Unlike mains-fed water coolers, bottled water dispensers need no plumbing connection and no installation works. Plug into a standard power outlet, load the bottle, and you have instant access to chilled, ambient or hot water. This makes them ideal for businesses that need a flexible hydration solution they can set up immediately, or move as their needs change.
Bottled water coolers offer a straightforward, predictable cost model, particularly on a rental plan, where the machine, delivery and servicing are all included in a fixed monthly cost. There are no installation fees, no plumbing costs and no surprise maintenance bills. For businesses on tighter budgets or those that need a short-term hydration solution, this makes them one of the most accessible options available.
When you rent a bottled water cooler with Culligan, everything is taken care of. Scheduled water deliveries are arranged around your usage, so you never run out. Your cooler is regularly sanitised as part of the service, and if anything goes wrong, our team will repair or replace your machine quickly, with no additional charge. It’s a fully managed service, so there’s nothing for you or your team to organise.
Because bottled water dispensers don’t need a mains water connection, they can go anywhere with a power outlet. That means you can place them on a construction site, in a waiting room, on a warehouse floor, in a temporary office or at an event, without any infrastructure requirements. They can also be moved easily as your layout or staffing changes, giving you far more flexibility than a plumbed-in solution.
Offering a diverse range of freestanding and countertop models, employees can enjoy instant chilled, ambient, and hot water all from one machine – perfect for offices, construction sites, healthcare settings and more.
The most popular choice for offices, breakrooms and communal areas. Floor-standing models hold a standard 19-litre bottle and offer chilled, ambient and hot water options, all from one unit. Available in top-load and bottom-load configurations.
A compact option for smaller spaces, desks, kitchenettes, reception areas and rooms where floor space is limited. Countertop models offer the same water options as freestanding units in a smaller footprint.
The standard configuration, where the bottle sits on top of the unit. Easy to use and widely available, top-load coolers are a reliable, cost-effective choice for most business environments.
The bottle sits in a concealed cabinet at the base of the unit, which means no heavy lifting to change bottles. A cleaner aesthetic and a practical advantage in customer-facing or front-of-house environments.
Because they require no plumbing, bottled water coolers are particularly well-suited to environments where a mains connection isn’t available or practical. Here are the sectors where they work best.
Offices and workplaces are the most common environment for bottled water coolers. A freestanding or countertop model in a breakroom, kitchen or open-plan area gives teams quick access to water throughout the day, with no infrastructure required.
No mains connection, no problem. Bottled water coolers are the go-to hydration solution for the construction sector, including building sites, portakabins, temporary offices and any project where the infrastructure doesn’t yet exist or won’t be in place long enough to justify installation.
A practical back-of-house or staff hydration solution, particularly for smaller hospitality venues where a full mains-fed installation isn’t warranted. Easy to set up for events and easily relocated between spaces.
A flexible option for staffrooms, reception areas and back-of-house spaces within gyms and leisure facilities, where a bottled cooler works alongside bottle filling stations on the main floor.
Large sites like factories and warehouses where running pipework to every hydration point isn’t practical. Bottled water coolers can be positioned at key points on the floor, near production lines, loading areas and rest zones, without any infrastructure requirements.
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terms & conditions
Renting a bottled water cooler with Culligan is a fully managed service. Here’s what’s covered as standard.
Culligan’s water cooler bottles are returnable and reused up to 50 times before being recycled, significantly reducing single-use plastic waste compared to disposable bottled water. By choosing a Culligan bottled water cooler, you’re not just providing convenient hydration; you’re actively participating in a closed-loop system that keeps plastic out of landfill.
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Culligan’s bottled water coolers are available in freestanding and countertop sizes. Freestanding models are the most popular for offices and workplaces, offering full hot, cold and ambient options and using a standard 19 litre bottle. Countertop models are more compact and suited to smaller spaces such as kitchenettes, reception areas or individual desks. Speak to our team if you’re unsure which size suits your space, and we can advise based on your team size and usage.
To clean your bottled water cooler, start by turning it off, unplugging it and removing any remaining bottles. Take apart the removable parts, including the drip tray, baffle and water guard, then wipe down all surfaces, faucets and removable parts with a clean cloth or sponge dipped in a mild soap and warm water solution (avoid using scented cleaning agents). For stubborn stains, a soft brush can be used. Rinse off any soap residue with a separate clean cloth, then sanitise all surfaces using a peroxide solution following the manufacturer’s recommendations. Allow all parts to air dry completely before reassembling, plugging back in and placing a new bottle onto the cooler.
Culligan can provide regular service and sanitisation of your water cooler as part of our maintenance service, which is included in our water cooler rental packages.
Using a water bottle dispenser offers several benefits:
Yes, bottled water coolers are generally easy to install. They are designed with user-friendly features and straightforward setup procedures, making them convenient to install in various environments without requiring extensive technical expertise. Culligan provides installation for all our water cooler rental packages and can offer this service if you choose to buy your machine.
The frequency of replacing bottles on your bottled water cooler depends on factors such as your water consumption rate, the size of the bottles, and the number of people using the cooler.
A typical guideline is to replace the bottle when it’s empty, ensuring a continuous supply of water. For businesses with moderate to high water usage, replacing bottles every few days to a week might be common. In contrast, households might replace bottles every 1 to 2 weeks. It’s recommended to monitor your water usage and adjust your replacement frequency accordingly.
With Culligan water delivery, our rental plans factor in your usage and automatically schedule deliveries based on your needs.
Yes, our range of water bottle dispensers includes models equipped with a hot water dispensing feature. This is particularly useful for making hot beverages like tea and coffee. The hot water function is controlled by a separate button or faucet and comes with a safety mechanism to prevent accidental burns, especially if the cooler is in spaces with heavy foot traffic.
Bottled water coolers work by storing a large water bottle upside-down on top of the cooler. The machine uses gravity to feed water into the reservoir, where it’s cooled or heated before being dispensed. Most of our models offer you the choice of chilled, ambient, or hot water, making them a convenient hydration solution for offices, schools, gyms, and workplaces. Since they don’t require plumbing, they’re often called plug-and-play water dispensers; simply connect to power, place the bottle, and you’re ready to go.
While there isn’t a specific term for an office water cooler, the most common terms for these are water dispensers or water coolers. With Culligan, bringing clean and safe water to the office is easy with our range of bottled water coolers, built-in taps, and plumbed-in water coolers for offices. Whether you want to rent one or buy it outright, we have cost-effective water dispensers that encourage healthy hydration in any office.
Our bottled water coolers and plumbed-in water dispensers include a built-in cooling system that chills water before it’s dispensed. Simply press or push the cold-water tap or button, and you’ll get instant, refreshing water. With Culligan’s bottled water coolers, you can enjoy cold, ambient, or hot water options, making hydration simple and accessible for any workspace.
The cost of a 19-litre water bottle depends on your delivery plan and frequency of refills. With Culligan’s bottled water delivery service, pricing is tailored to your usage, ensuring you get a reliable and cost-effective supply of fresh drinking water. Our returnable bottles are also reusable, helping to reduce plastic waste and support sustainability. For more information, you can speak to one of our friendly experts or request a quote.
Culligan’s bottled water coolers and dispensers are a practical, no-fuss hydration solution for businesses of all sizes. With no plumbing required, they can be set up immediately in any environment, from offices and healthcare settings to construction sites, warehouses and hospitality venues. Rent with delivery and servicing included, or purchase outright with optional aftercare cover.
As a global leader in water solutions with over 85 years of expertise, Culligan provides the full service, including the machine, delivery, sanitisation and support, so your team always has access to clean, fresh water without any hassle.
