Instant boiling water taps cost less to run per day than boiling the kettle or heating water over the stove and you don’t have to waste your time waiting for the water to boil.
You do have to weigh up the price of the tap and installation against the price of using a conventional kettle but, modern, convenient and stylish boiling water taps make a cool addition to your kitchen.
An "intelligent" tap can not only despense instant steaming hot water but also regular hot and cold and filtered cold water. There's no need for a kettle on the work surface or jugs and bottles of water sitting in the fridge. Nowadays there is a great selection of boiling water taps to choose from.
Are boiling water taps safe?
Using a boiling or steaming hot water tap is a safe way to heat hot water for use in the kitchen. It makes the kitchen worry free as it eliminates the kettle and its trailing cord, hot cooking zones or naked flames from a gas hob. It also makes everyday tasks much quicker, convenient and efficient, while eliminating the time and energy lost waiting for the kettle to boil and saving precious worktop space.
Water boiler taps are also fitted with a safety child lock so you can be sure that it's safe from unwanted hands.
How do boiling water taps work?
Boiling water taps have a miniature electric boiler or element and a hot water storage unit underneath the sink which connects to the plumbing of your kitchen taps to supply boiling hot water from your tap.
The taps come with a filter for cleaner water and also hard water that in certain parts of the country can create a build up of limescale when heated up. The filter will need changing periodically depending on the manufacturers advice.
How much do boiling water taps cost?
The biggest factor in fitting a new boiler tap is do you need boiling water at 100°C or is an instant hot water tap delivering slightly less hot water ok.
A couple of degrees is adequate for filling a saucepan to cook pasta or to fill a hot water bottle, but actual 100°C water is needed to sterilise baby bottles and if you like your tea piping hot.
Franke Minerva Electronic 4-in-1 - £1,600
Hot, cold, filtered cold and filtered 100°C boiling water.
5 litres of 100°C boiling water, pre-set controls and large boiler fits behind plinth
Grohe Red Duo - £830
Hot, cold and filtered 99°C near-boiling water.
3 or 5.5 litres with a great child lock, A-rated energy efficiency and small space boiler
InSinkErator 4N1 Touch Tap - £730
Hot, cold, filtered cold and filtered near-boiling 88-99°C water.
2.5 litres, attractive, small boiler with chilled water option
Qettle Signature Modern - £735
Hot, cold, filtered cold and filtered 100°C boiling water.
2, 4 or 7 litres, great value, true 100°C boiling water with optional huge capacity.
Quooker Fusion - £995
Hot, cold, filtered cold and filtered 100°C boiling water
3 or 7 litres of 100°C boiling water, optional huge capacity & chilled and carbonated water.
Perrin & Rowe Armstrong 3 in 1 Instant Hot Water Tap - £1,050
Hot, cold and filtered near-boiling 75–98°C water
2.4 litres, exquisite build quality, compact boiler and operates at low water pressures.
How long does it take to install a boiling water tap?
A qualified plumber will take 1 to 2 hours to fit a water boiler tap in your home. For a standard installation it will take an hour but if there requires any additional plumbing or electrical work it can take 2 hours to complete. As the current hourly rate for a plumber in the UK is £42 excluding vat and call out charge, you could be looking at paying between £50 and £100 to fit your water boiler tap.
The actual price you will pay to install a boiling water tap depends on the area you live in and the overheads of the plumber. Plumber rates in the UK do not differ that much but finding the right one for your budget will require you getting multiple quotes or estimates.