Adam holds a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Linguistics, and creative writing has always been his greatest passion. For more than 25 years he's been working for several well-known automobile and travel magazines as an editor and expert consultant, but when Adam started his writing path here, at WisePick, it turned out that he's capable of writing practically anything about everything.
Initially being an engineering specialist, Tom has never stopped learning and acquiring other knowledge and skills. Now he’s involved in technical support for a well-known household appliances manufacturer, so no wonder he knows everything about almost everything you buy for your home.
Last updated: July 21, 2021
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As a perfect edition for a waiting room, an office or even a friendly gathering, having the best bottom loading water dispenser around can help your guests keep hydrated – and ease your part in keeping them hydrated. With a bottom load water dispenser, there is no need to lift any bottles to refill the tank when it is empty, which means less work for you.
The water dispenser has been a “meeting corner” in most office spaces for ages. Being able to tuck these dispensers away in any corner of the room or flatten them against the hallway walls can help create the perfect convenient environment for those looking to meet up with colleagues in different offices. They physically take up much less space than top-load water dispensers.
In our review, we have highlighted the important features in a bottom loading water dispenser and have gone through every feature, explaining the importance of each in your choice. With every product on our list of the best bottom loading water dispensers, we’ll go through the different types of water it generates, its capacity, the existence of a self-cleaning function, and its warranty. We spent tens of hours of research spanning across various brands to do a review that will take you through our in-article comparison table, in-detail descriptions of each product, and a buying guide.
This bottom loading water dispenser is perfect for those looking for a combination of incredible technology with an easy-access performance. Not only is it self-cleaning by using the chemical compound of oxygen, which ensures that the water is contamination and bacteria-free, but it also doesn’t require heavy-lifting to refill.
It is enhanced with high-level technology – an LED light that turns itself on when self-cleaning is in-progress. It also can access the hot and cold water supplies inside the tank, which helps you see the indicator without having to get into the water tank.
This water dispenser also comes capable of distributing out hot and cold water instead of just cold or room temperature. Its dual temperature feature makes it easy to whip up a hot cup of tea or hydrate with some cool water. Especially when placed in an office, the last thing you’ll want happening from a water dispenser is an excessive amount of noise. This model is known for being a perfect addition to any quiet environment because of its soundless productivity.
In a waiting room of a doctor’s office, the Whirlpool 8LIECH-SC-SSS-5L-W is one hundred percent childproof. Parents don’t have to worry about their children being near the water dispenser since it is completely safe.
Why is it special?
Perfect for any home or work office environment, since it is completely childproof
Utterly noiseless so will not disturb those around it
Apart from the convenient bottom-loading design of the Brio CLBL520SC, which reduces strain during use, there are a few extra features you’re likely to be impressed with as well. One is the nightlight. It allows you to see the buttons and the drip tray even in dim conditions. As such, it enables easier control, and you can tell when the tray needs to be cleaned.
A second impressive feature is the temperature options you have. You can pick cold, hot, or room temperature water, depending on your preferences. For lobbies that have a lot of human traffic, this helps cater to all their needs. That said, at its base setting, the cold and hot features are not turned on. Instead, there are switches on the machine for activating the same, thereby giving you control over your choices. This could also translate to power savings.
Additionally, this dispenser comes fitted with an ozone cleaner. This cleans up the water passing through the cooler and eliminates contaminants. Consequently, you’re sure the water you drink is pure and safe for consumption. However, you’ll need to remember to press the appropriate button if you want your water to be purified.
We also noticed it comes with child safety lock that adds an extra step to dispensing hot water. Consequently, you don’t need to go into panic mode any time you see your toddler fiddling with the controls.
Bottom-load water dispensers tend to be expensive, but not the Cosvalve hot and cold water dispenser. This particular unit is impressively reliable for the price—“works as advertised.” The only quality issue we could spot was that sometimes it seemed to think that there was no water left when there was still some.
However, we did encounter a major issue when the unit first arrived. It had an overwhelming taste and smell of cheap plastic even after an initial flushing. It took a lot of searching and troubleshooting before a strong baking soda and vinegar solution solved it for us (you might want to see the review by Dudaele for specifics. VERY helpful).
