We're always looking for something new and interesting to write about. But this week we're reporting on something that has been under our noses for almost a decade hot water dispensers. Each of us has one.
Such dispensers provide instant hot water at a temperature of 190 degrees Fahrenheit and, as you'd guess, come in handy for tea and instant coffee. They also save you precious time when you prepare instant hot chocolate, packaged soups and hot cereals. And they're time-savers for warming a baby bottle. Other applications include the facilitating of peeling tomatoes, melting chocolate, blanching almonds and making gelatin.
A hot water dispenser is nothing more than a miniature electric water heater that has the capacity of about a half gallon of water. A spout is added to the sink and the tank is hung on an inside wall of the cabinet below. Such a unit gets cold water from plumbing found under the sink which also is where a dedicated 110-volt outlet must be located. In this way the entire installation is hidden.
When you add a hot water dispenser you must have a dedicated electrical circuit available to run nothing other than it. Such a circuit could cost more that the price of the instant hot water unit installed!
Don't try to cut installation costs by putting a splitter in your dishwasher or disposal circuit. An electrical overload that could cause a fire could result.
Naturally, all conveniences cost in some way or another. A hot water dispenser is no different. But you can actually save money if your primary water heating device is an electric range. However, there is no savings if you heat with a microwave and there would be a little extra expense if you heat with gas.
For many households there isn't much to be saved in the way of electric costs, but, on the other hand, there isn't much in the way of extra expense either. With the microwave and the gas stove there is a one-and-a-half to five-minute wait to get a cup of water heated to 190 degrees. And the wait gets longer as the amount of water increases. Time is money.
When all is said and done, we believe an instant hot water unit will cost you about $8 or $10 a year not much to pay for such a useful and convenient addition to you kitchen, wet bar or master bath.
It doesn't make any difference which type of sink you have. Whether it be porcelain on cast iron, porcelain on steel or just plain stainless steel, it can be drilled to hold the faucet assembly. For cast iron and porcelain, use a carbide-tip drill bit. Use modelers clay to create a dam around the area to be drilled. Fill the dammed area with water and begin drilling. The puddle of water will keep the bit cool and help to reduce the chance of chipping the porcelain. Another trick: Don't press hard on the drill and run it at a slower-than-normal speed.
Also, if you have an under-sink filter system reverse osmosis or not tap into that line for your water supply instead of using the regular water line. Hot water can be safe to drink.
