Tried & Tested: QETTLE 4-in-1 Boiling & Filtered Water Tap

Stand out features:

True 100°c boiling hot water at the touch of a button
Enhanced safety features
Cold filtered water on demand
Sleek and elegant design to enhance the look of any kitchen
Easy installation process
Time-saving and convenient for making hot drinks, pasta, rice and more

During lockdown, my tea consumption has gone through the roof. I’m forever filling up the kettle and making cup after cup, including for my no-good husband who makes with the puppy dog eyes every time he’s parched! We dread to look at the electricity bill as constantly filling up a kettle to boil water isn’t very energy efficient but it can’t be helped when tea is at stake. As a nation of tea-lover’s, I’m sure I’m not alone in this way of thinking either.

Thankfully, there’s a better way to keep us topped up - the ingenious boiling water tap. I recently had the QETTLE 4-in-1 original tap installed and was excited to try it out.

QETTLE is a family owned business and is one of the UK’s leading manufacturer of boiling hot water taps. With over 45 years experience and dedication to British-design and manufacturing, they are a trusted name in the business.

I opted for the Original 4-in-1 kitchen tap that dispenses hot and cold water as well true 100°c boiling water and cold filtered water.

In the box:

The tap and all the parts arrived by post a few days ahead of the installation. Along with the sleek tap, there are also all the fittings required for installation and an intuitive step by step guide in case you want to fit it yourself.

The filter cartridge and boiler tank which sit underneath the sink are also included. There are three sizes of boiler - 2 litres (4 cups), 4 litres (8 cups) and 7 litres (14 cups.). I opted for the 4 litre, plenty of boiling water for a two person household.

Installation:

Before installing, there is a handy checklist on the QETTLE website to ensure everything is in place for the tap to be fitted properly including checking the mains water pressure is optimal and that there is a free 13 Amp plug socket to plug in the boiler tank, which I had behind the washing machine. The tank has a 1.8m cable so there’s a lot of length to connect to sockets underneath and around the sink. Of course, you also need to ensure there is enough space under the sink for the tank to fit and you can find the measurements easily on the website.

With the checklist complete, I was ready for the QETTLE accredited installer to arrive. Jon arrived with face-mask at the ready and quickly got to work on fitting the tap. At a socially distanced space, Jon talked me through the installation and made me aware of how it would be fitted and made sure to ask me key questions including where under the sink I would like the tank and filter cartridge to be placed. The installation took the best part of the morning and I was really happy with the end result.

Additionally it turned out that my waste pipes weren’t in the best condition and would eventually need replacing, but thankfully Jon was able to do this for me. Learn from my mistake and make sure your waste pipes are in good condition!

Before installation:

After installation:

Usage & Maintenance:

The tap made an instant difference to our lives, as we no longer needed to wait around in the kitchen for the tap to boil. Instead every day kitchen tasks such as boiling water for pasta, rice or noodles took significantly less time. For a busy household like ours this was a much needed and welcomed convenience.

Our 4 litre filter was definitely the right choice for us, as there was plenty of hot water for a couple of cups of tea, a bowl of porridge and to boil a few eggs for breakfast too. Once the boiler has dispensed it’s capacity of boiling hot water, it takes 10 mins to recover and the bottom LED on the tank will go from green to red to indicate it is heating. However we found that for us this wasn’t a problem.

Jon had mentioned that for the first 2-3 weeks there may be a milky appearance in the boiling hot water that is completely harmless as is just the new filter cartridge being conditioned and releasing trapped air from the cartridge. It’s important to change the filter every 6 months to keep the boiler in good condition and once you sign up to the QETTLE warranty the company will let you know when it’s time to change the filter which costs just under £27. This will be particular important for us as we live in a hard water area.

Cost:

Prices start from £405 and installation from a QETTLE accredited installer (optional) costs £199. The filter will also needs replacing every 6 months and costs just under £55 for the year.

Although this isn’t equivalent to the cost of a kettle, a boiling water tap is a very energy-efficient choice. On average, a kettle costs £0.02 pence every time it’s boiled and by comparison, a boiling water tap, on standby, costs £0.03 pence to run per 24 hours. Boiling water taps also save you from boiling more water than you really need which is great for energy efficiency and reducing waste.

Personally for me, there is a lot of value in the time saving aspect of a boiling water tap. I think it’s a revelation and making tea or cooking food that requires boiling water frees up so much time and it all feels almost effortless.

The lack of a bulky kettle also helps free up a lot of space counter space in my compact kitchen and the sleek, elegance design has instantly refreshed the space.

Safety:

My one concern prior to having a boiling water tap was the safety, especially when having younger children around. However QETTLE have put a lot of careful thought into their safety features. The tap actually has a two-stage safety procedure, which includes a red safety button on the lever that you push down and then turn the lever clockwise. If the button is not pressed then the lever will not move and no water will be dispensed. This gave me the peace of mind I needed as it would be difficult to turn on the boiling water tap without intending to.

The tap itself can also be moved away from you or the edge of the sink, which allows you to good a good amount of distance from yourself and the tap if needed.

The Verdict:

I’ve been using the QETTLE 4-in-1 Tap for about a month now and I’ve really enjoyed how convenient and so easy to use it is. Without realising anymore, I’m making hot cups of tea instantaneously and have access to cold filtered water at the turn of a lever.

The 4 litre boiler is perfect and is more than enough for my husband and I. We have used it to make multiple cups of tea, pasta, instant mash, noodles, and with every use I haven’t been let down by the 4 litre capacity. I think it would be perfectly suitable for a small family and the red safety button is a great feature to prevent accidents.

QETTLE provide a 2 year warranty on the boiler as well as the cartridge so if you do have any issues they will be able to help. It’s such a convenience and really easy to use that after a short while you will be happy you made the plunge. The cost aside, it really is that good and you won’t be able to go back to a bog standard kettle that is for sure.

Now I’m off to enjoy a warming cup of coffee made effortlessly at the touch of a button.