How Does a Bottom-Loading Water Dispenser Work?

On this page (11 sections)

1. What are the main parts of a bottom-loading water dispenser?
2. Where does the jug go in a bottom-loading water dispenser?
3. How does water get from the jug to the spout?
4. What do the hot, cold and room-temperature spouts do?
5. Why is a bottom-loading design easier to load?
6. How do you change a 5-gallon jug?
7. Does a bottom-loading water dispenser have a hot-water lock?
8. How do you know when the jug is nearly empty?
9. What does the drip tray do?
10. Why does a bottom-loading water dispenser make noise?
11. Does a bottom-loading water dispenser work for your home or office?

A bottom-loading water dispenser keeps a 5-gallon jug in a cabinet at the base and uses a pump to send the water up to the spouts.

That is how it works: the pump does the lifting, and you only slide the jug in from below.

Parts and steps vary by model, so your manual is the final word for your unit. Below, we go through each part, from the cabinet to the drip tray.

What are the main parts of a bottom-loading water dispenser?

A bottom-loading dispenser has six main parts, and each one has a clear job. Knowing them makes the rest of this guide easier to follow.

• The cabinet holds the 5-gallon jug at the base of the unit.
• The cap or probe connects the jug to the unit.
• A pump or similar pick-up system moves the water up from the jug.
• The hot and cold reservoirs hold the water at its set temperature.
• The spouts give you hot, cold or room-temperature water.
• The drip tray catches spills and drips.

Models add extras, such as an empty-bottle light or a child-safety lock. The sections below cover the parts and those extras, one at a time.

Where does the jug go in a bottom-loading water dispenser?

The jug sits in a cabinet at the base of the unit, and you slide it in from the bottom. Brio says this design removes heavy lifting and awkward bottle flipping.

Avalon says the A4 suits 3 to 5 gallon bottles, and Brio says its bottom-loading cooler's cabinet fits a 3- or 5-gallon jug. The jug isn't included with the A4 or with Brio's bottom-loading and 130 Series coolers.

Setting the jug in the cabinet

Connect the cap or probe to the jug as your manual shows. Then lift the jug only a little, line it up with the cabinet opening, and slide it in until it seats.

A jug that isn't fully seated can stop the water flow, so check that it sits fully in place. For the wider picture, start with the bottom-loading water dispensers guide.

How does water get from the jug to the spout?

A pump or a similar pick-up system draws water up from the jug and sends it on to the spouts. Water can't climb from a floor-level jug to a spout above it without that help.

How a bottom-loading water dispenser works: pump and reservoirs

In most bottom-loaders, a small electric pump moves the water up from the jug into the unit's reservoirs. The hot and cold sides then heat or chill that water until you press a spout.

Brio says its bottom-loading cooler uses food-grade 304 stainless steel reservoirs. The exact pump or pick-up parts vary by model, so check your manual for the details.

What do the hot, cold and room-temperature spouts do?

The cold spout gives chilled water, the hot spout gives heated water, and the room-temperature spout gives water with neither change. The models in this guide each offer three settings.

Brio says its 130 Series also serves room-temperature water, which suits filling sports bottles.

How much power the hot and cold sides use

Avalon says the A4 has 420 watts of heating power on the hot side and 100 watts of cooling power on the cold side. Brio rates its 130 Series at 300 watts, so the rating differs by model.

Avalon gives the A4 a lower temperature rating of 8.3 °C, about 47 °F.

Avalon lists the A4 as UL and ENERGY STAR approved, and Brio lists ENERGY STAR 3.0 for the 130 Series. You can read more about that program at ENERGY STAR.

Avalon also says a built-in nightlight makes the spouts easy to see at night. For more on the A4, read our Avalon A4 bottom-loading water cooler review.

Power use depends on how often you draw hot water, the room temperature and whether your model lets you switch the hot side off. For how those factors add up, read how much electricity a hot and cold dispenser uses.

Why is a bottom-loading design easier to load?

A bottom-loading jug goes in at floor level, so you don't lift a full 5-gallon jug to the top of the unit. That is the main difference from a top-loader.

A top-loader means lifting the full jug up and over the unit every time you change it. Avalon says bottom loading cuts down on the strain of lifting and reduces spills.

Top-loading and bottom-loading designs differ in more than the lift, so compare them if you're still deciding.

How do you change a 5-gallon jug?

