Best Instant Hot Water Tap to Replace Your Standard Tap
A modern convenience you may never be able to live without again is an instant hot water tap. But getting one fitted into your kitchen requires careful consideration of a wide market of products–some great, some not so much. But fear not, today we review seven of the best fast-boiling faucets, each occupying a specific niche for different homes and budgets.
Further down the page, we also provide you with a few quick tips to help you do your own research on instant water heaters, beyond our recommendations. That way, you can have full confidence in your investment.
Best Instant Hot Water Taps (2020)
If your mixer tap just isn’t enough, consider one of our recommended instant hot water taps. Each varies in form and function, but all aim to provide you with clean, warm water in a matter of seconds.
1. QETTLE 4-in-1 Instant Boiling Water Tap
Handily one of the most expensive items on our list, the QETTLE 4-in-1 justifies its price tag with premium features. The first and most attractive of its four dispensing modes is its 100°C true boiling–exactly what’s needed for a perfect cuppa every time, without the wait. What’s more, you’ll enjoy pure, flavour-free water (be it hot or cold) thanks to QETTLE’s impressive, undersink replaceable filtration system. Of course, you can bypass the QETTLE altogether for unfiltered access to your standard hot and cold tap water.
We also appreciate that QETTLE offers the option to choose between 2, 4, and 7 litre boilers–after all, not everyone needs heavy-duty when sensible will suffice. It offers superior efficiency as well; running on standby for a full day will cost you a mere 3p (that’s about 100x less than a store-bought coffee or tea!) Whatever you pick, rest easier knowing that your investment is protected by a 2-year warranty.
Speaking of security, if you’re worried about young ones harming themselves with boiled water–don’t be. QETTLE outfits this unit with a safety clip which must be purposefully disengaged to operate the boiler. Even without the clip, you must still simultaneously depress a safety button on the handle for 100° water. Furthermore, the 4-in-1’s spout features heavy insulation, making contact burns impossible everywhere but the very tip.
2. InSinkErator TAP 3573
While it doesn’t offer true boiling, the TAP 3573 from InSinkErator does a great job delivering temperatures as high as 98°C in an instant. Packing a 2.5 litre boiler and 750W of power, you get impressive performance without the bulk of other similar units. We particularly appreciate the tool-free installation, which saves you the trouble of hiring a plumber.
Regardless of whether you use the boiler, your InSinkErator will safely filter out a host of undesirable chemicals, flavours, and odours. What’s more, the TAP 3573 protects its heating element with special scale-reduction technology–more good news for your long-term maintenance budget! Buy in confidence with a 2-year warranty on parts and labour.
3. TopSer KA-06 Pro
Changing tack, we present the TopSer KA-06 Pro, which proudly occupies the desirable niche of good instant-on water heating under £100. It won’t get up to boiling or near-boiling, but it offers solid access to 20-60°C temperatures year-round, even in the coldest Winter months. Simply select the max operating power (up to 3500W), then turn the handle until the LED displays your desired temperature. Within 3 seconds, you’ll enjoy exactly what you ordered without fail.
The KA-06 features adequate hydro-electric isolation, which is a fancy way of saying you don’t have to worry about it shorting out on you. What’s more, TopSer achieves a IPX4 waterproof rating, so you never have to regret normal usage. The spout rotates 360° for your convenience, and the unit has an attractive brushed chrome finish to make it a perfect, flexible fit for any home.
4. QETTLE Mini 2-in-1 Instant Boiling Water Tap
QETTLE makes a triumphant return to our list with its Mini 2-in-1. Once again, we see (and adore) the 100° true boiler alongside deliciously filtered cold water. Just like its big brother the 4-in-1, you have an option to choose your boiler tank capacity, this time either 4 or 7 litres. That way, you don’t pay more than you absolutely need to.
QETTLE has provided us with some maths to work out the pure efficiency if its tap boilers. Left on standby all day, the 2-in-1 consumes just 3p worth of energy. Compare that to a standalone boiler, which operates at 2p per use. If you’re a heavy coffee or tea drinker (like we are), the long-term cost savings more than compensate for the initial cost QETTLE commands.
We also appreciate how little maintenance this unit requires–it even politely reminds you with an LED when it’s time to change the 6-month filter. Buy risk-free with a limited 2-year warranty.
5. InSinkErator 3N1 Steaming Hot Water Tap
Not to be outdone, InSinkErator produces yet another fantastic near-boiling option in their 3N1. Whilst we must dock it points for a punny model name, it stands strong on its own merits with variable temperature adjustment between 88-99°C. True to Italian high fashion, the 3N1 fetches the highest price on this list. It is, however, an undeniably remarkable feat of engineering, featuring three gorgeous finishes, smooth laminar flow (look the term up on YouTube to be amazed by physics), and a truly elegant one-piece design.
