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Avalon A1 Top Loading vs Frigidaire Stainless Steel Water Cooler Dispenser Side-by-Side Comparison
Avalon A1 top-loading water cooler dispenser vs the Frigidaire EFWC519. Two great top-loaders for the office. Find out which is the best.
Avalon A1 Top Loading
Tested Using Methodology v1.0Frigidaire Stainless Steel
Tested Using Methodology v1.0
Overall Verdict
The Avalon A1 and Frigidaire EFWC519 are two very worthy competitors. Both are top-loaders and a good choice for an office water cooler dispenser.
The Avalon A1 has a more catchy contemporary design with its bright red and blue paddle levers contrasted against a white body. The Frigidaire, meanwhile, is a more old-school design with a stainless steel body.
Performance-wise, the Frigidaire has a slight edge over the Avalon A1. The hot water reaches a higher temperature—198 ℉ compared to 192 ℉. The lower temperature of the Avalon may be preferred in some office environments.
Understandably, the Avalon has faster heating or ready-to-dispenser times and puts out more hot water per hour (5.4 vs 5.0 L). The Frigidaire EFWC519 can serve a maximum of 20 people per hour while the Avalon is only 19. Under pressure, however, the Avalon rear heat exchanger gets quite hot while the Frigidaire runs relatively cool.
In terms of design differences, the Frigidaire has detachable tap spouts and levers while the Avalon does not. Neither have ozone or UV, and the water guard of the Avalon is difficult to remove making the Frigidaire all-round easier to clean.
The Frigidaire is our top recommendation for an office water cooler dispenser, especially for how it performs to a maximum capacity while staying relatively cool.
The Avalon A1 is a good runner-up, especially for a smaller office, for its more catchy design, and if you prefer hot water at a lower temperature.
Pros & Cons
- Cold water performance
- One-hand cold water dispensing
- Color design
- Hot water safety mechanism
- Cold water efficiency
- Stainless steel body
- Light weight
- Cool to run
- Easy to clean
- Stiff water guard
- Fixed nozzle design
- Cramped dispensing space
- Awkward hot water lever
- Old design
Key Specs
Where to Buy
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Analysis and Test Results
Performance
Hot Water Test
Cold Water Test
Design
In the Box
Build Quality
Dimensions
Panel & Indicators
Water Inlet Controls
Water Dispensers
Drip Tray
Rear Switches
Door and Cabinet
Cord and Plug
Usability
Dispensing Water
Hot Water Safety
Bottle / Filter Changing
Cleaning
Behind the Comparison
Roger Shitaki is a writer, author, and editor. His niches are household appliances, health & wellness, and travel. He’s a freelance contributor to a Tokyo lifestyle website and a leading ophthalmology magazine in Asia.
Lap is Head of the Research, Testing, and Review Team (RTR Team) at HealthyKitchen101.com, where he directs and supervises the testing of kitchen gadgets and appliances.
Nguyen Ntk is a graphic designer, photographer, and videographer whose philosophy centers around respecting and celebrating the beauty of reality. Through his lenses, Nguyen strives to capture the true essence of objects and events, showcasing and highlighting authentic features without distortion or exaggeration.
