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Avalon A5 Bottleless vs Frigidaire Stainless Steel Water Cooler Dispenser Side-by-Side Comparison

By , , and ·Updated

Avalon A5 Bottleless

$199.99 from Amazon(+2 more)

Frigidaire Stainless Steel

$110.99 from Amazon(+2 more)
Avalon A5 Bottleless vs Frigidaire Stainless Steel Water Cooler Dispenser

Overall Verdict

The choice between a bottleless water cooler dispenser like the Avalon A5 and a top-loader like the Frigidaire EFWC519 is often about price and convenience.

A top-loading water cooler dispenser is generally more affordable. A bottleless water cooler dispenser is limited in where you can place since it needs both a water and power outlet.

If performance is what you’re most interested in, the Avalon A5 has a slight edge over the Frigidaire. While the Avalon A5 has faster heating times, it takes 2 minutes longer to reheat between full draws due to its larger tank and back-to-back volume.

The Frigidaire can do 5 L of hot water per hour and the Avalon 5.3 L. The temperature is the same 198 ℉, but the flow rate of the Frigidaire is considerably slower. For cold water, both machines are neck-to-neck putting out 6 L per hour at 52‒54 ℉, but the Frigidaire runs much cooler under continuous pressure.

There are other key differences that may sway your choice. The Avalon A5 has ozone for sanitation, but the Frigidaire is easier to descale. You can easily stand a large cup or tumbler on the Avalon drip tray, but the Frigidaire is more for in-hand dispensing.

The Frigidaire is also a more light-weight machine. It is possible that young children could push over the machine or easily grab hold of the low down faucet dispensers.

Ranking by
Showing: 2/2 Items

Pros & Cons

  • Stainless steel panel
  • Easy filter installation
  • Cold water performance capacity
  • Hot water temperature
  • Flow rate
  • Ozone sanitation
  • Sanitary nozzle design
  • Cold water efficiency
  • Stainless steel body
  • Light weight
  • Cool to run
  • Easy to clean
  • Drip tray attached to door
  • Cold water tank cleaning
  • Cramped dispensing space
  • Awkward hot water lever
  • Old design

Key Specs

Dimensions WxDxH
13 x 12 x 41 inches (33 x 30.5 x 104 cm)
12.5 x 12.6 x 41.5 inches
Weight
35.0 lbs (15.9 kg)
28.7 lbs (13.0 kg)
Loading Type
Freestanding Bottleless
Top Loading
Dispensing Mechanisms
Buttons
Faucet levers
Cold Water Temperature
50‒54 ℉ (10‒12 ℃)
50‒54 ℉
Cold Water Capacity
200 fl.oz. (6 L) / hr
202 fl.oz. / Hr

Where to Buy

Price at publication
$249.99
$152.32
$199.99 at AmazonCheck Price on AvalonCheck Price on Walmart
$110.99 at AmazonCheck Price on HomedepotCheck 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
9.6
9.3

Hot Water Test

9.0
8.2
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
23.05 fl.oz. (680 ml)
14.5 fl.oz.
Heating Time
8.5 fl.oz. (250 ml) / 2 min 55 sec
8.5 fl.oz. / 3.22 min
Temperature
198 ℉ (92.2 ℃)
198 ℉
Flow Rate
1.1 fl.oz. (33 ml) / sec
0.98 fl.oz. or 33 ml /sec

Cold Water Test

10
10
A paper cup placed in the center on the drip tray of a water cooler dispenser.
Two small paper cups barely fitting completely on the drip tray of a water cooler dispenser with a faucet design.
Serving Capacity
200 fl.oz. (6 L) / hr
202 fl.oz./6L per hour
Temperature
50‒54℉ (10‒12°C)
50-54 ℉

Design

Overall Design Scoring
8.7
8.4

In the Box

A full view of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser, product box, and bundled items including the manual and leaflets.
An unboxed Frigidaire EFWC519 water cooler dispenser pictured next to the box, a detached drip tray, and bundled literature.

Build Quality

9.0
9.0
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 view of the stainless steel body of the Frigidaire EFWC519 water cooler dispenser.
Side view of the stainless steel body of the Frigidaire EFWC519 water cooler dispenser.
Close up view of the water dispensing faucets and control panel of the Frigidaire EFWC519 water cooler dispenser.
A plastic cover over top top of a rear metal grate of a water cooler dispenser.
Side Body
Black metal sheeting
stainless steel
Front Panel
Stainless steel
stainless steel and plastic
Cabinet Door
Silver plastic, white inside
None
Base
PVC plastic
plastic
Extra Features
Rear carry handle
None

Dimensions

Illustrated dimensions of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser showing the height, depth, and width across in inches.
Illustrated dimensions of the Frigidaire EFWC519 water cooler dispenser showing the height, depth, and width across in inches.
Depth
12.0" (30.5 cm)
12.6" (32.0 cm)
Width
13.0" (33.0 cm)
12.5" (31.8 cm)
Height
41.0" (104.1 cm)
41.5" (105.4 cm)
Weight
35.0 lbs (15.9 kg)
28.7 lbs (13.0 kg)

