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Avalon A1 Top Loading vs Avalon A5 Bottleless Water Cooler Dispenser Side-by-Side Comparison

By , , and ·Updated

Avalon A1 Top Loading

$129.99 from Amazon(+1 more)

Avalon A5 Bottleless

$199.99 from Amazon(+2 more)
Avalon A1 Top Loading vs Avalon A5 Bottleless Water Cooler Dispenser

Overall Verdict

Apart from the obvious design differences, the Avalon A1 doesn’t quite match up to the performance level of the Avalon A5. The Avalon A1 may have faster reheating times for hot water, but its maximum temperature is 192 ℉ while the A5 is 198 ℉. Despite this, the hot water capacity per hour is almost the same.

For cold water, the Avalon A5 is a top performer. It can easily provide water for up to 20 people per hour (6 L), while the Avalon A1 serves only 19 people. When pushed to perform, the Avalon A1 also tends to get quite hot at the back while the A5 runs a lot cooler. With its button design, the Avalon A5 also has a slightly faster flow rate.

The Avalon A5 has ozone injection for keeping the water lines clean. The Avalon A1 has no special sanitary features and the nozzles don’t detach for cleaning. For the Avalon A1, you have to rely on periodic descaling to clean the water lines. This is easier to do with a top-loader than a bottleless or bottom-loading water cooler dispenser.

Overall, the Avalon A1 is a great machine for an office, especially considering its catchy color design. The Avalon A5 of course needs to be installed near a water main, so it’s generally a better choice for a kitchen in a family home.

Ranking by
Showing: 2/2 Items

Pros & Cons

  • Cold water performance
  • One-hand cold water dispensing
  • Color design
  • Hot water safety mechanism
  • Stainless steel panel
  • Easy filter installation
  • Cold water performance capacity
  • Hot water temperature
  • Flow rate
  • Ozone sanitation
  • Sanitary nozzle design
  • Stiff water guard
  • Fixed nozzle design
  • Drip tray attached to door
  • Cold water tank cleaning

Key Specs

Dimensions
W 10.8 x D 12.2 x H 43 inches
13 x 12 x 41 inches (33 x 30.5 x 104 cm)
Weight
30.9 lbs (14.0 kg)
35.0 lbs (15.9 kg)
Loading Type
Top loading
Freestanding Bottleless
Dispensing Mechanisms
Padel levers
Buttons
Cold Water Temperature
50-54 ℉
50‒54 ℉ (10‒12 ℃)
Cold Water Capacity
193 fl.oz. (5.7 L) / Hr
200 fl.oz. (6 L) / hr

Where to Buy

Price at publication
$149.00
$249.99
$129.99 at AmazonCheck Price on Homedepot
$199.99 at AmazonCheck Price on AvalonCheck Price on Walmart

*You help support Shouldit's product testing and reviews by purchasing from our retail partners.

Analysis and Test Results

Performance

Overall Performance Scoring
8.9
9.6

Hot Water Test

8.1
9.0
Water temperature being measured as hot water flows out the nozzle of a water cooler dispenser.
Water temperature being measured as hot water flows out the nozzle of a water cooler dispenser.
Single Draw Capacity
15.11 fl.oz. (447 ml)
23.05 fl.oz. (680 ml)
Heating Time
8.5 fl.oz. (250 ml) / 2 min 20 sec
8.5 fl.oz. (250 ml) / 2 min 55 sec
Temperature
192 ℉ (88.8 ℃)
198 ℉ (92.2 ℃)
Flow Rate
1.08 fl.oz. (32 ml) / sec
1.1 fl.oz. (33 ml) / sec

Cold Water Test

9.5
10
A paper cup filled with water resting on a drip tray below the cold water outlet on a water cooler dispenser.
A paper cup placed in the center on the drip tray of a water cooler dispenser.
Serving Capacity
193 fl.oz. (5.7 L) / hr
200 fl.oz. (6 L) / hr
Temperature
50‒54 ℉ (10‒12℃)
50‒54℉ (10‒12°C)

Design

Overall Design Scoring
8.6
8.7

In the Box

Unboxed Avalon A1 water cooler dispenser showing the actual box, machine, detachable drip tray, and all bundled literature.
A full view of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser, product box, and bundled items including the manual and leaflets.