After that, everything went smoothly. The unit took about 15 minutes to get the hot water side piping hot, but the cold side took a bit longer. It has three taps, which should be plenty for residential use. No premium features, but this Cosvalve is a solid bottom-load water dispenser that should last for years and years.
What makes it stand out?
The price is very attractive, seeing as most bottom-loaders are usually about $50 more expensive.
Even with the affordable price, the Cosvalve is a solid bottom-load water dispenser what provides piping hot water, cold, and room-temperature on demand.
The child safety lock is a big plus. No scalds with this one. The bottom loading also makes the chances of tipping the unit over remote.
We must mention that the customer service team was incredibly helpful and responsive. One of the best we have worked with in a long time
Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?
The water spouts are narrow, so it takes some time to fill up. The unit could use a higher water flow
The removable drip tray on which your cup sits is too narrow. You can to use a narrow glass or otherwise hold onto it physically while dispensing your water. Not cool.
With a triple temperature option, Primo 601090-SO is a perfect choice, no matter what the weather is like outside. If you are coming into the office after a cold, crisp morning journey and need a hot cup of tea or instant coffee, the water dispenser has your back. If you are coming in sweating for the sweltering heat outside, you can enjoy a cool, refreshing glass of water.
With this water dispenser’s bottom-loading design, you can take away the heavy necessity of lifting and filling and also eliminate the chances of spilling since the water loads from the bottom back up.
This water dispenser is also self-cleaning, leaving you with barely any work to do to filter out the water, so it is clean for your guests. It is compatible with 3-gallon and 5-gallon water bottles, which means fewer replacement requirements from you (even though that part is a breeze).
Since it dispenses hot water at around 139 °F, it also comes with a child-safety feature, so it’s less worry for you.
Some extra features include a night light on the water cooler so getting a drink of water at night becomes much easier.
Why did it make our list?
Compatible with three-gallon and five-gallon bottles
Always keeps the water sanitized before it dispenses
Avalon A6BLWTRCLRBLK is a child-safe bottom loading water cooler dispenser that is remarkable not only for its features, but also the qualifications that back up its quality. This water dispenser is UL/Energy Star Approved, while featuring the hot water spout safety lock, so you no longer have to worry about your children safety near the cooler. The dual temperature dispenser brings you piping hot water for your toasty beverages, like coffee or tea, and crisp cold water for your cool refreshments on a hot day.
It also features a self-cleaning mode that sanitizes and purifies the water, bringing you clean water without a doubt. Harmful germs and bacteria are worked out of the tank and clean fresh water is kept in.
Perfect for the night-time drink, the built-in nightlight can lead your way to the water with its lights on the water spouts, so you know exactly where to place your cup. A light-up indicator also lights up the bottle when it needs replacing – although it won’t be that often since it is suitable for three-five gallon water bottles.
Why did it make our list?
Has a child-safety feature on the hot water
Self-cleaning to keep harmful germs and bacteria out
Has a night-light for the late-at-night drink
Safety certified
What is not ideal about it?
The dark color might not coincide with your home or office style
Things to Consider
When you’re choosing a bottom loading water dispenser, whether it’s for your home or office, there are a few features that might make the difference from one dispenser to the other. Especially with a bottom-load water dispenser, you’ll want the most convenient and easiest-to-use.
Why buy a bottom load water dispenser?
Having clean water at home is extremely important for our overall health, but deciding on what water cleaning solution to get can be challenging. A whole house water filter, for example, is perfect for removing any impurities from water, be it water you use in the kitchen or the bathroom. This filter, however, is pricey and requires tricky installation and maintenance. Another option is to get a countertop water filter which requires minimum maintenance but is limited in terms of the amount of water it can clean promptly. For those who don’t want to spend time and effort, a water dispenser turns out to be a perfect solution.
Great for the home or office, a bottom load water dispenser will make re-filling and maintenance easy. These dispensers are perfectly designed so that you don’t have to do all the extra lifting that comes along with top loading and “bottle-less” dispensers. They also hide the water bottle right inside the bottom cabinet so the entire dispenser doesn’t lose its aesthetic appeal with a clunky bottle.