So where does the “3 in 1” designation come into play? InSinkErator seeks to completely replace and augment your standard mixer tap, so you get filtered near-boiling water, plus standard access to hot and cold. This makes it the perfect premium catch-all for any modern home. Just for fun, try making pasta with a simple lever pull–guaranteed to impress your guests. Buon appetito!
6. Rainblue Electric Hot Water Faucet
Swinging to the opposite end of the value spectrum, we have Rayinblue’s instant tap. At just under £30, you won’t see the premium features or performance as other products on this page. However, you do get respectable 3-second water heating from this 3000W device. It isn’t sexy, but it attaches easily to any sink without need for a plumber or specialised tools.
Rayinblue’s tankless design actually produces some significant energy savings, as it only draws power to heat the water as you use it. While heating only climbs to about 65°C, it works regardless of how cold it is outside. In our opinion, this unit is best used in secondary positions in the home such as workshops, garages, and add-ons. Nevertheless, we’re confident you’ll be pleased with the value for money no matter where you use it.
7. Sauber Boiling Water Tap
Occupying the Goldilocks zone in terms of pricing is Sauber’s boiler tap. With 5 discrete temperature settings (75°, 85°, 90°, 95°, 98°), you can lock in the perfect temperature for a wide variety of applications. It’s got a generous 2.4-litre tank, and powers its hot water delivery with a respectable 1500W.
If it all sounds sensible so far–it is. In fact, Sauber has outfitted this unit with an array of features that fit real-word scenarios. Got kids? Protect their little fingers from boiling with a cool-touch insulated spout and child safety lock. Tired of approximating your power settings? Take a peek at the crystal-clear LED display on the boiler tank below.
As far as moderately priced, drop-in replacements for your standard mixer taps go, it’s hard to beat Sauber. They even stand by their product with a 2-year guarantee on the tank and a generous 3-year warranty on the tap. For the majority of homeowners on a budget who nevertheless strive for value in their investments, Sauber may well be “just right”.
Instant Hot Water Taps Buyer’s Guide
Still want to do some comparison shopping after browsing our recommendations? Good on you for doing your due diligence. Here are some factors to consider:
Does your instant heater actually boil water?
Don’t be fooled, “boiler tap” is an oft-used umbrella term which may describe any number of devices patently incapable of producing 100°C water. Make sure yours actually boils water–or brings it within a degree or two at the very least.
Are tankless boilers better than tank storage units?
Not necessarily. Tankless tap heaters do indeed draw on less power overall, as they only heat the water as you use it. Meanwhile, tank storage boilers must constantly maintain a tank full of water at a certain temperature to be ready for usage. In reality, though, tankless units are rarely capable of producing a true boil. This may not be a deal-breaker for you, but if you must have a cup of tea always at the ready, you’re going to want to spring for a tap with a tank. More often than not, these units are still much more efficient than a standalone instant hot water dispenser.
What sort of maintenance will your instant hot water tap require?
It depends on what functionality your tap offers. If yours includes boiled or cold filtration, you can expect to change filters roughly every six months, for example.
Unfortunately, no product can claim to be completely proofed against scaling. Unless you have soft water already flowing through your pipes, descaling is an inevitability. Luckily, it’s simple and not terribly expensive. Simply pour vinegar or lime descaler into your empty tank, and let it sit for about 20-30 minutes. Then, flush the tank out with fresh water, and repeat as necessary until the scale is no longer present. There may be some additional steps depending on the construction of your unit, but the core process is not something to fear.
Do instant water taps require a plumber to install?
Once again, it depends. Doubtless, the best results will come with professional installation, but simple screw-on, tankless heaters are easy to install by anyone with a lick of handiness. More complex systems with tanks and filtration systems should really only be installed by someone with the knowledge and tools to do so, otherwise you risk inefficient heating, leaks, damage to your unit or home, or even bodily harm in the case of high-powered boilers.
Do you need a large tank?
Not at all! Unless you’re serving coffee to a house full of guests, tanks as small as 2 litres are perfectly suitable for most homes. In the vast majority of cases, even depleted tanks will tank only a few minutes to refill and rewarm.
Will your water heater take up cupboard space?
Sadly, there’s no getting around a tank in many designs. But thankfully, most people won’t have to invest tonnes of space to accommodate huge tanks to get the results they’re after. Modern designs typically make the best use of your cupboard possible as well, and may even be mounted on the wall inside to free up floor space.
Tankless heaters don’t have this problem at all.
Conclusion
There you have it, the seven best instant tap water heaters according to our market research. Our recommendations are made according to price, performance, and efficiency. The list above represents a good cross section of price points, and service an array of niche applications. We’ve also provided you with a few key points to base your own shopping on.
Which instant heater tap most appeals to you? How many cups of tea do you drink a day? Let us know in a comment below.