A fridge with a water dispenser provides chilled water without you having to take a bottle out of the door . The key question to ask before buying – and one that’s rarely highlighted on the product page – is: does the dispenser use a water tank that you refill yourself, or does it require a fixed water connection?
The answer determines whether you’ll need a plumber and where the fridge can be placed. For our range, the answer is simple: virtually all models work with a reservoir.
Two types of dispensers
With a water reservoir. There is a tank in the door or inside the fridge that you refill by hand. The fridge cools this water and dispenses it via a button or lever. You can place the appliance anywhere there’s a socket — no pipework, no plumber.
With a fixed water connection. The fridge is connected to the water mains via a small hose, usually via a branch pipe under the sink. You never need to top it up, but the appliance must be within reach of a water pipe and the connection must be installed.
How it works for us
Of the more than thirty fridges with water dispensers that we stock, all but one operate with a refillable reservoir. This applies to the fridge-freezer combinations 55 and 60 cm wide, as well as to the wide American-style fridges.
The exception is the 513-litre Heinner HSBS-HM513NFIMDXE: this model does require a fixed water connection.
In practical terms, this means you can place virtually any fridge with a water dispenser from us wherever you like, without having to alter your plumbing. If you’re unsure about a specific model, please check with us before you order.
A water tank in practice
The tank usually holds a few litres. With normal use, you’ll need to top it up a couple of times a week — similar to having a jug of water in the fridge, but chilled on tap and without a jug getting in the way.
In a large household where water is used throughout the day, this will be more frequent. That is the honest drawback of a reservoir, and also the reason why models with a fixed connection exist.
Maintenance: the bit people tend to overlook
Empty the reservoir every now and then and rinse it out, especially if the fridge hasn’t been used for a while. Stagnant water in a tank doesn’t stay fresh forever. After a holiday, let the first litre run through before you drink it again.
How much does a fridge with a water dispenser cost?
Our range includes 34 models with a water dispenser, priced from around 239 to 824 euros. The cheapest are the narrow fridge-freezer combinations measuring 55 and 60 cm; the more expensive ones are the wide American-style fridges, where the dispenser is often combined with No Frost.
Most models in this group have energy class E. This is common for fridges with a dispenser : cooling the water supply uses extra energy.
In summary
- There are two types: those with a refillable reservoir or those with a fixed water connection.
- With the exception of one model, all our models use a reservoir — so they can be placed anywhere, without the need for a plumber.
- The exception is the 513-litre Heinner HSBS-HM513NFIMDXE, which requires a water connection .
- Expect to top it up a few times a week, and rinse the tank out every now and then.
- Prices range from 239 to 824 euros.
