How does a water cooler work and what does it consist of?
The dispenser consists of a body, at the bottom or at the top of which a large bottle is placed. In the photo of how the water cooler is built inside, you can see a simple distribution system and tanks. The latter are usually present in quantities of two pieces, for cold and hot liquids.
Water from the bottle enters the internal tank, designed for cooling, and then through the connecting pipe enters the boiling water container. Depending on the user's needs, the cooler cools or heats the liquid in the selected reservoir. Mixing of hot and cold water does not occur thanks to a check valve that balances the pressure of the system.
- Most often, devices are equipped with two taps for boiling water and chilled liquid.
- In some models there is only one output and resembles a joystick or a regular mixer.
- There are also devices with three taps; such devices supply hot, chilled and moderately cool water.
- Premium devices can be equipped with a liquid carbonation unit.
Regardless of the water supply options, the design of the dispensers is approximately the same.
Floor-standing and tabletop coolers are almost the same on the inside, the latter are simply more compact.
Design and electrical circuit of a desktop water cooler
Tabletop dispensers are the most popular at home. They are small in size, do not take up much space, and can be installed in the kitchen on a cabinet or table. As a rule, such devices work with bottles with a volume of 5-11 liters.
The electrical circuit of the desktop cooler includes a short circuit fuse
The diagram describing the design of a tabletop water cooler is standard; it differs little from the design of floor-standing models. From a bottle placed on top of the device, the liquid flows first into the “cold” and then into the “hot” dispenser reservoir. From time to time, the unit automatically starts active operation and cools or heats the contents of the compartments to maintain the desired temperature.
When the user presses a button or lever, water from a specific reservoir flows into the cup. Then the supply stops, and the outlet of the device is blocked with a special blocker.
Water cooler with refrigerator
Some coolers are equipped with a refrigerator; it can be placed at the bottom of the device. For obvious reasons, only floor-standing models support this function; desktop dispensers do not have room for an additional chamber.
Since the refrigerator compartment is located at the bottom of the unit, the bottle can only be placed on top
The operating principle of the dispenser is very simple. The same compressor is responsible for the functioning of the cooler itself and the refrigerator. It maintains approximately the same temperature in the lower chamber and in the cold liquid container. It is not possible to configure individual parameters for different parts of the unit.
A cooler refrigerator differs from a standard one not only in size, but also in temperature. Conditions around 7-12 °C are constantly maintained inside the chamber; products that do not require real freezing can be stored in it. It is impossible to provide the latter for the dispenser due to the fact that when the compressor switches to a new mode, the cold water in the upper part of the device will freeze.
Bottom loading water cooler device
In some devices, the bottle is located not on top, but in the lower cabinet. This water cooler design is especially popular among physically weak people who simply cannot lift a heavy and large tank to a height. In addition, the bottle located below cannot fall and damage the unit, this is also a plus.
The water container in bottom-loading dispensers is connected to the main part by a pipe
The operating principle of such coolers remains standard. The only difference is that water is supplied from the bottle to the internal compartments using an electric pump. Then it is distributed in the usual way from the “cold” reservoir to the “hot” one, and the dispenser heats or cools it automatically.
Working principle of a water cooler
Most devices support two operating schemes at once - cooling and heating. In both cases, built-in electronics are responsible for adjusting the temperature of the liquid.
The principle of cooling water in a cooler
There are two types of liquid cooling in the dispenser:
- Compressor. The device operates on the principle of a refrigerator. First, the refrigerant in the form of an aerosol enters the condenser, cools and turns into a liquid state, and then seeps through the capillaries into the evaporator. There, the pressure drops and the substance boils, absorbing heat as it turns into steam.
- Electronic. Such dispensers operate according to the Peltier system - electric current flows through a chain of several conductors, and the connection points are cooled, and at the same time the water temperature decreases.
Important! The electronic circuit is considered more reliable and environmentally friendly. However, compressor cooling is faster.
The principle of heating water in a cooler
The operating principle of a water cooler with a heating function is similar to that of an electric kettle. First, the liquid is pumped from the main container into a special reserve container. There is always water in this compartment; when it is empty, the unit refills it automatically.
Next, the tubular element is activated and the heating process occurs. Dispensers do not bring the liquid to a boil, but stop at a temperature of about 98 degrees. In this case, water retains its taste and maximum benefits. The heating element can be located both inside the corresponding container and outside it, depending on the model.
