Home Q&A: What's the difference between a boiler tap and a hot water dispenser?

If you’re just interested in using stored hot drinking water as an instant supply for beverages and instant noodles, a dispenser offers a small tank of constantly hot water for a low energy input. 

The settings will vary model to model but generally you can choose from a constant stream or a range of “variable-dispenses” of 150ml to around 350ml, suited to a small tea cup or a small pan to then take to the stovetop. 

Unlike a boiler tap, fed by your mains supply, the tank of the dispenser will need to be replenished, and will carry from 1.5l to 2l in a domestic model suited to a standard kitchen.

 They are a nuisance to move, so find a nice light plastic jug for this job rather than heaving the unit to the sink. Dispensers don’t dispense boiling water but take it to a very high temperature suited to making tea, instant coffee or filling a cafeteria, for instance(90C-96C). 

They could be said to use less electricity to provide instant hot water than a kettle, but only if they are used several times over a full day. 

If you just make one or two cups of tea or coffee a day, boiling a 3kWh kettle with just enough for a couple of brews will come in at about 0.25kW for a three-minute boil, or around 10c at 40c per kWh, not a lot to spend. 

I found their power use to be comparable with most 3kWh kettles, but perhaps a little faster for boiling up a single cup. 

Dispensers have a larger capacity than a kettle making them ideal for a small office environment, or where you simply want the extra features and control of a more advanced appliance. 

As you don’t have to lift the kettle up, the dispenser is more elegant and easy to use, useful if someone in the house has mobility or strength issues in their arms or hands. 

Remember to descale your dispenser according to the maker’s recommendations and keep up with any filter changes.

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