There are two commodities which are in noticeably short supply in our modern world, one is space and the other is time, so inventions which save us either or both are generally much welcomed, especially when they are also more sustainable than existing options. This explains why both boiling water taps and instant boiling water taps have become increasingly popular in today’s homes.
Understanding boiling water taps and instant hot water taps
Basically both boiling water taps and instant boiling water taps are taps which need to be plugged into a source of electricity so that they can also act as water heaters, similarly to kettles. Boiling water taps have a tank (plumbed into the mains), which is kept heated and, as their name suggests, produce boiling water. Instant hot water taps do not have tanks and produce water at a lower temperature, but are great for producing hot water quickly and/or in places where there is no plumbed hot water supply.
The main advantages and disadvantages of boiling water taps and instant hot water taps
Convenience is the single, biggest advantage of both boiling water taps and instant boiling water taps. Essentially, you always get exactly the amount of hot water you want exactly when you want it. Safety is another benefit, especially for boiling water taps as they do not have to be moved about as kettles do. The main disadvantage is that there is a high up front cost (mainly for boiling water taps less so for instant boiling water taps), which will take a long time to recoup through energy savings, plus boiling water taps need to be plumbed in.
For the sake of completeness, we’ll add that boiling water taps may need filters and will need to have their tanks cleaned from time to time, but then the same goes for kettles and instant boiling water dispensers.
As a final point, we’d like to point out that boiling water taps generally have their tanks in a base unit under the sink rather than on the worktop, so they don’t really save space as a whole, but they do leave your worktops clear, which may be a benefit, especially if you’re aiming for the uncluttered minimalist look.
TLDR
Boiling water taps and instant boiling water taps offer massive convenience, but if saving money is your main goal then you’d probably do better to buy an energy-efficient kettle (and only boil what you actually need) or an instant boiling water dispenser.
Choosing a boiling water tap or an instant hot water tap
Here are the key points to consider when choosing a boiling water tap or an instant hot water tap.
Boiling water or just hot water?
This should almost always be your starting question!
Tank size (and is it included)?
If you’re going for a boiling water tap then you’ll need a tank, it’s always a good idea to check if its included in the purchase price (all our recommended boiling water taps come with tanks).
Water pressure
Both boiling water taps and instant hot water taps will have minimum and maximum supported water pressure. To be honest, if you’re in a house with fairly standard water pressure, you’ll probably be fine but if your water pressure is either particularly high or particularly low, then it’s a good idea to double check and if necessary you can take steps to boost the water pressure (or reduce it).
Installation
These days it’s unusual for manufacturers to install either boiling water taps or instant hot water taps for you, so ease of installation is usually very important (and we checked it for all the recommendations on our list).
Filters
Although this only applies to hard-water areas, that’s a lot of the country! You’ll not only need to check if filters are supported (they usually are), but whether they’re easily available at a reasonable price (we checked this for all our recommendation). It can be convenient if there’s some sort of alert when the filter needs changed.
Safety
This is, of course, of the highest importance for boiling water taps, but it also matters for instant boiling water taps. Think about child-proofing options and whether or not the tap can be used comfortably by left-handed people. Added safety bonuses include insullation and a spout which pours without splashin.
NB: It’s a good idea to get into the habit of running a boiling water tap or an instant boiling water tap on cold for a few moments to empty the spout and “reset” the tap, to avoid any risk of another user being scalded. Some boiling water taps will return hot water to the tank to avoid this, but some do not and instant boiling water taps do not have tanks.
Finer details
These might not be your first considerations but you may still want to think about them.
- Mode of temperature control (e.g. manual or touch pad)
- Speed (some boiling water taps and instant hot water taps are faster than others).
- Function alerts (e.g. a light or sound when the filter needs changed)
- Recovery time (for boiling water taps, how long does it take for the tank to replenish itself)
Instant Boiling Water Tap Reviews
These are all instant hot water taps rather than boiling water taps. They do not have tanks, but heat cold water as required.
Bristan GLL RAPSNK3 C Gallery Rapid Kitchen Sink Tap with 3 in 1 Operation
This boiling water tap comes in two variations, boiling only and boiling plus filtered, so if you do opt for this boiling water tap, make sure that you choose the right version. For the sake of clarity (no pun intended), the filtering is only for the tank and is carbon-based so it deals with chlorine and sediments but is not great for limescale. Basically it’s to protect the tank from clogging up and extend its lifespan. If you do use a filter, it should be changed every 6 months, otherwise it may invalidate the guarantee (2 years for the tank and 5 for the tap).
Regardless of which version you choose, the tank is supplied and has a 2.4L capacity and a very clear LED display to show the temperature. There is a choice of 7 temperature settings going from 75°C to 98°C. You are responsible for installation, which is simple, but if you really don’t feel confident, installation should be a breeze for any plumber.