Is it possible to turn on the cooler without water?
Never turn on the cooler without water! Before turning it on for the first time, open the hot water tap. When a good stream begins to flow from there, you can plug in the cooler. And turn on the red toggle switch for heating. If this is not done, the thermal protection will work. You will have to send it in for repairs, and this is not a warranty case when the service is provided free of charge. This situation can be a fire hazard.
For safety and long-term operation of the device, a separate outlet and grounded electrical wiring are installed for it. The use of tees and extension cords together with other electrical appliances is unacceptable. When not using the device for a long time, disconnect it from the power supply. Once every six months, the inside of the unit is sanitized without the use of abrasive cleaning agents.
Types of water coolers
It is customary to distinguish several types of water dispensers:
- Floor-standing. Free-standing models are usually purchased for offices or institutions; the height of the device can exceed 1.5 m, but their width is usually about 40 cm.
Floor coolers demonstrate the best performance - Tabletop. Such devices are often purchased for home use; their height is less than 80 cm; the units can be placed directly on a table or cabinet.
Tabletop dispensers have low power - Compressor. Dispensers of this type demonstrate high performance and cool more water in a short time than models with an electronic board.
A compressor cooler should be installed in enterprises with high consumption of drinking water - Electronically cooled. Models with a Peltier element are cheaper and more durable.
Electronic coolers are suitable for home use and small offices - Bottom loading. Units of this type are more compact and elegant, and anyone can change the bottle in them.
Using dispensers with a bottom positioned bottle is especially convenient for women
Coolers can be divided into separate categories based on the number of taps or the presence of a gas system. But the operating principle of such models remains unchanged; they operate according to one of the basic schemes.
Water cooler installation process
This short instruction will allow you to install the cooler correctly:
- first of all, try to find a flat and solid surface, away from other electrical appliances;
- It is highly undesirable to place the cooler next to a battery, heater or other heat sources;
- To preserve the appearance of the product, the possibility of direct sunlight should be excluded;
- to protect yourself from a new source of noise, do not allow the cooler to come into contact with foreign objects;
- Leave sufficient space around the equipment to allow free air circulation.
How to use a water cooler
The instructions for using the water cooler are very simple. Before use, first of all, you need to attach the bottle to the device:
- If the dispenser has a top load, then you need to remove the protective sticker from the cap or just carefully pierce it. Then the bottle is turned over and inserted, neck down, into the appropriate slot. Water will flow into the cooler for several minutes. If the unit is new, then after filling you will need to take a glass and drain approximately 500 ml of liquid from both taps; this is necessary to clean the system.
- With bottom loading, the water cooler connection diagram looks simpler: the container is placed in a cabinet, the water intake hose is connected to the neck and the dispenser is plugged into an outlet. Next, you need to press the power button of the device and close the lower compartment. The unit will fill with water in approximately 20 minutes; another half hour will be required to heat and cool the liquid. Afterwards, the power button can be switched back to an inactive state.
As for the daily use of the dispenser, the procedure depends on the features of the model. Some coolers supply water at the touch of a button on the front or top panel. In budget units, you need to press the edge of the cup onto the tap itself, and after filling, remove the container so that the liquid stops flowing.
Important! In order for the cooler to last longer, it is recommended to completely unplug it from the outlet if it is not used for more than three days.
If you don't use a water cooler
If you plan not to use the water cooler for a long time, then turn off the water heating and cooling and disconnect from the power supply. To avoid damage to the device caused by freezing during the cold season when transporting and storing it in an unheated room, it is necessary to completely drain the water from the device system 1. Set the water heating and cooling switch to position O (off) 2. Unplug the power cable from the socket 3. Drain the water from the cold/room temperature water tap 4. Make sure that the hot water in the device has cooled down and only then drain the hot water from the hot water tap. 5. The remaining water in the system must be drained by opening the button from the water drain valve located on the bottom or rear (in floor-standing models) panel of the device.
Do-it-yourself water cooler repair and main malfunctions
Like any equipment, water coolers are prone to breakdowns. Some malfunctions can be corrected independently, without resorting to service assistance.
Cooler dirty
Over time, dirt can accumulate in the dispenser, causing it to stop working. To clean the cooler you need to:
- turn off the unit from the network and remove the water bottle;
- thoroughly rinse the surface of the cooler with regular dishwashing liquid;
- carefully treat the place where the needle is located, over which the bottle is placed;
- wash and rinse the tray;
- Wipe all parts of the cooler dry with a napkin or clean rag.
