Boiling water taps, also known as instant hot water dispensers, dish out filtered cold, hot and boiling water at the twist of a tap. They also have a range of additional functions that can make your life easier and help you save money.
They save energy because they heat only what you need, when you need it. The Zip and Billi range have a sensor activated ‘sleep when it’s dark’ feature which also reduces energy use.
1. Saves time
A boiling water tap is a quick and convenient way to make hot drinks without having to wait for the kettle to boil. This tap is often used in office kitchens, as it saves time and energy for staff members who are constantly making hot beverages or preparing food for meetings.
Instant hot water taps use less energy than traditional storage tank models, because they only heat the water when it is needed. Boiling water taps also help to conserve one of our most precious natural resources – freshwater. This is because they reduce the amount of water that is wasted by people who overfill their kettles and then have to reboil it.
Instant boiling water taps are also safer than kettles because they have a sprung safety handle and an aerated flow of hot water that prevents scalding. Some models are designed with a red flashing ring of light that alerts you that the boiling water function is active, and this helps to reduce accidental activation. A lot of research and development goes into the design of boiling water taps to ensure they are safe, and many manufacturers offer maintenance services to keep their taps in optimum condition.
2. Saves money
Boiling water taps are a great option for saving energy, as they only heat the exact amount of water you need. This means no more wasting energy heating more water than you need – which happens with 67% of kettle owners when they overfill and re-boil their pots.
These taps also help declutter your worktop by removing the need for a kettle, which can save space on your kitchen bench. They also require less upkeep and maintenance than traditional taps, and can be cleaned with warm soapy water rather than harsh chemicals.
However, they do use some energy to keep the heating element at a steady temperature, much like your home water heater does. This is why it’s important to research your options to find the right boiling hot water tap for you, and have a qualified plumber install it correctly. This will help ensure the best energy savings and avoid any issues with leaking or overheating. Many of Zip and Billi’s taps have smart features, such as a sensor activated ‘sleep when it’s dark’ function or 2-hour standby mode, which further reduces your energy consumption.
3. Reduces waste
An instant hot water tap dispenses near-boiling water on demand, eliminating the need to heat a kettle or stovetop. This can save a significant amount of time, especially for those with busy schedules or families to feed.
The working mechanisms of instant boiling taps also minimise waste and energy. This is because they only heat the water you require and therefore do not waste energy heating a large volume of water that you may not use. In addition, many boiling taps feature child locks to prevent accidental scalding.
A boiling tap can also declutter your kitchen work space by replacing a kettle, freeing up valuable storage space and counters. Furthermore, many of the models available can dispense filtered hot or cold water as well. This gives you the flexibility to create the perfect mix of drinks, meals and cleaning.
4. Saves energy
An instant boiling tap uses significantly less energy than a kettle. In fact, experts say it can use half as much energy.
This is because the tank system doesn’t heat water all day, it only heats water as and when it’s needed. This means that your water heater doesn’t have to constantly be running, so it consumes a fraction of the energy used by traditional storage tanks.
Additionally, the water that is dispensed from instant hot water taps has been fine-tuned to be safe on skin. This is achieved by combining the water with air to create an aerated flow that can’t cause burns or scalds. As well as this, modern designs include a safety feature inspired by child-proof medication bottles where the user must press and twist to activate the hot water function.
With all these benefits, it’s no wonder that instant hot water taps are quickly becoming a must-have appliance in the modern family home. To learn more about having an instant tap installed in your home, contact St Paul Pipeworks today.
5. Reduces noise
Unlike the kettle, which sits out on your kitchen bench, instant hot water taps store their near-boiling water in an insulated tank out of reach of children and pets. This is a safety measure and reduces energy waste by only heating water when you are in the kitchen.
The banging noise you hear when the water is turned off is a phenomenon known as a “water hammer”. This happens when the pipes are too loose and when you turn your taps off suddenly, the rapid flow of water causes it to slam against the shut-off valve. This is why we always recommend a licensed plumbing professional to install your instant hot water system.
An expertly installed Instant Hot or Instant Boiling Water Tap will have patented technology that automatically determines your altitude to deliver the perfect temperature each and every time. This saves you energy by eliminating wasted heat and it also allows for multiple dispense options, such as a boiling tap or an instant hot/boiling/chilling option. The Borg & Overstrom T3 tap system is an excellent example of this.