Boiling water tap dispenses near-boiling water and saves time in the kitchen. Some also offer cold filtered water, eliminating the need for a separate filter jug that takes up space in your fridge.
There is a common misconception that boiling water taps dispense water at 100degC (boiling point) but the truth is they actually dispense water that’s only just above boiling. This difference is key for safety reasons.
Safety
While that gleaming piece of kitchen hardware is usually associated with clean clothes, sparkling dishes, and warm cozy baths, paediatricians and injury prevention professionals are aware that it can also serve up water that burns like fire. In fact, 150 severe and sometimes life-changing hot tap water burn injuries occur to young children in Canada every year (1).
The good news is that boiling your tap water kills most harmful bacteria, making it the safest way to purify your drinking water. However, it’s important to remember that boiling is not the only way to sanitize your water.
Adding disinfectants to your drinking water can also kill most harmful organisms, such as bacteria and viruses. Disinfectants such as unscented household chlorine bleach or iodine tablets (available in most pharmacies) can be effective if boiling is not an option. However, these products are not as effective at killing the resistant organisms such as Giardia and Cryptosporidia that are found in some areas of the country.
Unlike conventional mixer taps, a boiling water tap has an internal structure that surrounds the normal mixed water spout with boiling water to insulate and protect against accidental scalding. To activate boiling water, users simply depress both the chilled lever and safety button at the same time. This ensures that the spout is never left running and that a child’s hand can’t accidentally touch scalding water from the spout.
Convenience
A boiling water tap gives you a hot cup of tea or coffee whenever you need it. Rather than flicking the kettle on and waiting for it to boil, you can simply turn a tap to pour piping hot water at the touch of a button. This is a real time-saver and can really help keep you hydrated throughout the day.
Boiling taps also let you make instant noodles, soup, porridge and more. They also save you the effort of filling jugs of water to drink, and they make entertaining for friends and family a breeze. Unlike the traditional kettle, boiling water taps don’t use much energy, so they can help you save money on your energy bills too.
Many models have small thermally-insulated tanks that hold a supply of hot water, and they’re often located under the sink for easy access. This allows you to keep your kitchen counters free of clutter and the mess that comes with filling and emptying the kettle. Some models are also 4-in-1 taps, which dispense both hot and chilled filtered water. This eliminates the need for a separate water filter, which can take up valuable fridge space. The filtered water is safe to drink and is filtered to remove impurities like dirt, sediment, chlorine and bad taste. This can be an incentive to increase your fluid intake, which is important for staying hydrated.
Energy efficiency
One of the key benefits of a boiling water tap is that it uses less energy than boiling a kettle. This is because you only heat up the water that you need, whereas with a kettle it is easy to overfill and then throw out any excess.
Instant boil taps work by taking water from your property’s mains supply and then rapidly heating it with an electric element in a heavily insulated tank beneath the sink. This means that they can dispense boiling water much more quickly than a kettle, and the tap also saves on electricity costs as you only use it when you need it.
However, not all boiling water taps are created equal and you should look for a model with an expansion vessel which will allow the water volume to expand during the heating process. This stops unnecessary wastage of drinking water, and prevents pressure building within the unit which can lead to technical faults.
Another factor to consider is whether you’re looking for a tap that only dispenses boiling water, or whether you want a 4-in-1 tap that can dispense boiling, hot, cold and filtered drinking water too. Many of the best quality models are capable of this and can be a great alternative to buying separate water filters which take up valuable fridge space.
Style
If you’re looking for an instant boiling water tap to take your kitchen’s functionality and aesthetics to the next level, look no further than a stylish boiling hot water dispenser. These taps can dispense freshly filtered boiling and chilled water along with standard cold water and are available in a range of on-trend finishes to suit your kitchen’s décor.
These taps are typically a monobloc style (meaning they comprise of one unit, rather than two separate pillar taps) and come fitted with child-safe features. Most will have a catch that has to be depressed before the tap starts pouring, and many also feature a button you need to press and hold in order to dispense boiling water. As a result, they’re very difficult to accidentally activate.
Having an instant boiling water tap in your kitchen can be extremely convenient, and is great for saving you the hassle of having to boil a kettle. It can be used to make tea, hot chocolate, and coffee – as well as for cooking and other household tasks such as boiling pasta and vegetables.
Some boiling water taps also include a swivel spout so you can direct the flow of water as needed. This is perfect for getting into corners and is also helpful when preparing food, as it allows you to easily pour water into large pots or pans.