Boiling Water Taps.. yes or no?

[Anonymousbird]

Initially I dismissed having one of these, just seemed a bit excessive. But I am coming round to the idea of instant hot water for drinks and cooking and NO KETTLE cluttering up the place.

So three questions please,

1. If you've got one, are you pleased with it, or was it really a waste of money?

2.Are they as efficient as they are promoted as being

1. Which one? I've seen Quookers (£££££) and InSinkErator (£££). My kitchen supplier is recommending ISE at around £4-500.

Thanks

it is MUCH more efficient than a kettle.

with a kettle you always heat up more water than you need so wasting energy. which you lose because it starts to cool down again immediately. and it takes an awful lot of energy to heat water from 5 degrees straight out the tap to 100 degrees.

the quooker is pressurised and extremely well insulated so it takes very little energy to keep it at a constant temp. it doesn't have to contend with the wild oscillation in water temp.

And its not just tea (and coffee). Veggies are instantly boiling/steaming, dd2's milk cup is cleaner in seconds, veggies are warmed up for her in seconds too...

...and when the dds had nits last term, I cleaned the hairbrushes under instant boiling water

warthog - I was told to turn and hold but have never tried letting go! We have only been in the buildng a month so its all new to us. Will try that next week - if that is true then no more burnt palm!

Just read all the posts and still can't decide! I want one DH doesn't. We've been quoted £350 for the insinkerator. It's so small and neat. DH has read the tank needs replacing after 2 years, yet someone's just said on here they've had theirs for 4 years. Hmmmm I want one

totally environmentally unfriendly, surely?

They're supposed to use less energy than a kettle, I'm not sure how either, but they do

I wouldn't, I'd worry about bacteria in the pipes

anyway it only takes about 1 minute to get proper boiling water for 1 cup in a fast kettle

I am confused about the burning hand comment. We've had ours for 3 years,, I use it about 10 times a day and have never burnt myself . I wonder if your has somehow been fitted incorrectly.....

I like the idea of them...just had my kitchen installed...is it too late to get one????

bacteria in the pipes - don't think they're going to outlast a blast of 100 deg water!

environmentally unfriendly - nope - read my posts.

god - kettles are dreadful.

i gotta step away from this thread because i'm getting too emotionally involved

Oooh, this is on my mind too - may I join?

There are some Quooker fans here but does anyone have an Insinkerator at home?

The Quooker is more money but I prefer the look of the Insinkerator, but it would be good to hear from devotees before I go for it!

so if it's at a permanent 100 degrees, no cooling down ever (which could allow bacteria to grow) - doesn't it go a bit stale?

I mean one of the rules for good tea is that you should always empty the kettle (if necessary) & put fresh cold water in...

(we have a pressurised combi boiler & I wouldn't want to use the hot water from that to make drinks with)

I want one of these but have granite worktops can they be fitted retrospectivly ??

Ours at work is regularly not working properly

I only boil the water I need in the kettle at home - I know by site how much to boil for a coffee for me or coffee for 2 etc etc - it's not rocket science

me too, cargirl

Generally 'things at work' are crap. I very much doubt the average workplace has a quooker or insinkerator. Probably an Urn. They're not the same!

yes it is def one of those zip taps I believe it cost over £500!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It has a safety lock for the boiling hot water.

It obviously gets a lot of use between 8am & 4pm the issues are that it breaks down completely sometimes. It gives you half a cup of water and then it stops. Sometimes the cold water comes on when you let go of the hot water lever.

I just don't think it can cope without the amount of use it gets.

Here it is

www.zipheaters.co.uk/public/products.aspx obviously we have a commercial one. It's put me off having one at home!

Just had a look at your link. Not sure the same product should be marketed for domestic and commercial use

I think they do several different models some commercial some domestic. I'm sure the ones at work were around £1k. We're in a very hard water area and I really don't think that helps. Some of the tea drinkers have complained that it doesn't taste right.

hmm, it's never going to be perfectly insulated so there will be energy losses especially as the temp gradient will be large, but if you habitually boil a kettle with too much water in then it quite probably is more efficient, especially if you have it set to turn off at night which I believe you can do. However if you are careful to only boil the right amount of water each time in a kettle then it will be less efficient.

Awww I wish you would all agree and say they are amazing and efficient and everybody should get one cos I want one!!!

I want one Jet!!! So don't want to hear any negative comments. 'we have one at work' isn't the same thing

I agree Maryjane. I'm discounting all the 'we have one at work and they're crap' comments