146The Latest Hot Water Taps
A watched kettle never boils? That just seems impractical, says Nick Robbins, who explores the world of instant hot water taps and explains why you might need one in your kitchen
Plus, our must-read buyer’s guide
The instant hot water tap is a product that’s moving firmly from luxury extravagence towards ‘can’t live without’ status.
Powered by claims of energy efficiency, safety and convenience, this tap 2.0 is now considered a must-have in many modern kitchen designs.
WHAT IS A HOT WATER TAP?
An instant hot water tap will dispense boiling (or near boiling) water on demand through a tap that replaces a standard monobloc hot/cold tap. The tap’s boiling water supply is fed by a tank (usually around 2.5/3 litres) that is installed underneath the sink, often in the cupboard; it needs to be plugged into a standard plug socket to provide the power to heat up the water.
Quooker was the first to bring the product to market and patented the technology needed to supply 100°C water on demand. Therefore, Quooker has the only true boiling water tap on the market, while its competitors supply water at 98°C and are often referred to as instant hot water or steaming water taps.
INNOVATIONS
The technology behind instant hot water taps has advanced in recent years. While originally designed to supersede the kettle, there are now models available that, as well as providing near boiling water, can also produce filtered sparkling and still drinking water (as well as the usual hot and cold). “This is a really important development,” says Franke’s Jeanette Ward, “because it means we can vastly reduce our use of plastic bottles and enjoy instant filtered water, as well as instant boiling and mains hot and cold, from the same tap.”
WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW?
Instant hot water taps can be retrofitted to existing kitchens or added to new ones. “You should bear in mind the boiler diameter, space for a mains power supply (if there isn’t already one in place) and easy access to connect to the mains water when consid-
ering purchasing a hot water tap,” says Paul Bailey from Grohe UK.
Most companies recommend that their taps are installed by a plumber. We’d add that if you’re including one as part of your new kitchen design, get it planned in as early as possible so that you can factor in the space for the cylinder and power supply.
All manufacturers will push the claim that these taps will save you money when compared to boiling a kettle. Whether it will save you any money will depend on how often you boiled the kettle before and whether you were careful not to overfill it. There is no argument about the convenience however — no more time waiting for the kettle to boil.
There’s a strong safety argument, too. They remove the risk of kettles being spilled or pulled off worktops. And each tap will have its own safety features that work to stop the boiling water tap being accidentally turned on, avoid sputters and sprays and most feature insulated spouts and handles to protect against burns.