Paul Illingworth, Design Manager here at Abode offers his expert advice on choosing a hot water tap.
Much focus is given to the brassware associated with the hot water tap – how the tap itself works, its appearance and how it is fast becoming a replacement to the kettle. What is given less attention though, despite being a vital component is the boiler. For retailers, it’s important to get to grips with the types of boiler available and the pros and cons of each, so you can help your customers make an informed decision and not simply focus entirely on the tap itself.
There are three principal types of boiler for a hot water tap, all of which have their relative benefits depending on an individual’s requirements. A pressurised displacement boiler is a sealed tank with a heating element inside. As the system is closed unless the tap is open, this type of boiler also requires a temperature and pressure relief valve and or expansion tank. The sealed system also means that the water could potentially be stored at 100° or more unless factory limited, something that UK building and water regulations guard against in the interests of safety. Finally, as the delivery of hot water is determined by the pressure of the cold-water feed and that in the tank, the water may sputter and steam uncontrollably as it leaves the tap unless the pressure is regulated correctly.
A more affordable and common solution is a vented displacement boiler as that used on the Abode Pronteau 3in1. As this is an open system it meets UK regulations as the water can never exceed 100°, yet it still stores steaming hot water equivalent to a kettle. This type is usually combined with an internal expansion tank or valve to prevent nuisance dripping from the tap which can occur as the water expands as it heats. With the Pronteau boiler the cold-water pressure is regulated to ensure the cold water entering in the boiler doesn’t cause an unwanted mixing vortex inside the tank, so you get more hot water delivered before it runs cold and the flow is at a controlled and safe rate.
For a more premium option, a pumped system can be chosen, whereby a software-controlled pump manages the process to ensure water is not delivered from the tap until it is at the required temperature. As seen on the Pronteau 4 in1, this means that water at the correct temperature for delivery can be enjoyed from the first cup to the last and the flow is the same controlled rate every use.
There are other factors that consumers should consider too, including:
• How much cupboard space will it take up and what is the boiler’s tank volume - it’s important to know how much of the total water it holds can be delivered at the right temperature too.
• How well insulated is the product and does it have any energy saving features? With no energy rating system currently in place for hot water taps looking at the “standby” power usage is a good place to start, while looking for the CE mark, WRAS logo or “approvals pending” should give some peace of mind that the product respects UK regulations.
• Filter – regardless of how soft your water is, over time the boiler will still slowly scale up and or need cleaning. There are two typical types of filter, one to improve only the taste of water and the other may have an ion exchange resin which has scale and taste control. Some boilers (like ours) are supplied with a filter as standard rather than optional extra, to help increase the lifespan of the product.
• Maintenance – is the boiler cleanable and de-scalable or an unserviceable sealed tank? Some products cannot be easily cleaned or de-scaled so may ultimately end up in landfill. We have developed boilers that can be cleaned and de-scaled easily by the user to give the product true longevity.
• Safety – Many people are still cautious about this new technology and how safe the product might be in a family home, look into the way the products child lock works, compare at see what might work for you. Personally I think taps win over kettles because they don’t need lifting and if tipped accidentally don’t instantly dispense litres of boiled water over a wide area.
Ultimately, consumers should ask about the product features, cost to buy, cost to run, cost to install and cost to service – similar to finding out the miles per gallon or road tax liability of a new car – and a good salesman will be ready with the answers.