Connect the new jug as your manual shows, lift it only a little, and slide it into the cabinet. Then follow any step your manual lists for after a change.

Steps for a jug change

1. Set the new jug on a flat floor in front of the cabinet.
2. Connect the cap or probe as your manual shows.
3. Lift the jug only a little, then slide it into the cabinet until it seats.
4. Follow any step in your manual that comes after the change.

Carrying a full jug

A full 5-gallon jug is heavy, and EcoForm puts a full 5-gallon bottle at about 42 pounds. Plan the trip so you carry the jug on a clear, flat path.

A handle can make the carry easier, too.

Does a bottom-loading water dispenser have a hot-water lock?

Some models do. Brio says its bottom-loading cooler, 130 Series and 520 Series all have a child-safety lock on the hot water.

On the bottom-loading cooler, you release the lock above the dispensing button before you press for hot water. On the 130 and 520 Series, Brio says the hot button relocks by itself after you dispense.

Hot water can burn, and Brio gives this cooler an upper temperature rating of 198 °F. Check your manual to confirm whether your model has a lock, and make sure it's released before you press for hot water.

How do you know when the jug is nearly empty?

Look for an empty-bottle light. The Avalon A4 has one, and so do Brio's bottom-loading cooler and its 130 and 520 Series.

Order the next jug when the light comes on, so you aren't caught with an empty unit. If your unit has no light, check the jug by eye at each refill instead.

What does the drip tray do?

The drip tray catches spills and drips from the spouts, so you can empty it before it overflows. Brio says its 520 Series has a night light that helps you see the dispensing area and monitor the drip tray.

Check the tray each time you change the jug, since that's a good moment to look. Empty it before it gets close to full, so it can't run over the edge.

If the tray fills again soon after you empty it, a drip is starting somewhere above it. Our water cooler leak checklist shows where to look.

Why does a bottom-loading water dispenser make noise?

A low hum, a short buzz and a gurgle can all be normal sounds as the unit cools water, pulls water from the jug and settles. Sound levels differ by model, so your manual is the place to check what's normal for yours.

Which sounds mean you should stop?

Unplug the unit and contact the maker if you hear grinding, a loud rattle, or any new noise that comes with a leak or with no water at the spout. Don't open the cabinet or any electrical part yourself.

A sputter or gurgle near the end of a jug can mean the jug is almost empty, so change it and listen again.

Does a bottom-loading water dispenser work for your home or office?

Pick a bottom-loading unit if you have floor space for a 5-gallon jug and want to skip lifting it to the top. Pick a countertop or bottleless unit if floor space is tight or you can't store a jug.

The bottom-loading units in this guide are freestanding, 41 to 42 inches tall, and weigh about 38 to 41 pounds. Each takes about 12 to 16 inches of depth and 12 to 13 inches of width, so measure the spot where it will sit, including room for the jug, before you buy.

Bottleless units need a water line, so read the maker's install guide before you buy one. Next, read how to clean a bottom-loading water dispenser or compare our best bottom-loading water dispensers.

Frequently asked questions

How does a bottom-loading water dispenser get water out of the jug?

A small pump or a similar pick-up system draws water up from the jug and sends it on to the reservoirs and spouts, because the jug sits below them. The exact parts vary by model, so check your manual for how your unit moves water.

Is a bottom-loading water dispenser easier to load than a top-loader?

Yes, because you slide the jug into a cabinet at floor level, while a top-loader needs a full jug lifted and flipped onto the unit. Brio says its bottom-load design removes heavy lifting and awkward bottle flipping, and Avalon says its design cuts down on the strain of lifting.

Do all bottom-loading water dispensers have a hot-water lock?

Not every model has one, so check yours. Brio says its bottom-loading cooler, 130 Series and 520 Series have a child-safety lock, and your manual shows whether your unit has one and how to release it before you press for hot water.

How much power does the hot side use?

Avalon says the A4 has 420 watts of heating power on the hot side and 100 watts of cooling power on the cold side, and Brio rates its 130 Series at 300 watts. Your real use depends on how often you draw hot water and the room temperature.

Why does my bottom-loading water dispenser make noise?

A low hum, a short pump buzz and an occasional gurgle can all be normal as the unit cools water, pulls water from the jug and settles. Unplug the unit and contact the maker if you hear grinding, a loud rattle or a new noise that comes with a leak.