Q&A for How to Clean a Water Dispenser

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Will it be safe if there was black mold in the drain?

Community Answer

Black mold is a toxic mold. It can grow in houses and is extremely dangerous to humans. If you find any type of mold, you should not drink the water until you are 100% sure the water does not have any type of mold in it and have had the water tested.

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Question

How do I remove a cap that is stuck in the water cooler?

Community Answer

If it's the little cap/plug that the piercing spike punches when you load in a bottle, the little cap floats to the top of the jug. It can't come out because it's larger than the hole. You do not need to worry about it.

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Question

Will cleaning the dispenser help the water taste better?

Community Answer

Definitely. If it doesn't, then you may have missed some grime. Do your best to get to all of the crevices for a fresh taste.

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Question

Do I use white or apple cider vinegar to clean my dispenser?

Community Answer

Apple cider vinegar is more expensive. You can buy white vinegar by the gallon at a supermarket. Sometimes it is in the section of the store with other cleaning products.

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Question

I cleaned my water dispenser with vinegar and I still taste it in the water. How can I get the taste out?

Community Answer

Filling one of the jugs completely with water and then using that to drain through each spigot should help to clean out any unwanted taste. If there are multiple spigots, then drain half through cold, half through hot. If the problem persists, then maintenance in the hose system or replacement is suggested.

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Question

What do I do if the cold water side has stopped working?

Community Answer

Take the cold water side apart as much as you can and clean out the line and screen on the cold water spigot.

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Question

Where do I get lemon juice and vinegar?

Community Answer

Vinegar is commonly sold by the gallon at supermarkets. Lemon juice may be sold in pre-squeezed form as well, but in smaller quantities. Or, you can squeeze real lemons and use that juice.

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Question

What do I do if the hot water stops coming out hot?

Community Answer

It could be that all the hot water is gone from the hot water heater if using a lot of hot water for a long period of time. Then is only a matter of waiting for the water heater to heat more water. Otherwise if your comfortable doing electrical / plumbing work look for information on troubleshooting your type of hot water heater or contact a professional. There may already be an article on that with things such as: Check circuit breaker, if tripping when reset could be wiring, short circuit, blown hot water heater element, might need to contact a professional or if comfortable doing electrical work, shut off power, test wiring and water heater elements, etc. check manual for your heater if needed.

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Question

What do I do if my water dispenser is leaking water from underneath?

Community Answer

I suggest you unplug the dispenser immediately, remove the bottle, drain the dispenser until there is no running water left, and call a professional to check out the dispenser for you. Do not try to do it yourself, you might make the situation worse.

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Question

How often does a water dispenser need to be cleaned if it is for commercial use?

Community Answer

It is recommended that the unit be cleaned every time you change the water.

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Question

Do I need to remove the tanks when cleaning a water dispenser?

Community Answer

Yes, you do need to remove the tanks in order to clean the unit. Follow the recommended cleaning instructions for your unit. Clean with either a diluted bleach or vinegar solution.

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Question

Can I use the diluted bleach solution to wash out the water bottle before I refill it?

Community Answer

Yes, just make sure you rinse out the solution very thoroughly.

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Question

How do I drain the unit for winter?

Community Answer

Most water dispensers have a "low point" drain tube in the lower back of the unit. Usually it is a tube with a twist off cap or small rubber plug. I would recommend doing this whenever it is not going to be used for any extended periods of time.

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