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Costway 5 Gallon vs Frigidaire Stainless Steel Water Cooler Dispenser Side-by-Side Comparison
Costway 5-gallon water cooler dispenser vs Frigidaire stainless steel. Two top loading dispensers that meet different needs.
Costway 5 Gallon Water Cooler Dispenser
Tested Using Methodology v1.0Frigidaire Stainless Steel
Tested Using Methodology v1.0
Overall Verdict
Both the Costway 5-gallon and the Frigidaire EFWC519 are top-loading water cooler dispensers. Apart from that, there’s a mile of difference between the two. Which one is best for you depends on your needs and budget.
The Costway has an all-plastic body, but the Frigidaire has stainless steel sides and much better build quality—even for the plastic parts.
Both use old-style faucet designs for dispensing water. The Frigidaire manages a flow rate of 0.98 fl. oz. or 33 ml/sec—which is closely matched to the benchmark of 34 ml/sec. The flow rate on the Costway was well below par at 0.5 fl. oz. or 15 ml/sec.
Not only that, the Costway cold water capacity is only 91.3 fl. oz. (2.7 L) per hour, or enough for nine people. The Frigidaire dispenses cold water to the top topmost standard of 202 fl. oz. (6 L) per hour or enough for 20 people.
The Frigidaire is our top recommendation for an office water cooler dispenser. The Costway does not meet those standards—especially for the poor flow rate and low-quality drip tray that easily falls out.
The Costway is more suited as a personal water cooler dispenser, or a small office on a tight budget. Considering the poor quality of the drip tray, it is not a machine for a public area.
Pros & Cons
- Hot water temperature
- Detachable faucets
- Light weight
- Cold water efficiency
- Stainless steel body
- Light weight
- Cool to run
- Easy to clean
- Slow flow rate
- Loose drip tray
- Shoddy drainage plug
- Poor build quality
- 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.
