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Quooker, InSinkErator, Grohe and other boiling water taps compared
Discover the pros and cons of instant hot water taps, and how popular brands Franke, Grohe, InSinkErator, Qettle, Quooker and Reginox compare on price and maintenance costs
As a sleeker, quicker and quieter alternative to a kettle, a boiling water tap can fill a pan of pasta or a mug of tea at the touch of a button.
But with prices starting from several hundred pounds and pushing over the £2,000 mark, it’s worth considering whether the convenience of your dream instant hot water tap is matched by its price.
Our guide takes a look at how economical these trendy kitchen taps really are, as well as the different options from the main brands, Franke, Grohe, InSinkErator, Qettle, Quooker and Reginox, to help you decide if one is right for you.
If you're upgrading your kitchen this year, don't miss our kitchen design ideas.
Boiling water tap pros and cons
The main advantage of a boiling water tap is that it’s quicker and easier than boiling a kettle. However, they're pricey and require maintenance, so it's best to weigh up the pros and cons carefully before you decide to invest:
Pros
Quicker than a kettle Even the fastest kettles take nearly two and a half minutes to boil water, which can't compete with the touch-of-a-button service you get from a boiling water tap.
Can help save water Filling your mug or pan directly from the tap means you'll only ever use the exact amount you need.
Saves space If counter space is at a premium in your kitchen, a hot water tap provides a streamlined aesthetic.
Arguably safer than a kettle With childproof handles and insulated sides, a hot water tap could be a better choice for a household with children.
Some people find them easier to use People who struggle to fill, lift and pour a kettle may get on better with one.
Most have integrated water filters A water filter will remove harsh-tasting chemicals and soften and aerate the water.
Cons
Can be expensive Even the cheapest boiling water taps will set you back hundreds of pounds, and you're looking at more than £2,000 for the priciest models.
Need professional installation Our research shows that installation can be a pain. It may not be covered in the cost and you might need to do it yourself or call in a plumber.
Need ongoing maintenance You'll need to clean the tap and tank regularly and buy replacement filters, which can add significantly to the ongoing cost. Also, limescale can be particularly problematic in hard water areas.
Not ready to give up your kettle yet? See our pick of the best kettles, as chosen by our experts.
How much should I spend on a boiling water tap?
There's no getting around it – a hot water tap is a pricey purchase.
However, prices vary depending on several factors, including the size of the tank, the tap's finish and the additional accessories.
Up to £500 Expect a basic stainless-steel finish, a small-capacity tank (2 to 3 litres) and a tap that might only provide boiling water.
£500 to £1,000 Mid-range taps can vary hugely. Some offer regular hot and filtered cold water as well as boiling water and have larger tanks (up to 7 litres).
£1,000 to £1,500-plus A top-of-the-range tap is likely to come with a special finish, such as copper or chrome, and added extras such as a sparkling water option.
Whatever the purchase price, you'll also need to factor in the ongoing cost of filters, which vary significantly by brand.
Hot water tap costs compared
We've pulled together the costs and specs for the main hot water tap brands to help you compare them.
See how they stack up in our summary table below, or head to the bottom of this page to see the brands in-depth, including installation, maintenance and warranty information.
Prices correct as of February 2024. Prices may change.
As another alternative to kettles, why not consider one of the best hot water dispensers for your kitchen?
Are hot water taps expensive to run?
Although they're constantly on standby to keep water hot for your tea or pan of pasta, instant hot water taps are surprisingly cheap to run – especially compared with kettles, which use short but intense bursts of energy to boil.
However, their high price (plus the ongoing costs of filters) mean that it could take more than 25 years for you to recoup your investment. There are many benefits of buying a boiling water tap, but saving money unfortunately isn’t one of them. If saving money is a priority, choose an energy-saving kettle instead.
An energy-saving kettle will have a low minimum fill (usually as little as one cupful) which means you only have to boil the amount you need, and it will switch off as soon as it's boiled, saving electricity.
Upfront cost
Energy cost
Annual running cost
Total cost
Cheapest Quooker tap (Nordic Round)
£1,050
3p per day on standby
£10.95 (based on cost of being on standby)
£1,060.95 (upfront, plus annual cost)
Cheapest Best Buy kettle
£18
4.1p to boil one litre
£45.58 (boiling one litre three times per day)
£63.58 (upfront, plus annual cost)
Prices last checked February 2024. Prices may change. Based on upfront costs and annual running costs for one year, not including cost of replacement filters and tap maintenance.
