by Fern Shaw | Feb 8, 2013 | Water Coolers
Inception and operations
We’ve been in operation for 13 years. An indication of our commitment to what we do shows in our great staff retention:
- Lindsey Page, our dynamic Office Manager, has been with AquAid for 10 years
- Joe Farnell, Account Manager extraordinaire, with AquAid for 7 years
- Pete Dinger, Clive Homer and Paul Unitt have been with us for 5 years
We have a total staff contingent of 13 people who are dedicated to offering our very extensive customer base, 780 Bottle fed water coolers and 1538 Mains fed water coolers, with unrivaled service and attention.
Monies raised
In 2012 AquAid Birmingham raised £43 000 for our hand-picked charities that provide, amongst other sustainable projects, clean drinking water to communities in Third World countries. That translates to enough funds for 4 300 children to have drinking water for life.
EDWCA Audit
The EDWCA, European Drinking Water Cooler Association (previously known as the European Point-Of Use Drinking Water Association EPDWA), is an association that was formed to “promote, develop and maintain the highest standards of hygiene, safety and ethics within the European Point-Of-Use Drinking Water industry to the benefit of customers.”
We are delighted to announce that last year we scored 100% in our EDWCA audits. This means that not only do we adhere to the stringent EDWCA requirements and take pride in our work, but that our valued customers benefit from us meeting and surpassing these standards too.
by Fern Shaw | Dec 13, 2012 | Water Coolers
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.
by Fern Shaw | Dec 7, 2012 | Water Coolers
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.
by Fern Shaw | Nov 16, 2012 | Water Coolers
We all love the cool, refreshing 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.
The most popular 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.
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 a 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a bottled water cooler work?
A bottled water cooler operates by using an inverted bottle placed on top of the cooler. When the bottle is positioned, a spike punctures the seal, allowing water to flow into the cooler’s internal reservoir. This setup ensures a continuous supply of water as long as the bottle contains water.
Inside the cooler, a refrigeration system cools the water. The system uses a refrigerant that circulates in pipes near the reservoir. As the refrigerant absorbs heat from the water, it cools down, providing chilled water on demand. This process repeats each time water is dispensed, ensuring a steady supply of cool water.
What is the role of the refrigerant in a water cooler?
The refrigerant in a water cooler plays a crucial role in cooling the water. It circulates through pipes near the water reservoir, absorbing heat from the water. As the refrigerant absorbs heat, it changes from a liquid to a gas, cooling the surrounding water.
The refrigerant’s ability to change state allows it to efficiently transfer heat away from the water, ensuring the water remains cool. This process is continuous, allowing the cooler to provide chilled water whenever required. The heat absorbed by the refrigerant is eventually expelled, maintaining the system’s efficiency.
How does the water cooler prevent flooding?
Water coolers are designed with a valve that prevents flooding. This valve controls the flow of water from the bottle into the cooler’s reservoir, ensuring that water only enters the reservoir when needed. This mechanism helps maintain the correct water level inside the cooler.
The valve system is essential for the cooler’s operation, as it ensures that the water is dispensed efficiently without overflow. This design feature is particularly important in maintaining the cooler’s functionality and preventing spills, which could otherwise occur if the reservoir were to overflow.
What should I consider when choosing a water cooler?
When selecting a water cooler, consider factors such as customer service, maintenance requirements, and cooling performance. A high-quality cooler should provide effective cooling and be easy to maintain, ensuring a consistent supply of clean, refreshing water.
Additionally, think about the type of water cooler that best suits your needs, whether it’s a bottled or bottle-less model. Assess the space available, the frequency of use, and the ease of replacing water bottles if applicable. These considerations will help you choose a cooler that meets your hydration needs efficiently.
How does a bottle-less water cooler differ from a bottled one?
A bottle-less water cooler connects directly to the water supply, eliminating the need for water bottles. This type of cooler filters and chills the water as it flows through the system, providing a continuous supply of fresh water without the hassle of changing bottles.
In contrast, bottled water coolers rely on inverted bottles placed on top of the cooler. While both types offer chilled water, bottle-less coolers are often more convenient for high-usage areas, as they require less manual intervention and can reduce the cost and environmental impact associated with bottled water.
