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Boiling water taps have been around for a few years now and, what was once considered a rather luxurious purchase, has quickly become one of the top must-have kitchen appliances.
They are incredibly popular with our clients here at RELISH KITCHENS and many of our customers say they simply couldn’t imagine their kitchen without one. So, what is a boiling water tap, and should you consider adding one to your kitchen wish list? We’ve put together this handy guide to help you decide.
What Are Boiling Water Taps And How Do They Work?
The boiling water tap is a regular-looking kitchen tap that’s designed to dispense 100-degree boiling water at the push of a button. You can choose from twin tap, 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 designs that either provide boiling water separately to your normal hot and cold tap or integrate the supply with the potential to add chilled and sparkling water too. At RELISH KITCHENS, we supply Quooker boiling water taps but other brands are available.
While, ultimately, their function might be fairly obvious, what you may not know is exactly how they work. Quooker are the original inventors of the boiling water tap and their system operates by storing 110-degree boiling water in a vacuum to be used as required. The water is heated just once before being maintained at the optimum temperature inside the insulated tank. This cleverly designed process is simple yet efficient.
Advantages of A Boiling Water Tap & Why Our Clients Love Them
Improve The Capabilities of Your Kitchen
One of the main reasons our clients absolutely love their boiling water tap is the flexibility and efficiency they bring to the kitchen. From steaming vegetables to cooking pasta, you will never have to wait for the kettle to boil again. When you’re busy cooking up a storm you needn’t queue for the kettle; storing a minimum of 3 litres, friends and family can help themselves to hot drinks without ever interrupting your culinary pursuits.
Create Beautiful Streamlined Worktops
Perhaps one of the reasons boiling water taps are now so popular, is their ability to eliminate the need for unsightly electric kettles. With the growing demand for sleek kitchens, clients are choosing to create a more minimal and stylish setting which means unnecessary worktop clutter has to go. Opting for a sleek boiling water tap is the ideal solution to achieving a refined and sophisticated aesthetic.
Stylish Designs
Black and metallic fittings bring a stunning contemporary feel to any kitchen and recently boiling tap manufacturers have caught on to this trend. Quooker now offers a wonderfully stylish collection of modern and traditional designs that are available in luxurious gold, brass, stainless steel, black and nickel finishes, as well as the classic polished chrome.
Safe For All The Family
One of the worries some of our clients have when considering whether to opt for a boiling water tap is whether or not they’re safe. Quooker taps are designed with a push and twist mechanism so they can’t be turned on accidentally, and when they are producing boiling water a red light provides an additional warning signal. The water is supplied as a flow of tiny droplets so it is less likely to splash and would do less damage if you did come into direct contact with the stream. The tap itself is insulated so you can move it safely. For people with mobility issues, often boiling water taps are considered much safer and easier to use.
Save Water and Electricity
Getting the water up to temperature just once and then storing it ready to use when you need it is wonderfully energy-efficient and means you only ever use as much water as you need. Quooker boiling water taps are some of the most efficient models on the market and should cost you just 3p to run.
Disadvantages of A Boiling Water Tap
Uses Up Cupboard Space
Although you save on worktop space by not needing a clunky old-fashion electric kettle, you will have to compromise on your under sink storage. Just how much you need to compromise will depend on the size of tank you choose; sizes range from 3-7 litres with the small 3 litre options being suitable for most families. It is worth noting that under sink storage is not usually the most valuable storage space in your kitchen and so compromising on this might not be an issue.
Upfront Costs
Quooker boiling water taps start at £950, not including installation costs, so they can be quite a pricey investment but one that is definitely worth considering if you expect to keep your kitchen for a long time.
Ongoing Maintenance
Boiling water taps are easy and efficient to use but in order to extend their lifespan for as long as possible, they will require some maintenance. Quooker recommends cleaning the water tank yearly to prevent limescale as well as, replacing the filters every 3-5 years depending on your water quality. You can get a limescale filter, however, you will need to replace the cartridges regularly.
Not All Boiling Water Taps Are Created Equal
At RELISH KITCHENS, we partner with Quooker for the supply of our boiling water taps because we believe they represent the exceptional standards of quality we strive for across our home interiors. Other brands are not necessarily as efficient as Quooker. Some studies have shown other brands don’t always maintain a 100-degree boiling temperature, so you may wish to consider how important this is when choosing the right product for you.
If you would like to know more about our Quooker range or our kitchen design services, we would love to hear from you. You can email us at relish@relishkitchens.co.uk or by calling 01844 212750. We have a Quooker boiling water tap available for you to experience first-hand at our Thame showroom and we look forward to your visit.