Panel & Indicators

9.0
8.5
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.
Close up view of the control panel of the Frigidaire EFWC519 water cooler dispenser showing Cooling, Heating, and Power indicators.
Power Status
Far left
bottom
Hot Water Test
Second left
middle
Cold Water Test
Second right
top
Bottle Or Filter
Far right
None
Others
Dual function indicators
None

Water Inlet Controls

8.0
8.0
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.
A finger pointing where to open the water guard of a top loading water cooler dispenser.
A finger pointing where to open the water guard of a top loading water cooler dispenser.
The water guard of a top loading water cooler dispenser being removed.
A top down view into the tank of a top loading water cooler dispenser showing the water baffle of the tank.
Mechanism
Filter heads, baffle
water guard and baffle
Materials
Plastic and metal
plastic
Extra Features
Water line inlet, filter drainage port
slender bottle needle

Water Dispensers

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.
Close up of hot and cold water cooler dispenser taps with faucet-type levers. The left tap is red and the right is blue.
Mechanism
3 buttons
Hot and Cold water lever taps
Outflow Points
3 panel nozzles
2 faucet nozzles
Material
Plastic
plastic
Extra Features
Hot water safety
Hot Water safety mechanism

Drip Tray

8.3
6.5
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.
Close up front view of a drip tray positioned in a water cooler dispenser.
Close up front view of a drip tray positioned in a water cooler dispenser.
The cover to the drip tray of a water cooler dispenser being removed.
A bottom up view of two paper cups resting on the narrow drip tray of a water cooler dispenser.
Material
Plastic
plastic
Color
Black
black
Length
10.5" (26.7 cm)
10.5" (26.7 cm)
Width
3.8" (9.7 cm)
2.5" (6.4 cm)
Depth
2.1" (5.3 cm)
1.6" (4.1 cm)
Level Float
Yes
No

Rear Switches

All the switches found on the rear of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser.
Close up of two color-coded buttons at the rear of a water cooler dispenser with clear labeling for operation.
Close up of two color-coded buttons at the rear of a water cooler dispenser with clear labeling for operation.
Close up of the rear of the Frigidaire EFWC519 water cooler showing a temperature adjustment button on the bottom right.
Hot Water Test
Far right
Yes
Cold Water Test
Middle
Yes
Others
Night Light and Ozone
None

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
Yes
No
Internal WxDxH
11.5 x 20 x 10 in
N/A
Material
Silver (or black) plastic
N/A
Extra Features
Hook for PE tubing
N/A

Cord & Plug

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.
A three pronged plug of a water cooler dispenser held in front of the machine's display panel.
A three pronged plug of a water cooler dispenser held in front of the machine's display panel.
Man holding an electric cord double-folded across the horizontal rear view of the Frigidaire EFWC519 water cooler dispenser.
Length
76.0" (193.0 cm)
70.0" (177.8 cm)
Position
Rear right, 21 in from ground
Rear right, 4 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
8.3
7.5

Dispensing Water

9.0
8.0
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.
Close up view of the two faucets on a water cooler dispenser, the left is red and the right is blue.
Mechanism
Push button
Hand operated lever
Water Type
Hot, Cold, Normal
Hot and cold water
Spout Type
Molded into panel
Tap type
Dispensing Height
9.0" (22.9 cm)
8.0" (20.3 cm)

Hot Water Safety

8.0
6.0
How to operate a hot water safety switch on a water cooler dispenser.
Close up of a hot water dispensing lever and safety mechanism on a water cooler dispenser.
Close up of a hot water dispensing lever and safety mechanism on a water cooler dispenser.
Close up on the hot water faucet removed from a water cooler dispenser.
Mechanism
Button-mounted lever
Double push back lever

Bottle / Filter Changing

8.0
7.0
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.
A demonstration on how to set up a bottle onto a top loading water cooler dispenser.
A demonstration on how to set up a bottle onto a top loading water cooler dispenser.
A water bottle set in place on a top loading water cooler dispenser.
Design
POU filters
Top loading
Feature
Attached filter bracket
Water guard and water needle

Cleaning

7.7
7.9
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.
Cleaning the stainless steel front of a water cooler dispenser.
Cleaning the stainless steel front of a water cooler dispenser.
Cleaning the inside of a water faucet of a water cooler dispenser with a cotton Q-tip.
Plug at the rear of a water cooler dispenser for draining water out the hot and cold water tanks.
The water guard of a top loading water cooler dispenser being removed showing the tank with a baffle below.
Top down view of the inside of a cold water tank of a top loading water cooler dispenser.
A close up view of two detached water faucets on a water cooler dispenser.
Self Cleaning
Ozone
No
Drainage Plug
21 in from ground
Rear rt, 21 in from ground