Can You Still Use A Water Cooler Without Electricity?

Millions of water coolers are used in workplaces up and down the country, from offices and factories to schools and GP surgeries. Delivering pure, fully filtered drinking water, they make drinking water a healthy habit for everyone. But can you still use a water cooler without electricity? While the answer is yes, it depends on the type of cooler you have. And how much electricity does a water cooler use?

This blog will focus on how different types of water coolers work, which ones can operate without electricity, and what your options are if you have a power cut or need water when you’re off-grid.

What types of water coolers are there?

Before looking into using water coolers without electricity, it's good to understand the different types and how they work. Most water coolers will sit in two main categories:

Bottled water coolers

These water coolers suit locations that don’t have direct access to a mains water supply, so think large or small offices, warehouses, factories, building sites, or even film sets. Using large, replaceable 13 or 18.9-litre water bottles filled with naturally filtered spring water, these coolers can be positioned wherever you need them.

Mains-fed water coolers

Being a more permanent appliance in office kitchens, canteens, and break rooms, mains-fed water coolers are connected directly to the mains water supply. With an inbuilt advanced filtration system, they deliver an unlimited supply of fully filtered water and can be installed anywhere up to 13m away from the mains source in any direction.

There are also countertop versions of both of these water coolers if the area you want to install or position them is tight on space. The smaller model will sit nicely on a desk, countertop, or worktop to save space while working in exactly the same way as their taller cousins!

Can you still use a water cooler without electricity?

The million-dollar question. And the answer is: yes – but with some caveats. Both bottled water coolers and mains-fed water coolerswill rely on electricity to power the refrigeration elements and, in some cases, heating elements, to deliver chilled and hot water. However, water delivery from the tap doesn’t always need power, depending on the design. Here are the different water cooler types:

Bottled water coolers

Most bottled water coolers are gravity-fed and manually operated, so they can still deliver water in the same way, even without electricity. This is possible because the water bottle is placed on the cooler above the tap, so gravity allows the water to flow downwards through the system when the tap is pulled. 

The bad news is, the water will only be ambient (room) temperature and won't be chilled or hot if that’s what you wanted. However, this may still be a good option if only the basics are needed, such as on a building site or in a temporary office.

For bottom-loading bottled water coolers, these coolers use a pump to draw the bottled water upwards into the machine, so they absolutely rely on electricity to work at all.

Mains-fed water coolers

These directly plumbed-in coolers will typically need electricity to work. Unlike bottled coolers, mains-fed coolers don’t usually allow for gravity-fed water delivery. The water is pumped through the system and filtered using components inside the cooler that need power to work. If there’s no electricity, then dispensing any water isn’t possible. 

Additionally, the chilling and heating elements, together with the filtration system, will also shut down. If you’re expecting to be without electricity or being too far from your mains water supply, such as if you’re moving offices, then it’s worth having a backup bottled water cooler that can at least deliver ambient water when you need it.

How much electricity does a water cooler use?

A common question for any business or homeowner looking at getting a water cooler is, “How much electricity does a water cooler use?”. This question is even more relevant nowadays as energy prices are all over the place, and price caps continue to go up and down. But there is no definitive answer because power costs are down to the type of water cooler you have, its features, and how frequently it's used. The following breakdown will give you a rough idea of a cooler’s power use:

When plugged in and running, a bottled water cooler, like the Thirsty Work Mogul floorstanding model, will use around 74W (0.074 kW) of electricity per day for chilled water. Used for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week (so, 160 hours over a 4-week month of 20 days), it will use 1,480Wh (1.48 kWh / 11.48 kWh) of electricity. 

Based on the current average UK unit rate of 27.03p per kWh (as of April 2025), that’s roughly £3.20 per month, or just over 16p per day. That’s highly efficient, even with increased unit cost averages.

What can affect electricity usage?

While different demands can change how much electricity a water cooler uses, one of the biggest is using it for hot water. Water coolers that offer near-boiling water for hot drinks will use more electricity as they need to maintain a constant high temperature. So, if you don't really need a hot water function, choosing an ambient/chilled-only cooler will bring energy savings.

How much the water cooler is used will also make a difference. In busy or large offices, the water cooler will be regularly used, so the cooling and heating elements work that much harder to maintain the temperature. 

Even where you position your water cooler can make a difference to how efficient it will be. If it’s in direct sunlight or somewhere with poor ventilation, it can use more electricity to chill the water as it has to work harder because of the warmer air around it. 

Options for a non-electric water cooler

Beyond just using a standard water cooler and not plugging it in, if you really need some kind of water cooler that doesn't use electricity, here are some alternatives to try for different locations. 

Manual water hand pump

This is a variation of a standard water cooler but designed for indoor or outdoor use without power. The hand pump has a carrying handle and fits over a standard Thirsty Work water bottle, making it essential for use on the move or in places without electricity.

Insulated water coolers

Available in different sizes and capacities, portable, insulated water coolers keep your water (or any thin liquid) super chilled for hours at a time. With a carry handle, dispensing tap, and high-performance insulation, these water coolers can be used anywhere.

Ceramic / Glass water dispensers

Ceramic or glass water dispensers are an electricity-free option often seen in eco-conscious offices, homes, and restaurants. Being gravity-fed, they release water through a tap while the ceramic or glass body helps keep the water naturally cool without any power.

A non-electric water cooler can be especially useful in specific places like construction sites. Access to mains power may be limited or inconsistent there, so a manual cooler or hand pump will keep workers hydrated throughout the day. And temporary office setups, like site cabins or shared workspaces, can also benefit when wiring in power supplies isn’t practical. 

Businesses will usually consider backup water cooler options in case of a power cut. That way, staff, visitors, or the public can still access clean drinking water without disruption.

Manual and powered water coolers from Thirsty Work

So, how much electricity does a water cooler use? Somewhere in the region of just 16p per day, making it one of the most cost-effective ways to keep staff and visitors hydrated all day. And can you use a water cooler without electricity? 100% yes. Even without electricity, a bottled water cooler can still deliver ambient, naturally filtered spring water at the pull of a tap.

Thirsty Work offers a wide range of bottled and mains-fed water coolers, together with manual options that deliver water without power. For more information on these and more, call the Thirsty Work team on 01392 877 172 or email us at hello@thirstywork.comtoday. They’ll give you your free quote, and you can start your 10-day free trial on any water cooler.