Boiling Water Taps FAQ: What You Need To Know
When looking to replace kitchen taps, instant hot water taps have become an increasingly popular choice.
3-in-1 boiling water taps have become a must-have convenience appliance for many because they can save space, energy and time whilst still looking stylish.
Serving water at 98℃ makes them perfect for hot drinks and cooking, while the traditional hot and cold water features are suitable for everything else like washing up and drinking water.
Available in a variety of styles and colour finishes, boiling water taps can fit in with any kitchen. Like our TH102 boiling water tap which is available in brushed steel and chrome so you don’t have to compromise between style and convenience!
So, let’s take a look at some of the questions you’ve been asking…
How do boiling water taps work?
There are a few types of boiling water taps, some are built into the traditional hot and cold water tap whereas others have a separate fixture just for boiling water.Having a separate fixture does take up more space than a 3-in-1 tap would, but it works in a similar way. A tank will be placed underneath your sink which will draw and filter water from your mains supply. It then conveniently plugs in with a regular plug, much like a traditional kettle would.
The tank generally preheats the water in only 10 minutes, and then keeps it heated at 98℃. Because the water is preheated, it’s instantly accessible so there’s no waiting for kettles to boil.
What is a 3-in-1 tap?
3-in-1 taps combine traditional tap fixtures (that dispense regular hot and cold water) and add the additional feature of instant filtered boiling water. Because they can replace both the traditional tap and the kettle, they’ve become incredibly popular with people looking to create a more space and energy efficient kitchen.Are boiling water taps any good?
Boiling water taps for kitchens are popular for good reason; they’re not only more space and energy efficient, they can save huge amounts of time too – no longer do you need to wait for a kettle to boil!The average UK kettle takes around 3 minutes to boil. A 3-in-1 hot water tap only needs to boil the tank once and can then keep the water at 98℃, because of this constant temperature, it actually requires less energy to run. With many tanks holding up to 2.5l of water there’s enough hot water available for plenty of cups of tea and cooking water. This means throughout the day you’ll be able to save time and energy.
Are boiling water taps expensive to run?
Often when we think about adding something for convenience to the home, we associate it with an additional cost. Having an instant hot water tap can actually be very cost-effective though.It’s estimating that for 1/5th of the energy a family uses is for hot water. This number is even higher in flats. Expert Energy estimates that hot water taps can use up to 50% less energy than traditional kettles. They estimate a boiling water tap can knock around £25 off your energy bills annually – so they’re not only more convenient, but they can save you a bit of money too!
Are boiling taps environmentally friendly?
As we’ve touched on, instant hot water taps for the kitchen can use up to 50% less energy than traditional kettles. This energy efficiency does make them a more environmentally conscious choice.Boiling water taps also help cut down on water waste. It’s estimated 67% of people overfill their kettle every time they use it. This leads to an astounding 3500 tonnes of wasted CO2 every single day! Because hot water tops only dispense what is needed, it cuts down on wasted energy, and water that’s used in the boiling and reboiling process.
How much electricity does a boiling water tap use?
To maintain water at a hot temperature, a hot water top will use around 10 watts of energy. In comparison, the average kettle uses between 2-3 kilowatts every time you switch it on.That means if you have 6 cups of coffee or tea a day, that roughly equates to half an hour throughout the day boiling a kettle, it will use 15 times more energy than an instant hot water tap will. Even for those of us who can’t go ten minutes without a nice cup of tea, the instant hot water tap will prove a much more energy-efficient option.
Are instant hot water taps safe?
Instant hot water taps offer a variety of safety features compared to traditional kettles.Being in a fixed position, without a cable that can be easily grabbed and pulled, means it’s impossible to accidentally knock over. This helps minimise any unfortunate accidents involving scalding water.
The fixed position also makes it far more friendly for anyone who has issues with holding weights for periods of times. Rather than needing to lift and pour the kettle, drinks and saucepans can be held underneath, or placed on the sink bottom.
How you turn on the hot water will vary but 3-in-1 instant hot water taps generally have some form of safety precaution. Models like the CDA TH102CH 3-in-1 tap have a child-lock which can be bypassed by pushing down the boiling water lever whilst turning the handle forward. This feature is also spring loaded, so it’s impossible to leave the boiling water tap running unattended. This helps minimise the chances of any unfortunate accidents involving scalding water.
How long does a boiling water tap last?
Modern taps are designed to last and as long as they’re well maintained can last decades. Many issues that arise through wear-and-tear or accidental damage can also be fixed without needing to replace the entire fixture.A 3-in-1 tap is no different and as long as you make sure the filter is replaced when needed it should at least last as long as any traditional taps (if you live in a soft-water area, you will find that you won’t need to replace the filter as regularly as those that live in more hard water areas).
At CDA, we completely understand that you want to be confident when putting any appliances in your kitchen. This is especially true with an appliance as frequently used as taps. Because of this, we offer a 2 year warranty on parts and labour as standard for complete peace of mind.
How often do you need to change the filter on a boiling water tap?
How often you need to change your filter will depend on a couple of things; how often you use your tap, and whether you live in an area with soft or hard water as mentioned above.For those who live in a hard water area you know that you need to be extra vigilant about limescale. The filters will help reduce the build up of limescale and remove hardness from the water before it flows through the tank but you may need to replace your filter more often than those in soft water areas.
You’ll find guidance in your manufacturer guide on how often to replace your filter for optimum use.
How do you fit a boiling water tap?
Fitting your tap will be slightly different depending on the model and manufacturer. You should receive a User Manual and Product Specification with your 3-in-1 tap that has information specific to your needs. If you’ve decided to go for one of our 3-in-1 boiling water taps, we also keep these in the downloads section of the TH102CH product page so you can easily download the information you need. However, here are the basic steps you’ll been to take for fitting a kettle tap:- The first step you will need to take is turning off your water supply. You’ll need to turn off your main supply and then run both hot and cold taps to drain the system and then keep the taps open.
- Next, you’ll need to make sure there is ample space underneath your sink to fit your tap’s new boiler. Place a bucket underneath your system to catch any leftover water and remove the old kitchen tap.
- When you position your new boiler make sure the hot and cold water feeds don’t need to stretch to be connected. You’ll also need a safe plug socket in distance but don’t plug anything in yet.
- Your tap will have 3 different pipes attached – hot, cold and boiling – feed through the hole in the work surface/sink. This is when you need to use your manufacturer’s specific instructions to secure. A tap brace may be required if there are signs of movement when pivoting the neck of the tap, so it’s always worth checking this before it’s completely plumbed in.
- Connect your boiler up to the relevant pipework on the tap using the manufacturer instructions along with securing the hot and cold water to the relevant mains feed. You need to be careful that you don’t exceed your tap’s maximum cold water pressure as this can put unnecessary strain on the system. Once you have checked there are no leaks, it’s time to turn on the boiler. Your manufacturer guide will have the specific instructions on how to finish.
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If you do have additional questions, you’d like to learn more about TH102 boiling water taps or you’re looking for a new monobloc kitchen tap, checkout our complete kitchen tap range for info on where to buy.