The main dirt accumulates at the junction of the bottle and the cooler.
Then the dispenser is put back together and some water is drained through the taps to wash away the remaining cleaning agent from the system.
Advice! It is recommended to carry out preventive maintenance of the cooler once every few months, without waiting for clogging.
Cooler does not heat water
The dispenser stops dispensing boiling water for several reasons:
- the cooler is not connected to the outlet;
- the start button on the front panel is not pressed;
- the fuse has failed;
- The heating element is broken.
If an external inspection shows that the dispenser is turned on, but there is still no hot water, you need to unplug the cord from the outlet and remove the back panel of the unit. Using a multimeter, check the serviceability of the fuse, and if the device shows a value above zero, replace the element with a new one.
The fuse is located between the contacts on the wall of the heating tank and looks like a black button
If the efforts made do not bring results, the cooler must be sent for service. It is not recommended to completely disassemble the device and remove the heating element; this work should be performed by professionals.
There is no water in the cooler
If the cooler does not supply water at all, you need to dismantle the bottle and check whether the protective label has been removed. If it is present, liquid will not flow into the dispenser.
In addition, sometimes an air lock may appear in the cooler, preventing the passage of liquid. In this case, the unit just needs to be shaken, when bubbles appear in the bottle, the congestion will be eliminated.
Water flows out of the taps by itself
If water drips from the cooler, then first of all you need to check the integrity of the bottle. Sometimes microcracks appear in it, in which case you should simply replace the container.
When liquid constantly drips from the tap, and replacing the bottle does not solve the problem, the unit must be sent for repair. Troubleshooting requires disassembling the device, and this cannot be done without professional knowledge.
Cooler does not cool water well
If cooling is too slow, you need to check the thermostat settings and make sure that it is set to maximum values. The reason may also be overheating of the cooling system. If recently the cooler was working properly, you need to turn off the device from the network for half an hour, and then turn it on again.
Poor quality cooling due to overheating can be caused by incorrect installation of the dispenser. It cannot be placed close to the wall; a gap of at least 10 cm is required for ventilation.
Attention! At low power, the unit may simply not have time to cool the water. In this case, you need to reduce consumption and re-read the operating instructions for the specific model.
Cooler does not heat water well
If there is hot liquid in the dispenser, but the temperature clearly does not reach the maximum values, the reasons may be the following:
- The cooler's throughput is lower than the consumption of boiling water - standard models heat no more than 5 liters of water per hour;
- the internal heating element is covered with scale, this happens with old units.
If in the first case it is enough to reduce the consumption of hot water, then in the second the dispenser will have to be repaired through a service. To remove and replace the heating element, it is necessary to disassemble the entire unit.
Recommendations for use and care
In order for the device to last longer, you must follow the operating instructions for the water cooler. Namely:
- install the device in dry rooms away from sunlight;
- Make sure that the floor surface under the dispenser is level;
- do not place the unit near heating and heating devices;
- Connect the cooler only to grounded outlets.
The operating rules recommend installing coolers in free areas to maintain ventilation.
After installing a new bottle, you need to wait a few minutes until the tanks are filled with water, and only then put the device into working condition.
Other things to consider before use
- Remove the sticker from the container. If this is not done, it will fall into the faucet, and you will have to call a technician for repairs. You will also have to get rid of dirt and germs that have gotten into the water.
- Wipe the water inlet needle with a wet cloth.
- The container can only be installed vertically. It installs with light pressure. You can't hit it. Then you will need to wait until water is poured into the tank. This will take a few minutes.
- Do not handle a new bottle with dirty hands.
- Turn on the hot water and wait until it starts flowing. Draw about a glass of water (this is necessary to remove air from the system).
- You can connect the cooler to an outlet. If you turn on the device and the system has not yet filled up, the protection will turn on. In this case, you will have to contact the service center.
- Turn on the toggle switch (it is located on the panel). If 2-3 lights on the front turn on, it means that the cooler turned on successfully and began to warm up the water. The hot one will warm up to 95 degrees, the cold one to 12. But before using the device, you need to wait until all the lights go out.
- If the refrigerator installed in the cooler has not been used before, you need to let the chamber work for a couple of hours, after which it can be used.
- To turn off the heating, you must press the switch. Do not unplug it from the socket.
Attention! If the device has been unplugged from the outlet, a few minutes must pass before it can be turned back on.
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