Running Bottled Water to your Coffee Maker

You'd think that since we recommend filtered water with your coffee maker that we would not recommend setting up bottled water for your coffee maker. But in some cases you really have no choice. For example, the coffee maker may be in an area of your office where running water just isn't available or maybe you want to install a coffee maker in your workshop or garage.

The best way to use bottled water for coffee is to install a complete self contained bottled water pump that pulls water from a 5 gallon jug on demand. These systems are maintenance free and only draw power when actually pumping water. And now bottled water pumps are available with 2 separate heads so that you can attach two 5 gallon bottles of water at the same time. Bottled water pumps come with a wand assembly that automatically detects the water level in the water bottle and shuts-off the water pump when the bottle is empty.

Tools Needed

 Medium size adjustable wrench or pliers.
1/2" drill bit and drill - if running the water line through your counter top.
Sharp knife or box knife.

Installing your bottled water pump

Decide first if you want a single bottle system or a dual bottle system. The advantage of a single bottle system is you need only enough under counter space for the bottle being drawn from. The advantage of a dual bottle system is that you will be changing out bottles half as often. This can be a real advantage if you are managing multiple coffee brewers in a large office.

Next, decide where the water bottle and pump will be located. The ideal location is in a cabinet directly under the coffee brewer. If you plan to feed more than one brewer with the same bottled water pump. make sure that both brewers are within plumbing distance (no aisles in between, no long distances, etc). Also, make sure that an AC outlet is available for the bottled water pump.

Typical Bottled Water Pump Install

The install itself is pretty straight foreword:

1. If not already done, drill a hole through the counter top to route the water line through. Depending on where the AC outlet is located, you may need to drill a second hole for the pump power cord.

2. FLOJET Bottled Water Dispensing Systems ship with 20 ft. 1/4 in. O.D. polyethylene tubing and this is more than enough tubing for a single coffee brewer install. Carefully measure the distance between the pump module outlet and the coffee brewer water inlet and cut the tubing clean and square to prevent fitting leaks.

3. If a second brewer or faucet is being connected, use 1/4 in. tube “T” fitting and place it in an accessible location. Measure from the pump to where the tee will be located and then from the tee to each brewer or faucet to make sure that 20' is enough tubing for your install. If not then you will need to order additional tubing. We have the correct tubing in stock as well as a John Guest tee fitting that works great with the tubing included with the pump. The John Guest fitting is the push in type that requires no special tools or clamps to make work.

4. Remove the plug from the pump module outlet port by pushing the collet (1) against the body while sliding the plug (2) out of the fitting.

5. Push the cleanly cut tubing end into the pump module outlet port, past the o-ring to tube stop. The fitting is designed to lock and seal by itself.

6. Route the other end of the tubing through the hole in the counter top to the coffee maker inlet and connect using the tube connector fitting.
Note: You may need to purchase an adapter fitting depending on the type fitting on your coffee maker.

6a. If installing more than one coffee maker or a coffee maker and water faucet, route the tubing to the 1/4" tee then plumb each device to the tee.
Note: Most installers will place the bottled water pump under the first coffee maker, will run the tubing to a tee just under the first coffee maker and then will run the second tube under the counter to the second coffee maker or faucet. This minimizes the amount of tubing running across the top of your counter.

7. Place the water bottle under the counter, drop wand into bottle & press down the hood to secure. The hood part of the wand is designed to fit snuggly around the mouth of any standard 5 gallon water bottle.

8. Plug in the bottled water pump, turn the pump on and check for leaks.

Troubleshooting your Bottled Water system

System Will Not Dispense Water

Check on/off switch position
Check power to dispensing system
Check location of suction wand in bottle
Check for empty bottle
Check for air in system

Discharge Tube Leaks At Fitting

Push tube all the way into tube stop
Remove tube and cut 1/4 in. (6.35 mm) off end, square and reinstall
Check correct tube size in fitting, tube size is 1/4 in. (6.35 mm) O.D. Fitting should be 1/4 in. (6.35 mm) I.D.

System Gets warm and turns off

Check the float switch
Check for leaks in discharge tube

System Will Not Shut-Off

Check for leaks in tubing system
Check for leaks at tube fittings
Check for leaks at faucet, ice maker, coffee maker or refrigerator water valve
Check pressure switch by turning faucet off and on
Check float switch position in bottle

System Continually Turns Off and On While in Use

Check for restriction devise at appliance inlet
Check for filter unit in line
Check for internal filters in the refrigerator.