bottled water coolers use large reusable bottles that are collected, sanitised and refilled – far better than single-use plastic. Plumbed-in coolers eliminate the need for bottles entirely, reducing delivery vehicle emissions and storage requirements.

If sustainability is a priority for your organisation, either option represents a significant improvement over single-use bottled water – but plumbed-in coolers edge ahead on environmental impact overall.

Can I switch between the two?

Yes – many businesses start with a bottled cooler for simplicity and switch to a plumbed-in model as they grow or move to a permanent location. At Refresh Water, we can help you make that transition smoothly, supplying and installing both types and advising on the best option as your needs change.

Still not sure which to choose?

Our friendly team is always happy to talk through your requirements and make a recommendation based on your workplace, team size and budget. There’s no pressure and no obligation – just straightforward advice from people who know their water coolers.

Call us on 0800 073 0474, drop us an email at enquiries@refreshwater.co.uk, or request a free quote and we’ll get back to you promptly.

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Looking for more information? Browse our full range of bottled water coolers and plumbed-in water coolers, or get in touch to discuss your options.