Do Self-Cleaning Water Dispensers Really Work?
Self-cleaning water dispensers work by running a built-in cycle, but they only do what the brand describes. The cycle may not reach every part, so your manual still sets the cleaning routine.
On this page (8 sections)
- What does self-cleaning mean on a water dispenser?
- What do the brands call their self-cleaning features?
- How can you check a self-cleaning claim?
- Does a self-cleaning cycle reach every part?
- Should you still follow the manual with a self-cleaning dispenser?
- Who gets the most from a self-cleaning water dispenser?
- When should you still buy a cleaning kit?
- Do self-cleaning water dispensers work for your routine?
Self-cleaning water dispensers work by running a built-in cycle, but how far that cycle goes depends on what the brand describes. It may not reach every part, so you still need your manual's routine.
This guide explains what self-cleaning means on the models we looked at, what the cycle may miss, and who gets the most from it. We compared the Brio 520 Series, Avalon's self-cleaning bottleless cooler, and the cleaner kits that sit alongside them.
For the basics first, start with how to clean a water dispenser. If you're comparing unit types, our bottom-loading water dispensers guide explains the jug models.
What does self-cleaning mean on a water dispenser?
Self-cleaning means the unit has a built-in cycle that the brand describes, and each brand words its cycle differently. Read the brand's wording and your manual before you assume what the cycle covers.
Brio names UV as its method. Avalon calls its feature self-cleaning, so check your manual for how the cycle works.
What do the brands call their self-cleaning features?
Brio calls its feature UV self-cleaning, and Avalon calls its feature self-cleaning. Neither name tells you which parts the cycle reaches, so the manual still decides that.
| Model | Type | Water source | Brand's name for the feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brio 520 Series | Bottom-loading | 5-gallon jug | UV self-cleaning, started with a button |
| Avalon A3 | Bottom-loading | 3 to 5 gallon jug | Self-cleaning feature |
| Avalon A5 | Bottleless, full size | Water line | Self-cleaning feature |
| Avalon A12 | Bottleless, countertop | Water line | Self-cleaning feature |
Bottleless models add a filter schedule, and jug models add jug swaps. Those routines shape your week more than the feature name does.
How can you check a self-cleaning claim?
Read the brand's own description, then check which parts the manual says the cycle covers. Confirm the filter schedule too, before you rely on the cycle.
A clear description helps. A vague one means the manual has to fill the gaps.
- Find the cycle type the brand names, such as a UV cycle or a general clean cycle.
- Check the manual for the parts the cycle covers, and the parts it doesn't.
- Look up the filter schedule if the unit has filters.
- Decide how the deeper clean will fit your calendar, since the cycle won't do that for you.
How Brio describes its UV cycle
Brio says its 520 Series has a UV self-cleaning feature, and that you press a button to start it. The unit then handles the cycle on its own.
That describes the cycle, not every part of the unit. The 520 Series comes with a manual and a care guide, and those are still the place for the cleaning steps.
For the brand's own wording, start with Brio's website. Our Brio 520 Series self-cleaning review covers the model in more depth.
If you're weighing Brio against another brand, our Avalon vs Brio self-cleaning water dispenser comparison is a good next read.
How Avalon describes its self-cleaning water dispenser feature
Avalon names a self-cleaning feature on its A5 bottleless cooler, and on bottom-loaders such as the A3. Your manual is the place to check what the cycle covers.
Bottleless units also use filters, and the filter schedule is separate from the cleaning cycle.
Does a self-cleaning cycle reach every part?
Probably not every part. A built-in cycle may not reach the spouts, the drip tray or the outside of the unit, so those still need a wipe by hand.
Check your manual for the parts the cycle covers. If the manual doesn't say, assume the spouts, drip tray and outside still need your attention.
These are the parts to keep an eye on yourself:
- The spouts and buttons, where film shows up first.
- The drip tray, where spills collect.
- The outside and the cabinet.
- The jug area, if your unit takes a jug.
- The filters, if your unit has them, on the maker's schedule.
Spouts, drip tray and outside
Wipe the spouts, buttons and outside of the unit with a damp cloth each week. Check the drip tray each time you swap the jug, since drips collect there first.
Brio's LED night light lights the dispensing area of the 520 Series, which makes drips on the tray easier to spot.
