Most workplaces realize the importance of providing fresh, clean drinking water for their employees, guests, and customers. Research shows that hydration can improve productivity, mood, memory, energy level, and clarity; all of which can impact the organization’s’ bottom line. So, if providing water to your employees is the obvious right decision – what’s the challenge? Deciding whether to buy or rent a water dispenser.
When searching for water coolers, you will notice that some water cooler providers give you the option to either buy or rent. That’s great! But how do you choose? Check out the pros and cons of each below to help you choose which avenue is best for your workplace:
| Buying a Water Cooler | Renting a Water Cooler |
|---|---|
| You own the water cooler outright. | There is no large upfront cost. The water cooler is installed by a certified service technician and you pay a low monthly fee for equipment rental and service. |
| You don’t have to sign a rental agreement with a water cooler service company. | A professional water cooler service company will typically use high quality equipment that will last longer, require minimal maintenance, and need fewer parts. |
| When preventive maintenance is required, repairs and filter changes are handled by a certified service technician, usually at no additional cost. | |
| There are no hassles or worries about how to change the filter, or what to do when the water cooler stops working. Just call customer service at your water cooler provider and they will take care of it. | |
| The certified service technicians that work for your water cooler provider are experts on the company’s water coolers and your local water, so they understand the needs of your business. | |
| When your water cooler has reached the end of its life, you can have it replaced with the same type of water cooler at no additional cost. Or, if your business needs change, you can upgrade easily without the hassle of having to buy a new unit and get rid of the old water cooler. |
| Buying a Water Cooler | Renting a Water Cooler |
|---|---|
| It’s a large upfront cost; some water coolers can cost hundreds of dollars and options with ice machines or sparkling water can cost thousands of dollars. | You don’t own the water cooler outright. |
| To be cost-conscious, you could purchase a low-cost cooler, but these tend to cost more long term due to constant repairs and parts replacements. As the adage says, “you get what you pay for.” | You must sign a rental agreement with a water cooler service company, usually for an annual contract. |
| You must install the water cooler yourself or hire a plumber to install it for an additional cost. | |
| You are responsible for any preventive maintenance, repairs, and filter changes needed to the water cooler, which may require additional plumber or service technician costs. | |
| Already busy office managers or administrators are tasked with hiring plumbers or service technicians, if the organization doesn’t already have one on staff. | |
| If you have a staff service technician or plumber, they will be responsible for finding and purchasing all the necessary parts. | |
| When the machine is no longer efficient and needs to be replaced, your organization is stuck with the costs of purchasing a new machine and properly disposing of the old (usually costing bulk pick-up fee in many locations). |
Choosing between a worry-free maintenance and guarantee of fresh, clean drinking water for a monthly fee and purchasing and maintaining a low-cost water cooler can be challenging, however, hopefully this pros and cons list can help you make the decision easier.
At Quench, we believe that renting a machine is the best option for businesses that serve more than 10 people with their water cooler. When you rent a Quench bottleless water cooler, not only do you get state-of-the-art water filtration and sanitization technologies, you also get comprehensive customer service, all for a low monthly fee!
Click this link to learn more about Quench rentals. Can’t wait to get started? Click on the green “Get a Quote” button and we will contact you. Or give us a call: 6109302334!