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Avalon A1 Top Loading vs Costway 5 Gallon Water Cooler Dispenser Side-by-Side Comparison

By , , and ·Updated

Avalon A1 Top Loading

$129.99 from Amazon(+1 more)

Costway 5 Gallon Water Cooler Dispenser

Check Price on Amazon
Avalon A1 Top Loading vs Costway 5 Gallon Water Cooler Dispenser

Overall Verdict

The Costway and the Avalon A1 are both freestanding and top-loading water cooler dispensers. The Costway, however, is comparatively light, made mostly of plastic, and at least a third smaller than the Avalon A1.

Essentially, the Costway is an inexpensive ‘personal’ water cooler dispenser. The materials and build quality are understandably much lower. A nice feature of the Costway is how the tap spouts and lever dispensers completely detach for easier cleaning. The Avalon A1 paddle levers do not detach from the machine. 

The Avalon A1 can feature as an office machine, but not the Costway. Another difference is hot water performance. The Costway is quite good for hot water reaching a top temperature of 199 ℉ and produces 5 L of piping hot water per hour. The Avalon A1 is only 192 ℉ and serves up 5.4 L per hour.

A major drawback of the Costway is its slow flow rate, which scored a zero on our rating scale. The drip tray is also rather cheaply designed and can easily fall out. The hot water safety mechanism is also cumbersome to use.

Ranking by
Showing: 2/2 Items

Pros & Cons

  • Cold water performance
  • One-hand cold water dispensing
  • Color design
  • Hot water safety mechanism
  • Hot water temperature
  • Detachable faucets
  • Light weight
  • Stiff water guard
  • Fixed nozzle design
  • Slow flow rate
  • Loose drip tray
  • Shoddy drainage plug
  • Poor build quality

Key Specs

Dimensions
W 10.8 x D 12.2 x H 43 inches
W11.3 x D11.3. x H33.5 inches
Weight
30.9 lbs (14.0 kg)
9.0 lbs (4.1 kg)
Loading Type
Top loading
Top Loading
Dispensing Mechanisms
Padel levers
Faucet levers
Cold Water Temperature
50-54 ℉
50‒54 ℉
Cold Water Capacity
193 fl.oz. (5.7 L) / Hr
91.3 fl.oz. / Hr

Where to Buy

Price at publication
$149.00
$112.68
$129.99 at AmazonCheck Price on Homedepot
Check Price on Amazon

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Analysis and Test Results

Performance

Overall Performance Scoring
8.9
5.9

Hot Water Test

8.1
7.2
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)
19 fl. oz.
Heating Time
8.5 fl.oz. (250 ml) / 2 min 20 sec
8.5 fl.oz. / 2 min 48 sec
Temperature
192 ℉ (88.8 ℃)
199 ℉
Flow Rate
1.08 fl.oz. (32 ml) / sec
0.5 fl.oz. or 15 ml /sec

Cold Water Test

9.5
5.0
A paper cup filled with water resting on a drip tray below the cold water outlet on a water cooler dispenser.
A gloved hand dispensing old water from the Costway 5-gallon water cooler dispenser
Serving Capacity
193 fl.oz. (5.7 L) / hr
91.3 fl.oz. / Hr
Temperature
50‒54 ℉ (10‒12℃)
50-54 ℉

Design

Overall Design Scoring
8.6
5.1

In the Box

Unboxed Avalon A1 water cooler dispenser showing the actual box, machine, detachable drip tray, and all bundled literature.
The Costway 5-gallon water cooler dispenser standing next to its box with the drip tray and included literature to one side

Build Quality

9.5
4.9
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.
A close up of the bottom of a small water cooler dispenser showing a plastic base and plastic stub feet.
A close up of the bottom of a small water cooler dispenser showing a plastic base and plastic stub feet.
A close up of a plastic stub foot on the bottom of a small freestanding water cooler dispenser.
The rear of a water cooler dispenser showing the quality of joining and workmanship.
Close up of the rear of a water cooler dispenser showing the quality of joining and workmanship.
Side Body
Hard plastic molding
White plastic
Front Panel
Thick white plastic
White plastic
Cabinet Door
No door
Yes
Base
Metal plate with 4 rubber leg stoppers
Plastic
Extra Features
None
Storage cabinet

Dimensions

Illustrated dimensions of the Avalon A1 water cooler dispenser showing the height, depth, and width across in inches.
Costway Water Cooler Dispenser Dimensions
Depth
12.2" (31.0 cm)
11.3" (28.7 cm)
Width
10.8" (27.4 cm)
11.3" (28.7 cm)
Height
43.0" (109.2 cm)
33.5" (85.1 cm)
Weight
30.9 lbs (14.0 kg)
19.8 lbs (9.0 kg)

