[This is a sponsored article with Sterra.]
When choosing the right water purifier system for your home, you usually have two options, a tankless and a tank water purifier.
While their core functions remain the same, there are several reasons why the tankless version is sometimes preferred by smaller families and offices.
Having used the tankless Sterra S water purifier in replacement of our floor-standing tank water purifier for several weeks now, we can see why the tankless option is gaining popularity.
1. Tankless water purifiers have a smaller footprint
The biggest differentiating factor between the tankless water purifier and its counterpart is that it is much smaller in size and takes up a lot less space physically.
To give a bit of perspective, the Sterra S tankless water purifier we have in the office is currently placed atop our basin countertop, alongside our dish drying rack.
The exact dimensions of the Sterra S tankless model is about 182mm (width) x 509mm (height) x 403mm (depth).
On the other hand, when renovating our office, we had to intentionally plan for a spot in which our usual tank water purifier could go, so it wouldn’t jut out awkwardly or be in the way.
Despite its slim size and sleek design, it’s still very sturdy (it weighs 9.2KG) and wouldn’t flimsily topple over.
2. They’re more energy efficient
Storing cold and hot water in a tank can be quite energy inefficient.
To explain, if a tank water purifier is not in use, it will continue to use up electricity in order to maintain the temperature of both hot and cold water.
Sure there are some higher-end water purifiers that have a sleep function, which will switch over to a low power mode and keep the water close to the ideal temperature.
But it still does not change the fact that electricity is continuously used compared to a tankless water purifier.
On top of that, some tankless water purifiers like the Sterra S allow users to dispense water at specific temperatures such as 4°C, 25°C, 40°C, and 87°C, equivalent to cold, room temperature, warm, and hot water, respectively.
This makes it suitable for brewing temperature-sensitive drinks like coffee and tea, where too high of a temperature could lead to an undesirable bitter taste.
3. They’re simpler to maintain
Because of the lack of a tank, there are fewer components that could break, making the water purifier, to an extent, cheaper to maintain.
However, that doesn’t mean it’s lacking when it comes to filtration. The Sterra S comes with a pre-carbon block filter, ultrafiltration membrane, and post-carbon block filter to remove dust, rust, sand, odours, and more.
It also comes with UV Automated Sterilisation that uses ultraviolet light to clean the water nozzle when it is tucked into the unit, preventing unwanted bacterial growth without user intervention.
Considering the fact that you’re getting all these features, especially the UV Automated Sterilisation, which is so crucial in this day in age where hygiene is of utmost importance, the pricing is fairly reasonable at RM4,999.
On top of that, it also comes with free installation, a 1-year warranty, and a 2-year filter set worth RM1,099.
If spending a lump sum is not feasible at the moment, it is also possible to get the tankless water purifier via a 3-month instalment plan at RM1,666.33 a month.
4. Algae has a harder time growing on their surface areas
Since tank water purifiers usually store water in dedicated hot and cold tanks to be dispensed later, there will be times when water will remain stagnant for extended periods.
When combined with the right temperature and sunlight, it might lead to algae growth which could cause adverse effects when ingested, like diarrhoea, nausea, and more.
This algae growth is especially prominent in floor-standing water dispensers that have not been used for a long while, as you will usually see a slight green discolouration around the water line in the tank by then.
Even if you opt for a water purifier or water dispenser that doesn’t have a transparent tank (which allows light in and promotes more algae growth), there still might be residue build-up, especially if the tank has not been serviced in a long time.
Having a tankless water purifier, therefore, greatly reduces this risk since there is no stagnant water storage.
This feature really is advantageous for us at the office since no one uses the water purifier during the weekends, no water is sitting dormant there for 2 whole days.
Entering the Malaysian market with unique features
For those who are not aware, Sterra is actually a Singaporean brand, and they’ve only just launched in Malaysia early this year.
While Sterra is still a budding new name here (compared to their already strong branding in Singapore), they hope to make their size, design, unique and self-maintaining features stand out in the local market.
Did You Know: Sterra also offers a tank table top and tank standing water purifier called Sterra Y, and an air purifier, Sterra Breeze Air Purifier.
From our own personal usage so far, we can appreciate its small footprint, many temperature choices for various drinks, and automatic sterilisation for our health and safety.
- Sterra S is priced at RM4,999, find out more about the tankless water purifier here. (Singaporeans can get the Sterra S at SGD1,699 here.)