Bottled vs Mains-Fed Water Coolers: Which Is Right for Your Business?

Choosing the right water cooler for your workplace depends on your space, usage, budget, and sustainability goals. At Active Water Coolers, we offer both mains-fed (plumbed-in) and bottled water coolers, and we’re here to help you decide which option works best for you.

Below, we break down the key differences between bottled and mains-fed water coolers to help you make an informed decision.

What Is a Bottled Water Cooler?

Bottled water coolers use large, refillable water bottles (18.5 litres) mounted on top of the cooler. The water from the bottle is gravity-fed into the water dispensers cooling or heating chamber. This method completely avoids any need for plumbing or specialist installation.

At Active Water Coolers, we don’t use single-use bottles. Instead, we supply reusable bottles that we collect, clean, and refill, making this a more eco-friendly choice than traditional bottled options.

Pros of Bottled Water Coolers

✅  Flexible & Portable – can be placed almost anywhere

✅  No plumbing required

✅  Great for temporary offices or short-term use

✅  Uses reusable bottles, not single-use plastic

✅  Quick to set up and move

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Bottled Water Cooler

Bottled Water Cooler FAQ's

A bottled water cooler is a floor standing or tabletop unit that dispenses chilled (and often hot) drinking water using large refillable bottles.

No. Bottled water coolers don’t require a mains water connection, making them ideal for offices or locations without easy access to plumbing. You simply plug them into a mains socket, insert the 18.5 litre bottle into the top of the machine, and you’re good to go!

We hand deliver replacement water bottles across most of the North and South of England. You simply let us know when you need water, and we deliver it!

No. Our bottles are cleaned, sanitised, and reused multiple times, making them a far more sustainable option than single-use plastic bottles.

Our bottles contain 18.5 litres of English Spring Water obtained from protected sources across the UK.

Most units provide chilled and ambient or chilled and hot water, depending on the machine you choose from our online shop.

Yes. We offer flexible contracts, including short-term rental for events, temporary sites, or seasonal use.

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Mains Fed Water Cooler

What Is a Mains-Fed Water Cooler?

Mains-fed (or plumbed-in) coolers connect directly to your building’s water supply. The water passes through advanced filtration systems and is dispensed instantly.

It’s a permanent, low-maintenance solution that’s ideal for high-use environments.

Pros of Mains-Fed Water Coolers

✅  Unlimited water — no running out or bottle changes

✅  Cost-effective for medium to high water usage

✅  No bottle deliveries or storage required

✅  Excellent rental packages available

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Mains Fed Water Cooler FAQ's

A mains-fed cooler, or plumbed in water cooler, connects directly to your building’s water supply. When the water from the mains is dispensed through the machine, a built in filter will remove contaminants and improve the taste and quality of the water.

Yes, a qualified Active Water Coolers engineer is recommend for connecting your water dispenser to the mains water supply. Alternatively, if looking to install yourself, a plumber or someone experienced with pipework is recommended.

Yes. Ideally, the cooler needs to be installed within a short distance of a mains water connection. We’ll assess your site and recommend the best location.

Yes. Mains-fed coolers use advanced filtration to remove impurities, chlorine, and odours, giving you fresh-tasting water every time.

Absolutely! Many models offer hot, chilled, and ambient water in one unit and some can also provide sparkling water at the touch of a button.

If you rent any of our water dispensers you will benefit from free servicing by an Active Water Coolers engineer, every 6 months. This hassle free service is a great way of keeping your water cooler performing as it should and providing the best quality water for your workforce.

If buying to own a water cooler, you can still opt for our servicing plan. Simply choose this service when adding your chosen machine to your basket in our online shop.

Our engineers complete most installations with minimal disruption to your daily operations.

When renting any of our machines, you will get free repairs and a free full replacement if the water dispenser is deemed as faulty and unrepairable.

When buying outright, you will benefit from a 12 month warranty. This will cover your machine if the internal compressor of the machine is found faulty.

Absolutely! We regularly help customers make the switch once a suitable mains water supply is available.

Bottled vs Mains-Fed: Comparison Table

Feature Bottled Water Cooler Mains-Fed Water Cooler
Water Source Refillable bottles Direct mains water supply
Installation No plumbing needed Requires connection to mains
Setup Time Quick and portable Professionally installed
Ideal For Sites without plumbing access or short-term use High-use sites with plumbing
Water Supply Limit Limited to bottle size Unlimited filtered water
Ongoing Costs Bottle refills & deliveries Lower ongoing costs
Eco Impact Reusable bottles reduce waste No bottles, lower transport emissions
Storage Needed Requires space for spare bottles No bottle storage required
Maintenance Free Servicing & Maintenance when Renting Free Servicing & Maintenance when Renting