Even though top load units are often much more affordable, they even out the price with the physically-taxing loading that is required. The “bottle-less” dispensers free you from ever having to buy the replaceable water bottles again but have to be sorted through a filter, which can get expensive and require a lot of maintenance on your part.
Other features to consider
When you’re deciding on the perfect water dispenser for you, you should consider some of these features.
Types of water
Whether your water dispenser is capable of giving cold, room or hot water temperature can be an important feature that might make or break your decision. If you are, for instance, in a place like Florida where you most likely won’t need the luxury of a hot tea to warm you up, you can probably get away with simply investing in a water dispenser that just emits cold water. However, if you know that the wintery air gets relatively cold, your guests (or you) might want to be comforted with a nice cup of hot tea or coffee once they get indoors. Some models only emit cool water or room temperature water, some models only have two different temperatures, and some, like the Brio CLBL520SC, have three different temperature options – hot, cold, and room temperature – allowing the drinker to choose the perfect one for their preferred drink.
Capacity
The reason behind your water dispenser purchase might be purely business-related, with the benefit of keeping your customers and guests hydrated and feeling welcome once they visit your waiting room or your office. It might also be used in a residential home. The purpose behind your purchase can easily sway your decision from investing in a water dispenser that has a large volume of bottles or one that might not hold too much – simply because you might not need it. If it’s just for you and your spouse, for example, you might not need a heavy-duty water dispenser.
However, if it is for your waiting room at your dentist office (where patients often brush their teeth in the lobby), you might need a water dispenser with a high capacity.
Self-cleaning function
To have a water dispenser capable of cleaning itself, especially if you are using it for commercial purpose is also a great plus. Being able to worry not so much about maintenance can definitely be an advantage if you’re already investing so much money into a water dispenser for your guests or clients. The models mentioned here, like Whirlpool 8LIECH-SC-SSS-5L-W and Primo 601090-SO, all normally have a self-cleaning function to make maintenance a breeze. However, there are some models that require a filter or might need a little extra care in between uses. Especially if you are taking the time out to invest, you might want to consider the easy-use feature of self-cleaning function capabilities.
Certification
Especially if it has a self-cleaning feature, you’ll want to be sure that the water dispenser will definitely be giving off fresh, clean water – always. Investing in and choosing a water dispenser with a certification, like Avalon A6BLWTRCLRBLK, might mean doing a little bit of extra research (and maybe paying a bit more). However, it is probably worth it for high-quality water, every time you go to drink.
Safety features for children
Whether you are a pediatrician or a dentist who also has invested in a children’s play place in the waiting room or you are a part of a family that has little ones running around, you’ll want to make sure that there is a safety-child-lock of some sort that eases the worry about children getting the hot water feature. Most of the hot water that comes out of these dispensers tend to be extremely hot (for tea and coffee) and can definitely be a threat for children around if they accidentally press the wrong button or try to drink from the “wrong” temperature water.
Warranty
Some of the dispensers listed tend to have warranties, like Primo 601090-SO, which includes and is backed by a 1-year warranty and guarantee from the factory. This warranty is not only important for the various parts and actual, physical water dispenser, it is also important for the filter – if it includes one. Making sure that the dispenser is backed by a warranty can help ensure that you’ll be investing in clean healthy water for your guests or your family.
Extra features
Those are not all the features to look into when choosing which water dispenser can be your best investment. You can also look into a few of these extra features to make sure that you are getting the most bang for your buck – and the cleanest water possible.
Leaks – When narrowing down all the water dispensers out there, take a look and check the customer reviews of people who have already bought and invested in the product. Scan the reviews for customers who have complained about leaks. Even though they are a common issue with water dispensers, you can easily eliminate or minimize the risk by doing the work beforehand and research who has the least amount of risk or the least number of complaints.
Material – Aim for the water dispensers with the highest quality material – stainless steel. There are some bottom loading water dispensers that operate with plastic containers. These containers, although cheaper than their stainless steel counterparts, leave a funny taste in the water that those with stainless steel often don’t have. Investing in higher-quality material can be worth it when it comes to taste. What’s the point in investing in a water dispenser if no one wants to drink the water?
