Water Cooler Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Water Cooler in Australia
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Buying a water cooler for an office, school or worksite? The right choice comes down to a few simple questions. This guide walks through each one, with real models and prices so you can compare.
1. Plumbed-in or bottled?
This is the biggest decision.
- Plumbed water coolers (also called mains-connected or point-of-use coolers) connect to your cold water line. They never run out and there are no bottles to buy, store or lift. They need a licensed plumber to install.
- Bottled water coolers only need a power point, so they can go anywhere. You will need to buy bottles, or use a self-fill filter bottle that you fill from the tap.
If there is a water line nearby and more than a few people use the cooler, plumbed-in usually has lower ongoing costs, because you buy filter cartridges instead of bottled water. Read our full plumbed-in vs bottled comparison.
2. Floor-standing or bench top?
Floor-standing coolers hold more and suit staff rooms and open-plan offices. Bench top water coolers such as the Waterworks SB5, SB19 and SD5 sit on a kitchen bench, which suits reception areas and small offices.
3. How many people will use it?
For a small team, almost any cooler will keep up. For busy sites, look at chilling capacity. The Waterworks D25 delivers up to 35 litres of chilled water an hour. If you are buying for a school, gym or public space, a drinking fountain or water bubbler may suit better than a cooler.
4. Hot and cold, or room and cold?
Most Waterworks coolers come in two versions. Hot and cold models add a hot tank with a safety tap, which is handy for tea and coffee. Room and cold models give chilled water plus room-temperature water.
5. What does installation need?
Plumbed coolers need a cold water connection and a power point, and some also need a drain, which adds to installation costs. Waterworks also requires a certified pressure limiting valve on models such as the D5. Each product page lists what the unit needs, and our installation checklist covers what else to have ready.
6. Filtration
Mains water quality varies around Australia. Waterworks Plug-N-Play filters reduce chlorine taste, odour and sediment, and swap in seconds without tools. Most cartridges should be changed every 6 to 12 months. The SD19 comes with an inline carbon filter kit.
Water cooler prices at a glance
| Model | Type | From (inc GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Waterworks B26 | Bottled, top-load | $449 |
| Waterworks B19 | Bottled, slim | $485 |
| Waterworks BL25 | Bottled, bottom-load | $554 |
| Waterworks D5 | Plumbed-in, floor-standing | $599 |
| Waterworks SD19 | Plumbed-in, bench top | $595 |
| Waterworks D25 | Plumbed-in, high capacity | $629 |
| Waterworks B28 | Bottled, touch-free | $775 |
Prices are current at the time of writing; check each product page for the latest price.
Warranty and delivery
Waterworks water coolers such as the D5 come with a 3-year comprehensive warranty; each product page shows the warranty for that model. Delivery is free on orders over $150 to all states except WA ($49). See our delivery areas.
Still not sure?
See our office water cooler guide, browse all water coolers, or call us anytime on 0414 602 800 or 1300 55 32 82 and we will recommend the right model. Buying for a school or business? Request a tax invoice and pay by bank transfer.