Think carefully about the features you do and don't need. Added extras can push up the price, and it’s annoying to pay a premium for features you later find out you hardly ever use.
Capacity
Boiling water taps come with different-sized tanks. The smallest hold around 2 litres, while the largest hold as much as 11 litres. A larger tank gives you the convenience of having lots of boiling water ready in one go, although you'll need to find the space for it in the cupboard underneath.
Child-safe features
Scalding-hot water in an instant could be dangerous, especially if you have children who are used to getting cold water when they use the tap.
Choose a tap with safety buttons that make it difficult to turn it on by accident. Some also have childproof handles and insulated sides that won't get hot, even when the water is flowing.
Flexible hose
Some models from Quooker have a pull-out flexible hose. This could be useful for reaching beyond the sink to fill up large saucepans.
Tap combinations
If you want to replace your taps rather than adding to them, choosing a multi-function tap can free up space around your sink.
Two-in-one taps Dispense boiling and cold water
Three-in-one taps Dispense boiling water, cold water and standard mains hot water
Four-in-one taps Dispense boiling water, filtered cold water and standard mains hot and cold water
Some top-of-the-range taps also dispense fizzy water.
Tap finish
Stainless steel is likely to be the more cost-effective option, although you can choose different colours to fit in with your kitchen decor, including chrome, brass or gold metallic finishes.
Temperature
Most 'boiling water taps' are more likely to come out around 98 to 99°C, so brands that do reach 100°C, such as Quooker, make it a key selling point.
This might appeal to you, but if you're mainly using your tap for cooking and making drinks, you're unlikely to notice the difference.
You'll find a wealth of information regarding hot water taps from some of the most popular brands in the tabs below, including where to buy them.
Simply click to expand them and find out more.
How much do Quooker taps cost?
Quooker’s taps are on the premium end of the price spectrum. The cheapest option costs £1,050 (for either the Nordic Square or Nordic Round taps), and the most expensive will set you back £2,420. For this price, you get either the Fusion Square or Fusion Round tap, with a gold finish and a combi tank.
The final cost depends on the style of tap you choose, the size of the tank and the metal finish.
Tap options and tank sizes
Quooker sells a range of taps. There are mainly stylistic differences between the different models, with all offering cold, hot and boiling water. The Flex range also offers an extendable pull-out hose, useful for washing up.
There are two main sizes of tank: the Pro3, with a 3-litre capacity (Quooker claims this should be sufficient for most households), or the Pro7 with a 7-litre capacity (the best choice for larger families). The Combi tank contains either 7 or 15 litres, is fed from a cold feed and is the most energy efficient option due to the vacuum insulation. It’s worth buying a Combi tank if you want sparkling water, as you can use it in tandem with a Quooker Cube for instant carbonation.
Filter options
If you have a Quooker Cube for sparkling water, it comes with a dedicated active carbon and hollow fibre filter (costing £70). You can also buy an activated carbon cold water filter (for £50) designed to make your water taste and smell better. Both of these need replacing when the unit starts beeping, which will be around every 12 months.
Those living in a hard water area might want to also buy scale control filters (costing £90 each). These are replaced depending on how much you use your tap - an alarm will sound to remind you when it’s time for a new one.
Installation
You can opt to install the tap yourself, or pay for a visit from a Quooker-approved engineer.
Installation by a Quooker-approved engineers costs £99 per system.
Even if you buy a Quooker tap from a retailer, it'll still be the brand installing the tap
Maintenance
Your Quooker tap shouldn’t need any preventative maintenance, though if your water at home is hard you’ll need to use the scale control filters. If limescale appears on the tap, or the water is flowing slowly or unevenly, you can remove the nozzle and soak the aerator in cleaning vinegar for up to one hour.
Quooker does not offer any descaling products, only replacement cartridges for its branded filters.
If you notice that your boiling water’s flow rate has reduced, or you just want to keep your system in perfect working order, you can book a £200 service from Quooker where your tank will be cleaned of limescale.
Warranty
All Quooker taps come with a two year warranty.
The warranty covers all manufacturing and material defects for up to two years after installation.
If you were to turn on the tap or tank while your water supply is shut off, you may invalidate the warranty.
How much do InSinkErator taps cost
There’s a huge variety in how much an InSinkErator tap will cost. You could spend a comparatively cheap £270 for the Novara tap, or go right up to £1,500 if you buy the 4in1 Touch.
