Boiling water taps are a great convenience in the kitchen, supplying you with boiling hot water in an instant for tea, coffee or washing the dishes. The temperature of the water supplied is just under boiling point, at around 93 degrees centigrade (220F). But is this latest kitchen tech just too good to be true, or is it the best thing since sliced bread?
You’ll find a number of boiling water tap in the market vying for a place in your new kitchen. The Quooker tap is probably the best known, but there are others too. Good reviews of the products currently available can be found here and here. However, what you should really do is pick the brains of a professional kitchen supplier such as The Brighton Kitchen Company where experienced kitchen experts can talk you through the ins and outs of the design, the technology and whether it’s the right solution for you.
How do boiling water tap systems work?
Unlike conventional water systems, no storage tank is necessary. The water is heated via the mains as it passes through the heating system. A sensor immediately detects when your hot water tap has been turned on. The cold water passes through the pipe into the water heater and the heating element heats up the water to nearly boiling. This will continue to happen for as long as the water is running, which means there’s a constant supply of hot water ready for use.
Water flow rates
The system’s output of water is limited by the flow rate of the water heater, and this depends on the wattage of the heater. So, the higher the temperature of the water – the slower the flow will be. The flow rate of a 3kW boiling water tap system is between 1-2 litres per minute, whereas a 12kW heater has a flow rate of between 5-7 litres per minute.
Most UK homes are limited to 12kW of power, unless 3-phase power has been installed, but this is not usual. The best way to increase flow rates is to fit an additional instant water heater.
Pros and cons
One of the biggest advantages of a boiling water tap is that the system provides instant hot water any time of the day or night, for everything from a hot cup of tea or coffee, to hot water for washing the dishes.
For people who use more than 185 litres of water a day (bearing in mind that a regular domestic toilet can use up to 10 litres per flush) a boiling water tap system can be up to 35% more energy efficient than a standard storage water heating system.
Because kettles don’t have to be boiled and hot water poured into cups or pots or jugs, there’s no danger of boiling water scalding someone – it’s just a matter of turning a tap on and off. Save time and money with instant hot water without the waiting.
Boiling water taps systems filter out water impurities, some so small they cannot be seen by the human eye. The irony is that they also filter out the fluoride and chlorine that’s been added to our drinking water, arguably to make it safer to drink! Ultimately, what this means is that your water is not only boiling hot when you want it, but also tastes great and is better for you.
If you’re the kind of person that likes to have all the bells and whistles then you can choose a boiling water tap system that not only gives you instant boiling water, but also delivers chilled filtered water and sparkling water instantly from a single tap. All you do is flip a switch to select the type of water you prefer. This way, you can mix drinks in seconds, enjoy a glass of chilled sparkling water, or else pour yourself a hot cup of java – just one more reason why the instant boiling water tap system for your home of office makes good sense.
On the downside, the water flow varies depending on the temperature you set and the wattage of your heater. The hotter the water, the longer it takes to heat up and the slower it runs out of the tap. Also, with this system, it’s easy to forget that the minute you turn the tap on boiling hot water runs out. It’s best to have your cup or jug ready and waiting, so you don’t scald or burn yourself!