Build Quality

9.5
9.0
Close up of a detachable leg stopper on the base of the Avalon A1 water cooler dispenser clearly showing the screw.
Close up of a detachable leg stopper on the base of the Avalon A1 water cooler dispenser clearly showing the screw.
View of the underside of the Avalon A1 water cooler dispenser showing a metal base plate.
A full length angular view of the Avalon A1 water cooler dispenser showing the white side panel, and black rear metal grate.
Close up of the Avalon A1 water cooler side panel and rear plate with two ventilation holes visible on the bottom left.
Close up of the cabinet and drip tray of a bottom loading water cooler dispenser.
Close up of the cabinet and drip tray of a bottom loading water cooler dispenser.
Side and front view of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser.
Close up of the cabinet interior of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser with a filtration system and unassembled parts.
Close up of the bottom of a water cooler dispenser with a plastic non-slip stopper.
Side Body
Hard plastic molding
Black metal sheeting
Front Panel
Thick white plastic
Stainless steel
Cabinet Door
No door
Silver plastic, white inside
Base
Metal plate with 4 rubber leg stoppers
PVC plastic
Extra Features
None
Rear carry handle

Dimensions

Illustrated dimensions of the Avalon A1 water cooler dispenser showing the height, depth, and width across in inches.
Illustrated dimensions of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser showing the height, depth, and width across in inches.
Depth
12.2" (31.0 cm)
12.0" (30.5 cm)
Width
10.8" (27.4 cm)
13.0" (33.0 cm)
Height
43.0" (109.2 cm)
41.0" (104.1 cm)
Weight
30.9 lbs (14.0 kg)
35.0 lbs (15.9 kg)

Panel & Indicators

7.8
9.0
Close up of the control panel indicators on the Avalon A1 water cooler dispenser.
Stainless steel panel with working indicators shown on a water cooler dispenser.
Stainless steel panel with working indicators shown on a water cooler dispenser.
Side view of the display panel and dispensing booth of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser.
Power Status
Far left
Far left
Hot Water Test
Middle
Second left
Cold Water Test
Far right
Second right
Bottle Or Filter
None
Far right
Others
None
Dual function indicators

Water Inlet Controls

8.3
8.0
The water baffle removed from its tank and resting on the partly detached water guard on a water cooler dispenser.
The water baffle removed from its tank and resting on the partly detached water guard on a water cooler dispenser.
A hand holding a water guard that has been removed from a top loading water cooler dispenser.
A top view of a water cooler dispensing showing the water guard and the water needle inside.
Filter head brackets on a POU water cooler dispenser already installed on a bracket.
Filter head brackets on a POU water cooler dispenser already installed on a bracket.
Close-up of the water line input valve for a POU water cooler dispenser.
The water baffle of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser displayed above the cold water tank.
Mechanism
Water guard with needle, baffle
Filter heads, baffle
Materials
Plastic
Plastic and metal
Extra Features
None
Water line inlet, filter drainage port

Water Dispensers

Close up of two dispensing levers on a water cooler dispenser. The left red lever dispensers hot water, and the blue one cold.
Close up of two dispensing levers on a water cooler dispenser. The left red lever dispensers hot water, and the blue one cold.
Underview of two nozzles on a water cooler dispenser.
Close up view of the underneath of a hot water nozzle on a water cooler dispenser.
Close up of three dispensing buttons found on a water cooler dispenser.
Close up of three dispensing buttons found on a water cooler dispenser.
Finger indicating a hot water safety mechanism and a hot water dispensing button on a water cooler dispenser.
Three water spout nozzles found on a water cooler dispenser.
Mechanism
2 press levers
3 buttons
Outflow Points
2 protruding nozzles
3 panel nozzles
Material
Plastic
Plastic
Extra Features
Hot Water safety button
Hot water safety

Drip Tray

7.5
8.3
A drip tray seen below a partial view of two dispensing levers on a water cooler dispenser.
A drip tray seen below a partial view of two dispensing levers on a water cooler dispenser.
Close up of a hand holding a detached drip tray removed from its hold on a water cooler dispenser.
A black colored drip tray with a red bobble float found on a water cooler dispenser.
A black colored drip tray with a red bobble float found on a water cooler dispenser.
A water cooler dispenser drip tray removed from its bracket.
Material
Plastic
Plastic
Color
Gray and silver
Black
Length
9.2" (23.4 cm)
10.5" (26.7 cm)
Width
3.5" (8.9 cm)
3.8" (9.7 cm)
Depth
1.4" (3.6 cm)
2.1" (5.3 cm)
Level Float
No
Yes

