With kitchens often being one of the make-or-break rooms when it comes to selling a newly built property, housebuilders are best served looking at new ways to really make “the heart of the home” stand out. With tangible water, cost, energy, time and space saving benefits, a boiling water tap may be one of the ways to do it.
PHPD talks to Quooker, the original boiling water tap brand founded in 1970, to find out more.
With increasingly stringent sustainability and environmental regulations for UK newbuilds, what with stricter energy performance standards for constructionand ambitious net zero carbon emission targets, there’s definitely a pressure on housebuilders to use products and materials that do not cost the earth. Add to that the high price of energy bills and a more eco-conscious general public, and the decision to incorporate more energy efficient and long-lasting appliances into a build becomes a no-brainer. Buying a house is a big decision to make and so every minute detail really does matter. Something as small as a kitchen appliance really might be the make or break.
A sustainable alternative
Take kettles, for example, almost every household is going to use one for their teas and coffees, and if they do, they’ll be using it regularly throughout the day, every day. Quooker explains how you can capitalise on this and why one of its taps will really help a house stand out from the crowd: Designed to be incredibly energy efficient, due to state-of-the-art patented high-vacuum insulated tank technology that prevents heat from escaping, all
Quooker taps use minimal energy to keep the water in the tank at 110°C. Unlike an energy-guzzling kettle that uses 2,200 watts to boil 1.7 litres of water, a Quooker only uses 10 watts per day to keep water ready to use. Stored as steam, water only starts to boil when the tap is turned on and the temperature of the outflowing water drops to 100°C. This low standby power consumption has resulted in the company having the best energy rating in Europe (A-rating).
Constantly evolving its technology, Quooker will be launching its new COMBI+ kitchen boiler. A fusion of efficiency and convenience, saving up to 4,200 litres of water per year; maximising every drop for optimal use and significantly reducing wastage. Unique in offering cold, hot, boiling and variable warm water as standard, with the addition of a Quooker CUBE additional benefits of chilled and sparkling water can be enjoyed.
Changing habits
Over the past couple of years, there has been a significant change in how people are drinking their water. Filtered water has become increasingly important, especially in areas of hard water, so much so that around 70% of all Quooker taps purchased are now purchased alongside a Cold-Water Filter or CUBE accessory.
These products fit onto any existing Quooker model and help refine the quality of water, improving the taste and odour of water from the tap. These filters can process around 6,000 litres before needing to be replaced, providing a tangible solution to having to buy filtered water in a bottle. Dispensing precisely the amount of water needed at any given moment, CUBE ensures responsible and more sustainable consumption. As Quooker taps are now KIWA certified, quality comes as standard across the range.
The safer choice
A common misconception is that boiling water straight from a tap cannot be safe, Quooker has homeowners covered. All Quooker taps boast sophisticated, child-safe handle systems that will never automatically dispense boiling water. With a patented double push and twist mechanism, boiling water is safely dispensed following a quick and deliberate motion. While in use, the user is alerted with the glow of a red-light ring around the handle base. For the Flex range, which boasts a flexible pull-out hose, a cut-off lock prevention system is in place to ensure boiling water cannot be used when the hose is out.
Quooker taps dispense boiling water as an aerated flow rather than a solid jet of water, meaning water feels hot but not scalding to touch, should any accidental contact occur. As the tap is properly fitted into your worksurface, away from children, unlike a kettle, there is no risk of tipping over and dangerously scalding the user. The double-insulated casing also prevents heat from escaping, and ensures the tap is not hot to touch when in use, unlike a kettle which presents a far higher burn risk. These safety functions offer additional user reassurance and makes the entire Quooker range the safest on the market.
The most used kitchen appliance
Housebuilders looking to add considerable value to their projects should look to Quooker. Boiling water taps boasting premium features and unique water modes such as sparkling, chilled and filtered water are more favourable to prospective buyers, helping differentiate and elevate their properties.
