Hot water urns

A hot water urn is a cylindrical container that holds a large volume of water and keeps it hot over an extended period. It has a tap or spout at the base, allowing users to dispense the hot water as needed.

It’s typically placed on a counter or table and used to provide hot water for catering events, buffet service, and other large-scale gatherings.

In contrast, an instant boiling water unit (also known as hot water dispenser) is a smaller, countertop, wall-mounted or undercounter appliance that heats water on demand and dispenses it through a tap or spout.

Hospitality venues use these units for making hot beverages like tea, coffee, and hot chocolate; preparing soups, oatmeal and other hot foods; filling pots and pans
with boiling cooking water; and adding boiling water to washing-up sinks.

The main things to consider when choosing a commercial instant hot water urn or instant water boiler are:

Capacity: Determine how much hot water you’ll need for your guests or users.

Type or style: Hot water urns and boiling water units come in an assortment of types and styles; and some urns and units can brew and serve tea and coffee.

Heating time: Look for an urn with a fast heating time, to ensure the water’s ready to serve as quickly as possible; some instant water boilers come with quick-recovery systems, which reduce the lag time by heating the water faster.

Insulation: Some urns are made of double-walled stainless steel; this insulation enables them keep water hot for extended periods — ideal for busy locations where hot water is required constantly.

Dispensing method: Consider how the appliance dispenses water — whether it’s a lever, push-button or some other method – and how easy it is to use.

Safety features: Look for safety features such as automatic shut-off or overheat protection, to prevent accidents and ensure user safety.

Durability: An urn or hot water dispenser made of high-quality materials, such as stainless steel or high-density polyethylene, will withstand heavy use.

Energy efficiency: This is critical in instant water boilers designed to be left on all the time to maintain a constant supply of hot water; some units have energy-saving features such as timers or programmable temperature controls.

The capacity of commercial hot water urns generally ranges from 5–40  litres; the most common capacities are 10 litres, 20 litres, and 30 litres.

Commercial instant water boilers generally range in capacity from 2.5–30 litres; the most common capacities are 10 litres and 20 litres.

The capacity you choose will depend on the expected number of users or guests.

It’s important to choose a hot water urn that’s big enough to supply enough hot water without having to be frequently refilled.

Most instant boiling water units are directly connected to the water supply and refill automatically when the water in the unit drops to a certain level. These are more convenient and efficient in high-volume environments.

Manual-fill instant water boilers have a lid or hatch through which water is poured to top up the appliance. They’re more suitable for lower-volume environments.

A traditional hot water urn typically uses a single heating element to heat all the water in the urn.

The heating element is usually located at the bottom of the urn; as the water heats up, the hot water rises to the top of the urn.

A multiple-boiler hot water urn, on the other hand, uses multiple heating elements to heat the water in separate compartments or boilers.

Each compartment is heated independently, allowing the user to select the desired temperature for each one.

These types of urns are ideal for locations where different types of hot beverages are served at different temperatures, such as tea, coffee, or hot chocolate.

Because they don’t heat all the water to the same temperature, multiple-boiler urns are more energy-efficient than traditional ones; however they’re more expensive to buy and maintain.

Here are some of the most common styles of instant boiling water units:

Countertop units: The most common style of instant boiling water unit, these sit on a countertop or table. They’re typically smaller than wall-mounted units.

Wall-mounted units: These are fixed to the wall, making them ideal for locations with limited countertop space. They’re usually bigger than countertop units. (They’re sometimes mistakenly referred to as wall-mounted hot water urns.)

Undercounter units: Designed to fit under a counter or sink, these units save valuable floor space. They can be installed with a separate tap or integrated with an existing one.

Portable units: These lightweight units are easy to transport, making them perfect for mobile catering, outdoor events, or temporary locations.

Combination units: Dispense both hot and cold water, making them ideal for offices or other places where people drink hot and cold beverages.

Tea/coffee brewers: These specialised dispensers brew tea or coffee directly into the unit. They’re ideal for busy cafes or restaurants that need to serve large volumes of tea or coffee quickly.

The main difference between an automatic and pourover hot water dispenser is the way they’re filled with water.

An automatic hot water dispenser is directly connected to the mains water supply, which automatically fills the dispenser’s reservoir with water.

Because they’re relatively big and don’t have to be filled manually, these dispensers are ideal for busy locations where hot water is required constantly.

In contrast, a pourover hot water dispenser is not connected to the mains water supply, so its water reservoir has to be filled manually.

Pourover dispensers are typically smaller than automatic dispensers, making them suitable for locations with limited counter space or low-volume use.