Rear Switches

A rear view of a water cooler dispenser showing two switches, one red the other green, in the ‘off’ position.
A rear view of a water cooler dispenser showing two switches, one red the other green, in the ‘off’ position.
A close-up water cooler dispenser switches in the ‘off’ position. The red switch on the right is for the hot water tank, and the green on the left for the cold water tank.
All the switches found on the rear of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser.
Hot Water Test
Yes
Far right
Cold Water Test
Yes
Middle
Others
None
Night Light and Ozone

Door and Cabinet

Close up of a cabinet door locking mechanism on a water cooler dispenser.
Close up of a cabinet door locking mechanism on a water cooler dispenser.
Opening the cabinet of a water cooler dispenser from below and not from the side.
Inside the cabinet of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser.
Has Door
No
Yes
Internal WxDxH
N/A
11.5 x 20 x 10 in
Material
N/A
Silver (or black) plastic
Extra Features
N/A
Hook for PE tubing

Cord and Plug

Close up of a three-pronged plug for a water cooler dispenser against a faded background of the front control panel.
Close up of a three-pronged plug for a water cooler dispenser against a faded background of the front control panel.
Man holding a white electric cord of a water cooler dispenser doubled across the length of the horizontally resting machine.
Close up of the three-pronged plug found on the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser.
Close up of the three-pronged plug found on the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser.
Man holding the electric cord across the body of a water cooler dispenser mounted sideways on a table.
Length
6.5 ft (2.0 m)
76.0" (193.0 cm)
Position
rt side, 32 in. (81 cm) from ground
Rear right, 21 in from ground
Plug Type
Type B - two flat pins, one grounding pin
Type B — two flat pins, one grounding pin

Usability

Overall Usability Scoring
7.6
8.3

Dispensing Water

8.5
9.0
A close up of two dispensing levers on a water cooler dispenser. The left red lever dispenses hot water and the blue cold.
A close up of two dispensing levers on a water cooler dispenser. The left red lever dispenses hot water and the blue cold.
Cold water being dispensed from a water cooler dispenser with a one-hand lever operation.
A top view of a water cooler dispenser showing three dispensing buttons.
A top view of a water cooler dispenser showing three dispensing buttons.
A close-up view of three water nozzles on a water cooler dispenser molded into the panel roof.
Three paper cups lined up on the drip tray of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser.
Mechanism
Push levers
Push button
Water Type
Hot and Cold
Hot, Cold, Normal
Spout Type
Protruding
Molded into panel
Dispensing Height
7 in. (17 cm)
9.0" (22.9 cm)

Hot Water Safety

9.0
8.0
How to operate a hot water safety switch on a water cooler dispenser.
Mechanism
Push button
Button-mounted lever

Bottle / Filter Changing

6.0
8.0
The water needle inside the water guard of a top loading water cooler dispenser.
The water needle inside the water guard of a top loading water cooler dispenser.
A water bottle being mounted onto the water needle of a top loading water cooler dispenser.
Bottle of water resting in place on a top loading water cooler dispenser.
A demonstration on how to insert a water filter into the bracket of a water cooler dispenser.
A demonstration on how to insert a water filter into the bracket of a water cooler dispenser.
A demonstration of where to insert the water line into a bottleless water cooler dispenser using POU filters.
A hand pressing a filter reset button on a water cooler dispenser.
Design
Top loading
POU filters
Feature
Water needle
Attached filter bracket

Cleaning

6.4
7.7
A top view of the Avalon A1 water cooler dispensing showing the water guard and the grip at the rear to remove it.
A top view of the Avalon A1 water cooler dispensing showing the water guard and the grip at the rear to remove it.
A water baffle inside the cold water tank of a top loading water cooler dispenser.
A view of the inside of the cold water tank on a top loading water cooler dispenser with the water baffle removed.
A close up showing how to clean inside the water nozzle of a water cooler dispenser using a cotton Q-tip.
Close up of a red colored drainage plug with a protective screw cap at the rear of a water cooler dispenser.
Using a flat screwdriver to open the cold water tank of a water cooler dispenser.
Using a flat screwdriver to open the cold water tank of a water cooler dispenser.
The inside of a cold water tank of a water cooler dispenser showing the connecting tube to the water baffle.
A close up image of a water cooler dispenser’s water nozzle revealing the ease of cleaning and sanitation.
A close up image of a safety screw cap covering the drainage outlet for a water cooler dispenser.
Self Cleaning
No
Ozone
Drainage Plug
18 in. (46 cm) from ground
21 in from ground