Tap options and tank sizes
Tap choices depend on how many water types you want your tap to deliver. 3-in-1 taps (including the Roma and Turino ranges) offer steaming, hot and cold water, whereas the 4-in-1 touch taps also add filtered drinking water into the mix.
There are two tanks available, though both have a 2.5 litre capacity. The premium NeoTank (£229) heats water to 99°C, and the Standard edition (£189) heats to 98°C.
Filter options
The carbon filters are designed for either soft or hard water. These cost £60 or £78 respectively for a twin pack, (though you can buy hard water cartridges for £62 on subscription). They’ll need to be replaced every six months.
Installation
It's possible to self-install, or have it done for you.
Installation by the brand costs £180 on top of the price of your tap.
If you buy the tap from a retailer and purchase installation, it will still be the brand installing.
Maintenance
The only maintenance needed is to change the filter every 6-8 months.
The taps can't be descaled but you can replace the soft or hard water filters.
Your InSinkErator shouldn't need regular servicing beyond keeping up with filter changes.
Warranty
InSinkErator offers a limited parts and labour warranty. Its ‘We Come to You’ service promises that someone will come out to your home to fix the tap throughout its warranty period.
Not using genuine InSinkErator filters could invalidate your warranty.
Warranties for all taps last for five years after installation.
How much do Grohe taps cost?
Grohe is a premium brand for hot water taps. Its Red range costs at £1,155 for a chrome plated tap, or £1,300 for a stainless steel finish.
Tap options and tank sizes
Tap options are limited, as the only tap on offer is the Grohe Red. You can choose the finish though, and the stylistic choice of either an ‘L’, ‘U’ or ‘C’ shaped spout.
Grohe offers two tank sizes - the smaller M-size boiler with a 3 litre capacity, and the larger L-size that can fit 5.5 litres.
Filter options
The Grohe Blue S-size filter with multi-layer filtration and activated carbon is compatible with a Grohe Red tap. Spares cost £60 - you’ll need to buy one every six months.
Installation
Although there are instructions for self-installation on Grohe’s website, it’s ‘highly recommended’ that the taps are installed by a professional. You can choose one of Grohe’s ‘approved experts’ to install it for you.
Installation costs £250 for one tap, or £350 if you’re installing two taps in one location.
Maintenance
Other than changing the filters every six months, you should keep the tap clean with a moist cloth and a little bit of non-abrasive soap.
You can buy GrohClean, an ‘environment-friendly cleaning liquid’, for around £15. This should help to remove any limescale deposits that build up on your tap.
There are no servicing options available from the brand.
Warranty
Grohe offers a guarantee against manufacturing, material, design and functional defects.
Installing the tap incorrectly, replacing any parts with non-Grohe spares and using abrasive cleaning agents.
The warranty lasts two years, with an extra year added if you register your tap on Grohe’s website.
How much do Franke taps cost?
Franke is one of the more expensive brands you can choose. Prices vary according to the tap style and finish, and range from £1,050 for the Instante 4-in-1 in chrome, to £1,878 for the Minerva Helix Elect in copper or gold.
Tap options and tank sizes
There are several different models you can choose, with most either being 3-in-1 taps (with boiling, hot and cold water), or 4-in-1s, with the addition of filtered drinking water.
There are two tanks on offer, with either a 4 or 5 litre capacity.
Filter options
Franke’s filters use a multi-stage system of filtration, including activated carbon and a scale inhibitor, in one filter cartridge. There’s a choice of High Flow or High Performance filters - the latter has a thicker mesh to catch more germs and impurities.
A light comes on when your filter needs replacing (Franke says this should happen around every six months). A new cartridge will set you back £27.
Installation
Franke doesn’t provide an installation service. You will need to either install the tap yourself or arrange for a plumber to help you get set up.
Maintenance
You should keep your tap clean with hot soapy water, or a soft cloth and mild detergent. Never use scourers or abrasive materials.
Franke’s tap cleaning spray (£9) and microfiber cloth (£6) should help to remove limescale deposits from the tap, both to prolong its life and keep it looking its shiny best.
No servicing options are available from the brand.
Warranty
Franke’s warranty is a guarantee against manufacturing defects.
To keep your warranty, make sure you have the tap installed in accordance with the instructions, clean the tap without corrosive agents and change the filters every six months as directed.