The boiling water tap itself looks very elegant and has a handy swivel function You have to push a button to get boiling water, which should help to deter children, the tap is insullated, keeping it cool to the touch and the flow is smooth, hence it’s unlikely to splash. Unused hot water is returned to the tank rather than kept in the spout, which improved both economy and safety.
As you have probably guessed by now, the other two functions are standard hot water and cold water, so you can use this instant hot water tap in place of standard taps.
QETTLE 4-in-1 Instant Boiling Water Tap | True Boiling, Filtered Cold, Mains Hot & Cold
We have to hand it to Qettle, this boiling water tap is the only boiling water tap on our list which dispenses genuinely boiling water, i.e. water at 100°C, all the other “boiling water taps” actually have a maximum temperature of 98°C. To be honest for the most part this is irrelevant, but if it matters to you, then this is the boiling water tap to choose and it also dispenses filtered cold water and unfiltered, regular hot and cold water.
The tank has a capacity of 4L and there’s no LED to show the temperature, because there’s only one temperature setting i.e. 100°C, although there is a filer-replacement LED and if you register your product, the manufacturer will also send you a reminder email, when it is time for a change.
If you have children in the household then this boiling water tap is about as safe as you can get as it comes with a safety clip must be removed before boiling water can be dispensed, then you have to hold down a button on the handle, while turning it (clockwise). This is straightforward for adults but should deter even the most inquisitive children.
Da Jia Inc 220V Instant Tankless Electric Hot Water Heater Faucet
This instant hot water tap is made from H59A copper and ABS plastics. It has a high-purity copper liner heating element and supports water pressure of 0.04-0.5 MPA (0.4 to 0.5 BAR). There is an LED display to show temperature and supported hot temperature is between 30°C and 40°C.
Overall, we’d say that in family homes this instant hot water tap is probably better suited to a bathroom than a kitchen, as the spout may be quite small for the sort of volume of water needed in larger kitchens. We would, however, quite happily put it in a kitchenette or smaller kitchen, for example in a studio or starter flat.
Electric Hot Water Taps, TopSer KA-06 Pro
This instant hot water tap has a brushed-chrome finish and an ABS plastic core with a Nickel-Chromium multi-core heating system. It supports a maximum water pressure of 6 bar and the supported hot temperature is between 20°C and 50°C. This instant hot water tap has an LED display to show temperature and can swivel 180°. We’d happily put this tap in a kitchen or a bathroom, even in a family home.
TINTON LIFE 220V Instant Tankless Electric Hot Water Heater Faucet
This instant hot water tap is also made of H59A copper and ABS plastics. It has a copper liner heating element and supports water pressure of 0.04-0.5 MPA (0.4 to 0.5 BAR). There is an LED display to show temperature and supported hot temperature is between 30°C and 40°C.
Quite honestly, this instant hot water tap looks identical to the Da Jia instant hot water tap and also seems to have identical specifications. We therefore strongly suspect that it’s essentially the same instant hot water tap but rebranded and the same comments apply about the narrow spout. The reason we’ve listed both instant hot water taps is they seem to be sold by different companies and therefore may be priced differently, it never hurts to check.
Insinkerator 3573 Instant Hot Water Tap
The Insinkerator 3573 has a couple of downsides which should probably be mentioned up front. First of all, although this boiling water tap has 9 different temperature settings, these are set via a dial and there is no LED, which frankly means that the stages up to boiling are rather a matter of guesswork. Secondly, although the tap is insullated, there are no “child-safety” features and while the flow of water is smooth most of the time, it can splutter a bit when the spout is refilling, which probably won’t bother adults, but, again, is not ideal for children.
It also needs to be made clear that this instant hot water tap only has one function, which means that if you want regular hot and cold water, you’ll need to install at least one additional tap.
If you’re still with us, however, the reason the Insinkerator 3573 made it onto our list is because it is a simple, effective and affordable choice for households without children, even larger ones as the tank has a decent 2.5L capacity. Installation is super simple and there is a 2-year warranty on parts and labour.
Best instant hot water tap
Overall, we’d have to say that the TopSer is, objectively, the best instant hot water tap, purely because of its hand swivel and its broader spout. The De Jia and the Tinton frankly look absolutely identical in every way, so basically, see who gives you the best deal on price.
Boiling water tap review
These are all true boiling water taps, i.e. they all come with tanks which keep water (nearly) boiling, ready for use whenever required.
Best boiling water tap
In our opinion, the Qettle is the best boiling water tap if safety is your primary concern, the Bristan is the best boiling water tap for all-round utility and the Insinkerator boiling water tap is the best boiling water tap if you’re just looking for a simple but cost-effective solution.
Previously writing for Which magazine, Carly is an extremely well-experienced home product tester. Always the busiest in the office. Mother of two and serving a life sentence of marriage, Carly is our ‘robustness’ tester and works closely with Katie for the product road testing. Loves the freedom of her work, Netflix and terrible, terrible jokes
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