Notice Board

Bulletin on Workplace Water Coolers

When you have a workplace water cooler, it’s also essential to know how to clean and maintain it.

 Do you have a plan about Cleaning your Water Cooler?

As water cooler maintenance is up to each department or area who buys/rents the water cooler, please create a department plan that works for your water cooler cleaning and maintenance needs. Assign a person and create a cleaning schedule. See Alberta Health Services information on how to clean a water cooler on the second page of this bulletin.

How often do you need to clean a water cooler? Some manufacturer’s directions say every water bottle change, some say monthly, every six weeks or at least every six months—check your manufacturer’s instructions!

Safety Services offers an example of an equipment maintenance log to aid in formal records of when you are cleaning, checking for leaks or have maintenance done. Call Caretaking if you have water spills that require cleaning up Facilities Service Desk at facility.servicedesk@uleth.ca or by calling Facilities at 403.329.2602.

And a note about lifting! Have a plan in regards to the lifting of heavy water bottles. Two person lifts may be appropriate. Also please take 30 seconds to ensure the new bottle is properly emptying into the system. While water cooler cleaning and maintenance takes a bit of time, it’s the best way to ensure your water cooler always dispenses fresh, clean drinking water for as long as you have it.

What about Water Cooler Maintenance?

Cleaning your cooler is the single most important thing you can do to keep it running efficiently; however there are also other considerations. Some maintenance issues to consider include checking the electrical plug is not causing a tripping hazard and is not frayed or damaged. Whenever the water cooler is completely empty, unplug it from the power source. If it’s plugged in, it should always have water. Check the wire grid on the back of the cooler every month to remove dust or lint. You can dust these areas or vacuum them.

Be sure to check for leaks when you are changing the bottle or doing a cleaning cycle. A quick visual test is typically good enough but you want to ensure that every new bottle is draining into the water cooler not around the water cooler. Moving the water cooler unit too frequently can greatly increase the likelihood of leaks in your water cooler. Should the water cooler appear to have a leak, please have contact information of a company that may be able to do maintenance checks on hand and call ASAP. The age of the equipment should be noted on the maintenance log as it may assist in deciding on fixing or buying a new machine.

Water Coolers from MyHealth.Alberta.ca

What do I need to do before I clean my water cooler?

1. Always unplug the water cooler before you clean it. Before you clean your water cooler, you will need to make a cleaning (disinfecting) solution. Whenever you make or use the solution, protect yourself by wearing:

• safety glasses with side shields, disposable gloves, a waterproof apron, smock, or overalls

 2. To make the disinfecting solution, mix together:

• 15 mL of five percent, unscented bleach and 5 litres of clean, warm water

 How do I clean my cold water cooler?

The easiest way to clean a water cooler is when you replace an empty water bottle.

1. Unplug the water cooler and remove the empty water bottle. Drain all remaining water through the peg or plug (spigot).
2. Remove the no-spill guard and baffle. Do not break or damage these parts. You can clean these parts in a dishwasher or with the steps outlined in the section below.
3. Fill the cooler reservoir with cleaning solution and scrub the inside with a clean, long-handled brush with soft bristles.
4. Drain some of the cleaning solution through the spigots. Let it sit for at least 2 minutes (but no longer than 5 minutes) to prevent corrosion.
5. Drain the cleaning solution from the reservoir through the spigots into a bucket. Flush the solution down a toilet.
6. Fill the reservoir with clean tap or bottled water and rinse thoroughly to help remove the bleach. Do this 2 or 3 times. Drain the rinse water through the spigots into a bucket. Flush the solution down a toilet.
7. Put the baffle and no-spill guard back on and P\put the new water bottle on top of the cooler. Press the spigots until water flows. Plug in the water cooler.

 How do I clean the plastic parts?

Whenever you clean your water cooler, it is a good idea to clean the drip tray, spigot paddles, no-spill guard, baffles, and the outside of the cooler. Do not use abrasive cleansers as they can scratch surfaces. You can put any removable parts in a dishwasher (see manufacturer’s instructions) or clean them with these steps:

1. Put the parts in hot, soapy water.
2. Rinse the parts with clean water.
3. Clean the parts with your cleaning solution.
4. Let the parts dry completely or dry them with a clean cloth.
5. Wipe the outside of the cooler with a clean, hot, soapy cloth.

 What else do I need to do to maintain my cooler?

• Clean your water cooler regularly to help keep it running well.
• Once a month, check the wire grid across the back of the cooler for lint and dust build-up. Vacuum or clean these areas with a brush.
• Do not lubricate the compressor. It has an air-tight seal. Most coolers have an automatic-reset overload protection switch.
• Unplug your water cooler whenever it is out of water.

 How do I clean a hot water cooler?

Check your manufacturer’s directions. Do not use bleach on hot water cooler systems. To clean a hot water cooler:

Boil some water and pour enough boiling water into the cooler to fill the reservoir. Be careful not to burn yourself with the boiling water. Drain some hot water through the spigots. Let the hot water sit in the cooler and spigots for 3 minutes. Scrub the inside of the reservoir with a clean, long-handled brush with soft bristles then Drain out the water and rinse the reservoir well before you use the cooler.

https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Alberta/Pages/water-coolers.aspx