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Avalon A5 Bottleless vs Costway 5 Gallon Water Cooler Dispenser Side-by-Side Comparison

Avalon A5 bottleless water cooler dispenser vs Costway 5-gallon. A top quality machine and a smaller budget-priced dispenser.

By , , and ·Updated

Avalon A5 Bottleless

Costway 5 Gallon Water Cooler Dispenser

Avalon A5 Bottleless vs Costway 5 Gallon Water Cooler Dispenser

Overall Verdict

Ranking by
OverallScore Performance50% Design25% Ease of Use25% ScoreOverall 50%Performance 25%Design 25%Ease of Use Avalon A5 BottlelessCostway 5 Gallon Wa...9.19.68.78.35.75.95.16.0
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The Avalon A5 and the Costway 5-gallon are two different classes of machine. The Avalon A5 is a high-performance bottleless water cooler dispenser with a filter. The Costway is a budget priced machine at least a third small compared to other freestanding water coolers.

These differences, especially in price, point to obvious performance and quality differences. The Avalon A5 is larger, heavier, and has a stainless steel control panel and sheet metal sides. The Costway is very light, easy to carry, and completely made of plastic.

The Avalon A5 can service a busy household or even an office, but the Costway 5-gallon is more of a budget or personal water cooler dispenser.

The Costway also has some key flaws like the drip tray that easily falls out, a slow flow rate, and poor quality with the drainage plug and water baffle.

Pros & Cons

  • Stainless steel panel
  • Easy filter installation
  • Cold water performance capacity
  • Hot water temperature
  • Flow rate
  • Ozone sanitation
  • Sanitary nozzle design
  • Hot water temperature
  • Detachable faucets
  • Light weight
  • Drip tray attached to door
  • Cold water tank cleaning
  • Slow flow rate
  • Loose drip tray
  • Shoddy drainage plug
  • Poor build quality

Key Specs

Dimensions WxDxH
13 x 12 x 41 inches (33 x 30.5 x 104 cm)
W11.3 x D11.3. x H33.5 inches
Weight
35.0 lbs (15.9 kg)
9.0 lbs (4.1 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
91.3 fl.oz. / Hr

Where to Buy

Price at publication
$249.99
$112.68

*You help support HealthyKitchen101's product testing and reviews by purchasing from our retail partners.

Analysis and Test Results

Performance

Overall Performance Scoring
9.6
5.9

Hot Water Test

9.0
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
23.05 fl.oz. (680 ml)
19 fl. oz.
Heating Time
8.5 fl.oz. (250 ml) / 2 min 55 sec
8.5 fl.oz. / 2 min 48 sec
Temperature
198 ℉ (92.2 ℃)
199 ℉
Flow Rate
1.1 fl.oz. (33 ml) / sec
0.5 fl.oz. or 15 ml /sec

Cold Water Test

10
5.0
A paper cup placed in the center on the drip tray of a water cooler dispenser.
A gloved hand dispensing old water from the Costway 5-gallon water cooler dispenser
Serving Capacity
200 fl.oz. (6 L) / hr
91.3 fl.oz. / Hr
Temperature
50‒54℉ (10‒12°C)
50-54 ℉

Design

Overall Design Scoring
8.7
5.1

In the Box

A full view of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser, product box, and bundled items including the manual and leaflets.
The Costway 5-gallon water cooler dispenser standing next to its box with the drip tray and included literature to one side

Build Quality

9.0
4.9
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.
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
Black metal sheeting
White plastic
Front Panel
Stainless steel
White plastic
Cabinet Door
Silver plastic, white inside
Yes
Base
PVC plastic
Plastic
Extra Features
Rear carry handle
Storage cabinet

Dimensions

Illustrated dimensions of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser showing the height, depth, and width across in inches.
Costway Water Cooler Dispenser Dimensions
Depth
12.0" (30.5 cm)
11.3" (28.7 cm)
Width
13.0" (33.0 cm)
11.3" (28.7 cm)
Height
41.0" (104.1 cm)
33.5" (85.1 cm)
Weight
35.0 lbs (15.9 kg)
19.8 lbs (9.0 kg)

Panel & Indicators

9.0
6.0
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.
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
Second left
Top left
Cold Water Test
Second right
Top right
Bottle Or Filter
Far right
No
Others
Dual function indicators
None

Water Inlet Controls

8.0
6.0
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.
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
Filter heads, baffle
Water guard, water baffle
Materials
Plastic and metal
Plastic
Extra Features
Water line inlet, filter drainage port
None

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.
A close up to two lever type dispensing faucets on a water cooler dispenser.
Mechanism
3 buttons
2 faucets
Outflow Points
3 panel nozzles
2 tap nozzles
Material
Plastic
Plastic
Extra Features
Hot water safety
Nozzles detachable

Drip Tray

8.3
2.0
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.
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
Black
White
Length
10.5" (26.7 cm)
8.2" (20.8 cm)
Width
3.8" (9.7 cm)
2.6" (6.6 cm)
Depth
2.1" (5.3 cm)
1.3" (3.3 cm)
Level Float
Yes
No

Rear Switches

All the switches found on the rear of the Avalon A5 water cooler dispenser.
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
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.
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
Yes
Yes
Internal WxDxH
11.5 x 20 x 10 in
5.6 x 5.4 x 6 in
Material
Silver (or black) plastic
Plastic
Extra Features
Hook for PE tubing
Magnetic lock

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 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
76.0" (193.0 cm)
6.2 ft (1.9 m)
Position
Rear right, 21 in 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
8.3
6.0

Dispensing Water

9.0
5.0
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.
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 button
Tap lever
Water Type
Hot, Cold, Normal
Hot and cold water
Spout Type
Molded into panel
Tap type
Dispensing Height
9.0" (22.9 cm)
5.7 in

Hot Water Safety

8.0
5.5
How to operate a hot water safety switch on a water cooler dispenser.
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
Button-mounted lever
Clip faucet

Bottle / Filter Changing

8.0
7.5
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 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
POU filters
Top-loading
Feature
Attached filter bracket
Water needle, water baffle

Cleaning

7.7
6.8
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.
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
Ozone
No
Drainage Plug
21 in from ground
Rear rt., 13.3 in from ground

Behind the Comparison

Headshot of Roger Shitaki
Roger ShitakiReviewer

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.

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Lap VoTest Lead

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.

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Nguyen NtkVisual Specialist

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.

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