A quick look at these parts each week tells you more than guessing whether the cycle got them.
Film and mineral buildup in the reservoir
Film or mineral buildup in the reservoir can still need a deeper clean, even on a self-cleaning unit. Use the cleaner your manual names, and rinse until none is left.
Check the reservoir every few months, and treat any film as a reason to clean early.
Should you still follow the manual with a self-cleaning dispenser?
Yes. The usual advice is to follow the maker's manual for cleaning and filter changes, even on a unit with a built-in cycle.
Your manual sets the schedule, the steps and the cleaners. A self-cleaning cycle doesn't change those, even if you press the button often.
Think of the cycle as one step in the routine, not the whole routine. Keep the weekly wipe, the jug-swap check and the deeper clean, and let the cycle handle the part it's built for.
For the schedule itself, see how often to clean a water dispenser.
Filter changes on bottleless models
On bottleless models, filters are a separate job from the cycle. Avalon recommends replacing its bottleless filters every 6 months or 1,500 gallons, whichever comes first.
The A5 has a replace-filter indicator that lights when a filter needs changing. If you need a copy of the guide, start with Avalon's website and match your model number.
Who gets the most from a self-cleaning water dispenser?
Busy offices and homes with hard-to-reach reservoirs may get the most from a built-in cycle, since they can't always fit a full clean into a busy week.
Offices and shared units
A shared break-room unit gets used all day, so a built-in cycle may be a useful extra between deeper cleans. The office still needs a regular wipe of the spouts and drip tray.
A reservoir that's hard to reach is harder to clean by hand, so a built-in cycle can save you some effort there. Even so, the deeper clean still needs a place on your calendar.
Home units
At home, the built-in cycle is a convenience, not a replacement for the steps in your manual. If you're the only one using the unit, a regular wipe and the deeper clean may suit you well.
Keep the deeper clean on your calendar, using the cleaner your manual names.
When should you still buy a cleaning kit?
Buy a kit when your manual names a cleaner for a part the cycle may not reach. Yadool and IMPRESA both sell cleaners made for water coolers, so check the label first.
Yadool describes a pour, 15-minute wait and rinse process for its kit.
Use only the cleaner your manual names, and never mix two cleaners together.
IMPRESA says its cleanser is for reservoir cleaning and buildup removal, and each pack has two 8-ounce bottles.
For a closer look at kits and what to skip, read our water cooler cleaning kits guide.
Do self-cleaning water dispensers work for your routine?
Pick a built-in cycle if the unit is shared, hard to reach or used all day, and keep your manual's routine anyway.
Pick a regular unit if you'd rather clean by hand on a set schedule and don't need a cycle.
To compare the two types side by side, read self-cleaning vs regular water dispensers. For models, see the best self-cleaning water dispensers.
Whatever you choose, keep the manual close and follow it for cleaning, filters and the cleaners it names.
Frequently asked questions
What does a self-cleaning cycle actually do?
It runs the built-in cycle the brand describes, and the scope varies by brand and model. Brio says its 520 Series has a UV self-cleaning feature you start with a button, so read your manual for the parts the cycle covers and the parts it doesn't.
Can I skip manual cleaning on a self-cleaning dispenser?
No, the usual advice is to follow your manual for cleaning and filter changes, even on a self-cleaning model. A built-in cycle may not reach the spouts, drip tray or outside of the unit, so those parts still need a regular wipe by hand.
Are self-cleaning dispensers worth it for an office?
They can be useful in busy offices and for units with hard-to-reach reservoirs, since a built-in cycle may save some effort between deeper cleans. Offices still need the manual's routine and a regular wipe of the spouts and drip tray.
Do I still need a cleaning kit with a self-cleaning unit?
Sometimes, because a kit can help with the deeper clean if your manual names a cleaner like it. Yadool and IMPRESA both sell cleaners made for water coolers, but use only the cleaner your manual names and never mix two cleaners together.
Does a self-cleaning dispenser still need filter changes?
Yes, if the unit has filters, since the maker sets the filter schedule on its own. For example, Avalon recommends replacing its bottleless filters every 6 months or 1,500 gallons, whichever comes first, and its A5 has a replace-filter indicator light.
