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Avalon A5 Bottleless vs Frigidaire Stainless Steel Water Cooler Dispenser Side-by-Side Comparison
Avalon A5 bottleless water cooler dispenser vs Frigidaire stainless steel dispenser. Two top performers, but which design is better for you?
Avalon A5 Bottleless
Tested Using Methodology v1.0Frigidaire Stainless Steel
Tested Using Methodology v1.0Overall 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.
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
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 & 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.