Glacier Bay Water Dispenser Review And Comparable Products

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Having fresh water on hand wherever you are is important. Your body needs to stay hydrated to be healthy. While you certainly can reach for a bottle of water or go to the tap, those options have huge downsides. Your better choice, if you are in an office or at home where you need access to a lot of water for a group of people, is to get a water dispenser.

A water dispenser allows you to install a large bottle of water and have instant access to cold and hot water. You just position the container, plug in the unit and everything is ready to go. This makes for an easy way to ensure there is always fresh water around.

Imagine having water at the push of a button. This is nice if it is a hot day and you want cold water to quench your thirst or if it is a chilly day and you want a hot cup of tea to warm you up. Regardless of the water temperature, a water dispenser makes sure you have clean and pure water available all the time.

Furthermore, it is wonderful for areas where there are a lot of people because everyone can serve themselves as needed. A dispenser is great for many different environments, such as offices, churches, worksites and homes. You just need access to electricity to plug it in.

We are going to do a quick review of the Glacier Bay water dispenser that works great for home or office use. Before we get into our review, though, let’s go over some basics about water dispensers and how to use them.

How Does a Water Dispenser Work?

A water dispenser is something you have probably seen in office buildings. They are a great option when there is not a water fountain, and there is a need for large amounts of drinking water. However, they are also great in the home, especially if you have children because they make it very easy for kids to get their own drinks.

A dispenser is electronic, meaning it has to be plugged in. Inside, it has cooling and heating elements to allow you to dispense either hot or cold water. The hot water usually comes out at a suitable temperature for tea, instant coffee or hot cocoa. The cold water is cool enough not to require ice.

The unit is self-contained. You don’t have to do any installation. You just plug it in. However, you will need to install the bottle of water. Often, bottles come in different sizes, such as 3 gallons and 5 gallons. You can choose the size you need. They can be heavy, so some users will need help getting them installed on the dispenser.

There are some things to keep in mind when buying a water dispenser, especially if you are buying it for your home. The first is if you have small children, you need to teach them not to play with the dispenser and make the hot water off limits, as it can cause burns. You may want to look for a dispenser that cannot be operated by little ones, just to ensure they are kept safe.

You also need to remind everyone not to lean against or hang on the unit. These units can sometimes be top-heavy and may spill over onto a small child. Most do come with security latches that go into the wall to keep them stable and upright. Always use the security latch if your dispenser comes with one.

You also need to think about how much you will use the unit. If it is not used often or left sitting for long periods with water in it, it can get moldy. You can clean the unit, but you may be unable to do a complete clean if mold gets incredibly invasive. If you won’t be using it for an extended time, make sure to clean it out and remove the water bottle.

Now that you know a little about water dispensers in general, let’s take a look at the Glacier Bay water dispenser.

Hot and Cold Water Dispenser by Glacier Bay

This water dispenser features 24/7 operation to provide you with hot or cold water at the push of a button. It is designed to be leak-proof and features a no-spill bottle system to make changing out bottles easy. You can also adjust the water thermostat for the cold water to get it icy cold when you want.

This water dispenser has a stylish look that will fit in at the office or at home. It has a contemporary white gloss finish. The finish has UV inhibitors, so it stays glossy and white even if it sits near a window. It has just as much class on the inside with stainless steel reservoirs and water lines. That means this is a durable product and will last through hours of use each day with no trouble. It is also low-maintenance and will cause you little worry.

The system is very user-friendly, even for the little ones. If you can trust your child to get cold water on his or her own, then you should be okay. The hot water has a child lock to prevent any accidental burns, so no worries that the little one will hit the hot water button instead of the cold. Plus, the buttons are located on the top of the unit, making it hard for small children to operate it without assistance. This will help prevent your floor from becoming a flood zone.

Furthermore, it is easy on the budget. It is Energy Star-rated at an operating cost of only pennies a day. It is also compatible with Greenway and Vitapur filtration systems. You can use either the 3 or 5-gallon water bottles with the dispenser. You also can connect it to the Vitapur system directly.