Panel & Indicators

7.8
6.0
Close up of the control panel indicators on the Avalon A1 water cooler dispenser.
A close up of the control panel of costway 5-gallon water cooler dispenser.
A close up of the control panel of costway 5-gallon water cooler dispenser.
The faucets and control panel of the Costway freestanding water cooler dispenser pictured together.
Power Status
Far left
Middle
Hot Water Test
Middle
Top left
Cold Water Test
Far right
Top right
Bottle Or Filter
None
No
Others
None
None

Water Inlet Controls

8.3
6.0
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.
Close up of a water needle of a top-loading water cooler dispenser.
Close up of a water needle of a top-loading water cooler dispenser.
The baffle removed from a cold water tank of a water cooler dispenser.
Mechanism
Water guard with needle, baffle
Water guard, water baffle
Materials
Plastic
Plastic
Extra Features
None
None

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.
A close up to two lever type dispensing faucets on a water cooler dispenser.
Mechanism
2 press levers
2 faucets
Outflow Points
2 protruding nozzles
2 tap nozzles
Material
Plastic
Plastic
Extra Features
Hot Water safety button
Nozzles detachable

Drip Tray

7.5
2.0
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 top down view of a drip tray on a small water cooler dispenser.
A top down view of a drip tray on a small water cooler dispenser.
A gloved hand showing how the cover on a water cooler dispenser drip tray can be removed.
Costway 5 Gallon Water Bottle Dispenser Drip Tray 2
A gloved hand removing a drip tray from a water cooler dispenser.
Material
Plastic
Plastic
Color
Gray and silver
White
Length
9.2" (23.4 cm)
8.2" (20.8 cm)
Width
3.5" (8.9 cm)
2.6" (6.6 cm)
Depth
1.4" (3.6 cm)
1.3" (3.3 cm)
Level Float
No
No

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.
Two color coded tank switches seen on the rear of a water cooler dispenser. The left one is green and the right is red.
Hot Water Test
Yes
Yes
Cold Water Test
Yes
Yes
Others
None
None

Door and Cabinet

A gloved hand opening a small storage cabinet door of a top-loading water cooler dispenser.
A gloved hand opening a small storage cabinet door of a top-loading water cooler dispenser.
A small storage cabinet on a water cooler dispenser with two paper cups and plastic jar demonstrating the size.
The storage cabinet of a small top loading water cooler dispenser with the door open.
Has Door
No
Yes
Internal WxDxH
N/A
5.6 x 5.4 x 6 in
Material
N/A
Plastic
Extra Features
N/A
Magnetic lock

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.
A man holding the electric cord of the Costway 5-gallon water cooler dispenser doubled over the horizontal length of the machine.
A man holding the electric cord of the Costway 5-gallon water cooler dispenser doubled over the horizontal length of the machine.
A gloved hand showing the plug of the Costway freestanding water cooler dispenser with the panel faded into the background.
Length
6.5 ft (2.0 m)
6.2 ft (1.9 m)
Position
rt side, 32 in. (81 cm) from ground
Rear rt., 2.7 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
6.0

Dispensing Water

8.5
5.0
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 gloved hand dispensing cold water from the faucet of a water cooler dispenser.
A gloved hand dispensing cold water from the faucet of a water cooler dispenser.
A paper cup resting on a small drip tray of a water cooler dispenser.
A water bottle loaded onto the Costway 5-gallon water cooler dispenser.
Mechanism
Push levers
Tap lever
Water Type
Hot and Cold
Hot and cold water
Spout Type
Protruding
Tap type
Dispensing Height
7 in. (17 cm)
5.7 in

Hot Water Safety

9.0
5.5
A close up of a hot water faucet with a safety clip on a water cooler dispenser.
A close up of a hot water faucet with a safety clip on a water cooler dispenser.
A gloved hand lifting up the lever of a hot water faucet to demonstrate that water doesn’t flow.
Mechanism
Push button
Clip faucet

Bottle / Filter Changing

6.0
7.5
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 bottle being loaded onto a top-loading water cooler dispenser.
A bottle being loaded onto a top-loading water cooler dispenser.
The water needle and water guard of a top-loading water cooler dispenser seen from above.
Close-up of a water needle of a top-loading water cooler dispenser.
Design
Top loading
Top-loading
Feature
Water needle
Water needle, water baffle

Cleaning

6.4
6.8
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.
Drainage plug cover on the rear of a budget water cooler dispenser.
Drainage plug cover on the rear of a budget water cooler dispenser.
A plastic screw cap removed from a rear drainage port on a water cooler dispenser
A cold water faucet which has been unscrewed from its connection to a water cooler dispenser.
The disassembled hot water faucet of a water cooler dispenser resting on the drip tray below.
The empty cold water tank of a water cooler dispenser needing to be cleaned.
Self Cleaning
No
No
Drainage Plug
18 in. (46 cm) from ground
Rear rt., 13.3 in from ground