Water cooler

[RoyLee]

Looking to install R/O water filter in a house, plumbed to a cooler. I noticed coolers typically take the big blue 19L jugs. Alternatively, could be plumbed to fridge(yet to buy) with dispenser option, but noticed the fridges with that feature are bigger than the spot we have and most just have a plastic bucket in the door you fill. 

[NanLaew]

I think you need to avoid any fridges that dispense chilled water or make ice. The ones I had in the US were quite robust but their equivalents across here weren't worth the extra dosh IMHO. Lines got blocked up, plastic fittings cracked or pumps just died and spare parts didn't exist.

 

You can get standalone coolers that can be plumbed in. Good option if it is going into a new build and can be plumbed in without drama. There's also a few on the market where the water bottle goes inside the bottom part and there's a small internal lift pump. I bought one a few years ago at Thai Watsado but it was less than a year old when the plastic impeller body on the pump motor developed cracks. I replaced it with a similar motor/pump from lazada but I was told it started dripping again last summer while I was away at work. I haven't gotten around to finding out what the issue is this time since Mrs NL went out and bought a new, cheap 'top loader'.

[RoyLee]

17 hours ago, NanLaew said:

I think you need to avoid any fridges that dispense chilled water or make ice. The ones I had in the US were quite robust but their equivalents across here weren't worth the extra dosh IMHO. Lines got blocked up, plastic fittings cracked or pumps just died and spare parts didn't exist.

 

You can get standalone coolers that can be plumbed in. Good option if it is going into a new build and can be plumbed in without drama. There's also a few on the market where the water bottle goes inside the bottom part and there's a small internal lift pump. I bought one a few years ago at Thai Watsado but it was less than a year old when the plastic impeller body on the pump motor developed cracks. I replaced it with a similar motor/pump from lazada but I was told it started dripping again last summer while I was away at work. I haven't gotten around to finding out what the issue is this time since Mrs NL went out and bought a new, cheap 'top loader'.

Thx for feedback. Your cooler experience doesn't exactly inspire confidence.  I may just opt for 1 of those 1 gallon insulated jugs, filled daily, in the meantime.  It doesn't help that some of the coolers are more expensive than the fridge we are about to buy.

[NanLaew]

1 minute ago, RoyLee said:

Thx for feedback. Your cooler experience doesn't exactly inspire confidence.  I may just opt for 1 of those 1 gallon coolers, filled daily, in the meantime.  It doesn't help that some of the coolers are more expensive than the fridge we are about to buy.

The more complex, the more bits to go wrong. Some people swear only by the water cooler ones and eschew the ones that also make hot water. Those faucets and piping, if cheap, can leak due to expansion/contraction cracking.

 

I have fixed another, smaller tabletop cooler/heater that allegedly developed a 'drip' while I was away. It's an older unit used as a spare one that never had issues before. I found out that the 'drip' wasn't from any leaking pipe or taps. I tested it and for three days, no problems but on the fourth day, a small puddle was found underneath.

 

There's always some condensation that forms in and around the refrigerated water reservoir in the form of a slow weep that usually evaporates in the adjacent heat of the compressor and ambient air. This cooler had a lot of dust so the inbuilt absorption and/or evaporation wasn't working. Cleaned the dust bunnies out, reassembled and the condensation now wicks away naturally like before. No 'drips'.