Water flow rate – Especially if you are investing in a water dispenser for the office, where it will get used quite often by an ample number of people, you’ll want a water flow rate that is strong and consistent. Don’t forget to consider that you might need something that can fill a huge water jug or several huge water bottles that people might keep at their desk. A slow flow will discourage employees from using the water dispenser because of the time it takes to fill it completely up.
Noise level – If you invest in a water dispenser that has a pump, that might mean that its operation will be loud, which can disturb those who are working or need a quiet space. If the water dispenser has a compressor, this can also be a deciding factor because of the noise.
Size and space – Let’s say your office kitchen is extremely small. You might want to consider the space you have to work with when ordering a water dispenser to keep your employees hydrated. There are some units that can fit right onto a countertop, although they usually aren’t bottom-loading.
FAQ
Now that you know how to choose the best water dispenser for your situation, whether it’s at your office or in your home, here are some frequently asked questions that some people have had before that we are more than happy to answer for you:
All the models on this guide are self-cleaning, which means that it is really low maintenance to run and keep clean for your office or home. You can use the water dispenser daily without having to run the self-cleaning function. Depending on how many people are using it and the instructions that come along with each model, the number of times you should clean it or run through the self-cleaning feature can differ from model to model. Normally, however, it is recommended to run the self-cleaning feature once a week for the most effectiveness.
Sleek units that can easily be pushed into the corner of a small office kitchen are perfect additions for an office. To keep your employees best hydrated, you’ll need a water dispenser that can work with large volumes and has a strong flow or stream of water so that employees can fill up their bottles quickly and return to work. The last thing you’ll want as a boss is people taking up their time that could be used on efficiency at work filling up water or staying in a queue at the water dispenser. All the models here are sleek and thin that don’t take up too much space in the office. You’ll want to get one that can hold 5-gallon water bottles so that you can keep the whole office hydrated, no problem.
The Primo 601090-SO has a triple-temperature capability, meaning that it can dispense water in piping hot temperatures for tea and instant coffee, extremely cold water for a refreshing drink on a warm day, and cool, room temperature water for those who are more sensitive (especially in their teeth), and cannot stand cold water. Look for units that have triple-temperature capability, not just hot and cold.
Our Verdict
You may need a water dispenser for your office or for your business waiting room area. On the contrary, you may also need a water dispenser for your kitchen at home, making it extremely easy for you to grab a drink in the middle of the night. Depending on the purpose of your purchase, you can choose from our top three water coolers.
If you’re looking for a quiet water dispenser for your office area that performs as a heavy-duty hydrating machine, you can put your faith in Whirlpool 8LIECH-SC-SSS-5L-W. With its 5-6 gallon bottle capacity and its powerful, durable water pump, you can rest assured that it will keep the whole office hydrated.
Brio CLBL520SC has a lot of great extra features. With its child safety features, sleek design, and three temperature options, it is a perfect choice of a bottom loading water dispenser – especially if you’re on a budget.
For the easy, cool drink before bed, you need a water dispenser that is easy-to-use, easy-to-maintain, and contains an energy star certification, is self-cleaning and simple. Primo 601090-SO is a great water dispenser for you and your home—even when you’re on a budget. Especially, with its extra child safety feature, you can leave your worries behind if you’re living in a home with small children around.
We hope that this guide on the best bottom loading water dispensers has helped you narrow down the best choices into finding the perfect water dispenser for you, your home or your office.
I’m quite confused on the differences between the first 3 Whirlpool units. The first two are especially confusing as they are visually identical and both seem to offer the same functionality. Any insight?
Thanks for the question, Taylor.
All Whirlpool units in the top 3 are almost at the same quality level. The one on the top of the list has LED lights that allow you to monitor self-cleaning function, and the second pick has a display that controls temperature digitally and monitors self-cleaning function, too. You could think the display is a better option. However, according to users’ reviews, people liked the first model a little bit more.
I’m quite confused on the differences between the first 3 Whirlpool units. The first two are especially confusing as they are visually identical and both seem to offer the same functionality. Any insight?
Thanks for the question, Taylor.
All Whirlpool units in the top 3 are almost at the same quality level. The one on the top of the list has LED lights that allow you to monitor self-cleaning function, and the second pick has a display that controls temperature digitally and monitors self-cleaning function, too. You could think the display is a better option. However, according to users’ reviews, people liked the first model a little bit more.