Water Cooler Etiquette

Did you know that by taking a 5 minute break and drinking a cup of water will refresh you almost immediately?

So head on over to the water cooler for a cool drink of spring water to kick start your energy levels and get you back into super productivity mode.

It also gives your brain a break to chat about something other than work, so while you’re there, have a quick catch up with your colleagues.

The bottom line when it comes to office water cooler etiquette is to keep your chatter cheerful. Talking with one another is a great way to build relationships and promote teamwork. Sharing can be a wonderful asset to your work environment, you just need to keep in mind what you should and should not share at office water coolers.

Do share positive stories about your family and friends. Doing so gives your colleagues insight into who you are.

Do not share your personal problems at work. There are plenty of problems to contend with in the workplace. Sharing your personal problems with your colleagues indicates a familiarity level that the majority of colleagues are uncomfortable with.

Do talk about the interesting aspects of your most recent holiday. If you travelled to an exotic location or remained home to explore your local area, your colleagues will enjoy hearing about what you have done.

Do not share how much you have to make or your salary, this is unprofessional.

Do talk about the fantastic meal that you had at the new Italian restaurant in town.

Do not talk about the four bottles of wine that you drank with your lasagne.

Do discuss a colleague’s promotion, new baby, or other positive news. Just make sure that you have permission from the individual you are speaking about.

Do not discuss a colleague’s personal problems.

Do talk about your latest outdoor adventure. Sharing your hobbies and interests is a great way for colleagues to find out who you are away from the office.

How well do you know your water cooler?

How well do you know your water cooler?

How do bottle fed coolers and mains fed coolers differ?

Bottle fed water coolers are free standing units that use a large plastic bottle to deliver water, and can be either bottom or top loaded. Mains fed water coolers hook up to the main water supply and utilise filtration services to provide clean, crisp-tasting water. Both types of water coolers have an on/off switch that controls the cooling and/or heating functions of the dispenser.

How is the water kept cold?

In order to chill the water prior to dispensation, water coolers have a reservoir within the dispenser that holds a set amount of water. The reservoir is surrounded by pipes that have a refrigerant (a cooling medium) flowing through them.

What stops the bottle fed dispenser water from flooding?

When the bottle of water is inverted and placed into the opening on the top of the water cooler, the seal of the water bottle is severed or punctured by a part referred to as the ‘spike’, allowing the water to flow into the water cooler. Inside the water cooler is a further valve that prevents the water from the bottle flooding the water cooler.

How are water coolers kept clean?

Both Bottle Fed and Mains Fed Dispensers are kept clean by being sanitised. Bottle fed machines are sanitised every 3 months. Mains fed are sanitised every 6 months. An ozone generator is used for this purpose.

What is an ozone generator?

Ozone (O3) is a gas very similar to normal oxygen (O2), just with an added oxygen molecule. In water the effect of ozone is that it will kill all unwanted bacteria, spores and viruses, leaving the water container and water dispenser clean, clear and safe.

Where does the water in the coolers originate from?

In the case of AquAid’s water, from 3 natural springs in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. All the spring water is bottled at source. The water is poured directly into the various sized bottles which are hermetically sealed to lock in the natural purity. And there it remains until it emerges from your water cooler, just as it left the source, cool and pure.

How Does a Water Cooler Work?

We all love refreshing, chilled water we get instantaneously from our water cooler whether it be in our home, office or school. But for the majority of us, how this all happens on demand from a mere touch of a button is unknown.

Water coolers are an essential part of homes and workplaces, providing clean water while maintaining energy efficiency. Whether you choose bottled water coolers or bottle-less water coolers, understanding how they function ensures you get the best hydration experience.

Bottled Water Coolers

The most popular drinking water cooler is the bottle fed water dispenser. This type of machine gets its water supply from an inverted bottle of water placed on top of the water cooler. When the bottle of water is inverted and placed into the opening on the top of the water cooler, the seal of the water bottle is severed or punctured by a part referred to as the ‘spike’, allowing the water to flow into the water cooler.

Refrigeration System

Inside the water cooler is a valve that prevents the water from the bottle from flooding the water cooler. The water inside the water cooler is fed into an internal reservoir, where it is cooled using a refrigerant. A refrigerant is a cooling medium that is circulated in pipes that are located close to the reservoir in the water cooler. The refrigerant changes from a liquid to a gas as it moves in the pipes towards the reservoir because of the pressure in the pipes created by a compressor inside the water cooler. The cooled gas in the water pipe is forced through a valve to make it even colder.

When the refrigerant is in a gas form and is circulating in the pipes, it has the ability to absorb the heat away from the mineral water in the reservoir, leaving cool and refreshing water that is readily available. The heat in the refrigerant is then expelled from the water cooler.

As people dispense water, the machine will refill the reservoir and the process begins again. Should the water reservoir empty completely during dispensing, it will take a few minutes before the water cooler chills the water to a low temperature.

Choose the Right Water Cooler

A high-quality water cooler ensures hydration while keeping water free from contaminants. When selecting a cooler, consider its customer service, maintenance, and performance in cooling the water effectively.

By equipping yourself with the right knowledge, you can choose a water cooler that meets your needs, ensuring you get clean, refreshing water every time. Contact us today!