The warranty length depends on which model you buy.
Minerva 3-in-1 and Minerva 4-in-1 taps: 2 years for the tap, tank and filter housing.
Instante 3-in-1 and Instante 4-in-1 taps: 3 years for the tank and filter housing, 1 year for the tap finish.
Omni 4-in-1 tap: 3 years for the tap, tank and filter housing.
Where to buy a Franke tap
You can buy Franke boiling water taps from these retailers:
Prices start at £470 for the Qettle Mini and go up to £1,125 for the Qettle Signature in copper, matte black, gunmetal or brass with the largest tank option.
There’s the option to pay in monthly instalments to spread the cost of a Qettle tap.
Tap options and tank sizes
Most of Qettle’s taps (the Original, Signature Modern and Signature Classic) are 4-in-1, offering hot, cold, boiling and filtered drinking water. Alternatively, the Mini Original and Mini Signature are 2-in-1, with just boiling and filtered water.
For tank sizes, there are three choices: 2 litres (4 cups), 4 litres (8 cups) or 7 litres (14 cups).
Filter options
Qettle sells a carbon block filter designed to remove chlorine, chemicals and sediment, as well as prevent limescale from forming. It costs £40 and the cartridge needs replacing twice per year - Qettle claims this is an ‘easy, 10 minute job you can do yourself’.
Installation
You can either choose to self-install (using the step-by-step installation video on Qettle’s website to help), call a plumber yourself or use a Qettle accredited installer.
Installation by a Qettle accredited installer costs £260, if you opt for the installation service when purchasing your tap.
Maintenance
You should deep clean your boiler tank each year - it’s a relatively quick and easy job that can be done yourself, made easier with Kilrock cleaning fluid. A light flashes on the tank when it’s time for cleaning.
Other jobs include the occasional tap clean with warm soapy water or washing up liquid, and a wipe down with baby oil if your tap has a stainless steel or coloured finish. You can also use a brush to clean the mesh insert inside the tap if the flow is disrupted.
Qettle also recommends that you switch off the tap when you go on holiday.
Descaling is possible. You can buy Kilrock cleaning fluid from Qettle’s website for £7.50, as well as replacement filter cartridges.
No servicing options are available from the brand as it'seasy to maintain the tap and tank yourself.
Warranty
Qettle warranties cover the materials and manufacturer of your tap. You are entitled to a repair or replacement if something goes wrong in your warranty period.
Faulty installation, misuse, failing to maintain the water filter and using anything other than Qettle replacement parts will invalidate the warranty.
How long your warranty lasts depends on your product:
Qettle Original range with a chrome finish: one year for the tap finish, two years for working parts.
Qettle Signature range with a stainless steel finish: lifetime on the tap finish, two years for working parts.
Qettle Signature range with a coloured finish: two years for the tap finish and working parts.
How much do Reginox taps cost?
Reginox’s taps range from £330 for the Amanzi 3-in-1 tap in brushed nickel to £700 for the Aquadzi 4-in-1 tap in chrome.
Tap options and tank sizes
You can buy taps according to the finish you want, style of neck, and whether they offer 3-in-1 (boiling, hot and cold water) like the Amanzi, Tribezi and Vechi ranges, or 4-in-1 (with additional filtered water) with the Aquadzi range.
The taps come with a 2.4 litre tank as standard.
Filter options
All Reginox boiling water taps take a carbon anti-scale media filter. These need to be changed every four to six months, depending on how hard the water is in your local area. Replacements can be bought online for £45.
Installation
Reginox does not offer its own installation service. Instructions are provided to self-install, or you can call a plumber to set it up for you.
Maintenance
Besides changing the filters as directed, its ‘easy clean’ design should mean that all it needs is a wipe down with a cloth (and non-abrasive fluid) to keep it looking pristine.
Reginox does not offer servicing of its products - check if your retailer has any ongoing maintenance offers.
Warranty
The warranty can be claimed against manufacturing faults, and does not include serviceable parts or filter cartridges (these are guaranteed for one year, though you should change them over long before the year is up).
Not changing the filters at least every six months would invalidate your warranty, so make sure you do this frequently - especially if you live in a hard water area.
The warranty will last between three and five years, depending where you buy your tap.
Qettle Many kitchen fitters offer to help you pick and install a Qettle tap, but you'll need to book an appointment. You can pick up taps direct from Qettle or from Amazon. Appliance City.or B&Q.
