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    Direct vs. Indirect Commercial Water Coolers

    By on Last modified: January 8, 2016

    Most business owners want to provide their customers with the best service or maybe you are looking for a water cooler for at home. So how do you know which one is right for you? There are so many options when looking at commercial water coolers. The main decision that you need to choose between is whether you want a direct or indirect system water cooler. Below we’ll go into detail about what they are and the differences between them and hopefully make choosing the right system for commercial water coolers a little easier.

    Commercial-Water-Coolers

    First let’s talk about direct water chilling systems. This kind of system uses a refrigerated plate or coil that is submerged inside into the tank of water where it then chills the water. Once the water has reached the temperature it needs to be, it can then either be gravity fed or pumped to where it needs to go. Since the coil and the tank are both in direct contact with the water, you must make sure that they are both cleaned thoroughly and frequently so the water is clean and it doesn’t start to affect the taste.

    This system also requires regular maintenance to make sure that there is no weak spots or leaking coming from the coil. If the coil does happen to leak, freon can easily contaminate the water making it undrinkable and this can pose a health hazard. The last thing you need to know about a direct water chilling system, is that the supply of water is not under pressure so it needs to get to its destination by either being pumped there by something or it must be placed high enough off the ground to rely on gravity to do its thing. Some of these issues can make this kind of chilling system harder to service and harder to clean.

    Indirect water chilling systems actually separate the cooling apparatus from the water. This makes a clean and hazard free way to chill water. Freon is passed through a coil which then freezes the water around that coil into ice. The drinking water passes through a separate stainless steel coil which is located through the ice block where there is no way it can be contaminated. This is a system that makes sure there is no way that freon can contaminate the water supply.

    Another thing to remember is that since the drinking water is passing through a coil, there is no collection tray that you need to clean and there is no need for a water pump or gravity feed as there is more than enough pressure to keep the water flowing. This means you can place this system anywhere you like and it will work fine. It is also easier to clean and service when compared to the last system. An indirect water chiller has quite a large advantage over a direct water chiller. They don’t have a tank that needs to be cleaned constantly; there is no way for the drinking water and freon to cross contaminate and there is no need for a pump or gravity feed as the water has enough pressure to flow.

    You should base your decision on what you need from commercial water coolers. There are many choices and depending on your space and how much time you have for maintenance, these should be your deciding factors. Clearly the indirect system has many benefits and is great if it’s being constantly used and you don’t have the time to clean a water system on a regular basis. Hopefully, after reading this article, you can make an informed decision on which water cooling system is right for you.