The dimensions for the unit are as follows:

  • Depth: 11.8 inches
  • Height: 33.8 inches
  • Width: 11.4 inches

It weighs 25.4 pounds without the water bottle. The cord is 6 feet long, and the unit has an automatic shutoff for emergency situations. Finally, it comes with a 1-year limited manufacturer warranty. You may be able to get additional warranty coverage from the retailer.

How Much Does It Cost?

The price of the Glacier Bay Hot and Cold Water Dispenser varies depending on the retailer. Glacier Bay is a Home Depot brand, which means you will likely get the best price buying directly from Home Depot.  

You can also find this from other retailers for about a couple of dollars more, including Amazon. This pricing is pretty standard with this type of water dispenser. It is an average product in this category of water dispensers, as there are cheaper models and more advanced, expensive models available.

Comparing This Water Dispenser to Others

It may help to see how the Glacier Bay water dispenser holds up when compared to similar water dispensers. This will give you an idea of what to expect from the dispenser, along with a good idea of how durable and functional it is when compared to other brands.

Glacier Bay Hot and Cold Water Dispenser

This water dispenser has a good quality build, which makes it durable and long-lasting. It is built for frequent use and has some nice features that make it great for family use in the home, such as the hot water lock and the adjustable cold-water thermostat.

Igloo Water Cooler Dispenser

This dispenser also features a child lock on the hot water, but the dispensing buttons are further down on the cooler, which means they are easier for small hands to get ahold of. It is also shorter, and there are many complaints about parts not working and malfunctioning units.

Honeywell Hot and Cold Water Dispenser

This water dispenser has some good qualities. It uses a dispensing system similar to refrigerator water and ice dispensers, where you simply push your glass against it to dispense. It comes with a funnel attachment for filling bottles. It also has a hot water lock for safety. Unfortunately, the build quality isn’t too good. The dispenser handles are flimsy, and the unit is very loud when operating.

Pros and Cons

No review is complete without looking at the pros and cons of the product. It is safe to say that any product will have some complaints about it no matter how great it is. However, we have weeded through reviews to get to the heart of the subject and learn exactly what is good and what is bad about this unit. We want to provide you with a complete picture of what to expect if you buy the Glacier Bay water dispenser, including how well it works and what issues you may see.

Pros

  • Sleek design
  • Works great to provide cold water or hot water
  • Hot water can be turned completely off 
  • Compact size 
  • Hot water lock works perfectly
  • Light indicator
  • Smaller size makes it easier to put on larger water bottles

Cons

  • Adjusting the cold water temperature too much frosts up the pipes and prevents water from being dispensed
  • Water dispenser height is low

Conclusion

Rating: 4/5

The Glacier Bay Hot and Cold Water Dispenser is a great mid-level option. It can be used almost anywhere because of the child lock that will keep kids out of the hot water. It also allows you to turn off the hot water entirely for extra protection. The adjustable cold water means you can get icy cold water right at your fingertips with no need for ice. The dispenser makes a great way for you to get fresh, clean water anytime you want it.

The main complaints about the system are that the cold water temperature may get too cold and freeze the pipes and that the dispenser sits too low. As far as the water temperature, that is completely adjustable. You can easily avoid turning the temperature too cold. If this does happen, then you simply let the unit sit unplugged overnight, and it will defrost on its own and be ready to use in the morning.

The other issue is something standard with these units. They cannot be made too tall, or they will be overly top-heavy and dangerous. They also need to be compact to fit in smaller spaces, as they are intended for use in office spaces or similar areas. If the height of the unit is a huge deal, then you may be better off looking at a countertop unit.

For most people, though, this water dispenser will get the job done. One word of caution, when looking at reviews, there seems to be a manufacturer issue with the sealing gasket where the bottle rests. If you notice leaking, it is likely a faulty gasket. You can simply return the unit for a replacement.

Besides minor issues, this water dispenser receives great reviews. It especially gets good marks when used for groups of people in offices, churches or similar places because it has a great output rate and is easy to use.

We gave the unit a 4 out of 5 stars because it does compare nicely to similar units from other manufacturers at a lower cost. However, it can be difficult to find unless you want to shop at Home Depot or on Amazon.

In addition, the gasket issue can be a hassle if you run into a dispenser that has a bad one. Other than that, this dispenser works great and does exactly what it promises, delivering icy cold or piping hot water at the touch of a button.

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