Customer Reviews

InSinkErator HOT-1 Low-Profile Instant Hot Water Dispenser

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(33)

 

 

The black plastic handle broke off after 2 years of use by 2 people.

Also the unit builds up pressure and hisses and steams and shoots out hot water. I was told to turn the temp. down to solve this problem but then the water is not hot enough.

Much has been said about the fact that this unit has a short life span. Ours lasted 5 years - most people get 3 to 4 years. One essential tip - use a screw driver to turn down the water temp. The adjustment is right on the front of the unit. Most units are set way too high and the water boils inside the unit, resulting in sputtering at the spout. Turning down the water temp is the way to remedy this problem and extend the life of the unit. I didn't discover this fact (or read the directions) until long into the life cycle of the unit.

Now for the important point. This unit is compact and will fit into "under cabinet" spaces where larger units will not go. For instance, we have a high end water purifier that takes up lots of space as well as a garbage disposal unit as well as an under the sink soap dispenser. With all that stuff under the cabinet, the ONLY unit that will fit is the Hot 1. (We tried more expensive models - to no avail.)

Another advantage of the Hot 1 is that it heats only 1/3rd of a gallon of water thereby using less electrical power than the larger units. The reality is that few people ever need more than 1/3rd gallon for their hot tea, choclolate, etc. This unit saves energy by heating only the amount of water that is typically needed.

I have had two of these and both were junk. The first was installed by my builder and stopped working within the first year. We purchased an identical replacement, thinking it was a fluke. It stopped working within 3 months. Do not buy this item. When I called Insinkerator customer service, the CS agent said it was their bottom of the line and didn't recommend buying another. My question is "why do they sell them for over $128 if they know it is junk?"

This abomination lasted about a month before it stopped heating the water. I previously had a different In-Sinkerator hot-water dispenser model that lasted about nine years, so I expected that same life-time out of this one. What a disappointment! I have come to the realization that In-Sinkerator just makes crappy products. I had switched from their inferior sink grinders to better quality products, so I should have known better. You live and learn.

Our builder installed one of these in our new home 11 years ago. The unit failed after 3-4 years. I replaced it with the same model, for the simple reason that it made installation very easy (I knew that the supply line would be the right length and the sink hole would be the right diameter). The replacement also failed after 3-4 years. This time, I resolved to replace the unit with a better model. Unfortunately, the only model the hardware store had in stock was the HOT-1, so I broke down and installed another one. That unit has also now failed. Each unit showed the same symptoms -- the unit would start sputtering for a couple of months, then it would start leaking a little, then it would start flooding the cabinet under the sink. For each of the failed units, the seams all around the tank showed mineral buildups, indicating multiple leaks. In a nutshell, the HOT-1 is very simple to install, does its job for about three years, and is easy to replace. If you don't mind replacing it frequently, it can be an efficient solution, at an average cost of only about $40/year. If you want a durable hot water dispenser, definitely install a more expensive (and presumably more durable) model, which is what I plan to do this time. The HOT-1 is a cheap, disposable appliance with (at best) a three-year life expectancy.

UPDATE 27 March 2010:

Sure enough, right on schedule, the HOT-1 that I installed in January 2008 has started to leak. Based on past experience, the leak will become a flood over the next couple of months. That's it. I don't care how easy this unit is to install. It's crazy to have to replace the HOT-1 every three years. Time for a serious upgrade.

DO NOT BUY THIS ITEM. I'VE HAD TWO PLUMBERS AND TWO INSTANT HOT WATER DISPENSERS. BOTH OF THEM AGREED THAT THE PLASTIC PARTS WERE NO GOOD, IT LEAKED BOTH FROM THE BOTTOM AND SHOT OUT HOT WATER FROM THE NOZZLE. IN ADDITION YOU NEED QUITE A BIT OF CLEARANCE TO LOWER THE LEVER WHICH I DID NOT AND THE NOZZLE DOES NOT ALLOW ANY CHANGES. THIS IS A TERRIBLY DESIGNED PRODUCT, SAVE YOUR MONEY AND BUY A FRANKE OR A KITCHENAIDE.

Problems start from installation and keep coming.
BUT!
I deal with it for 3 whole years! I'm proud.
Well, I'm an owner of radiator repair shop, so, I had all the features. Weld it, drill it, epoxy it, taking it apart, invent new parts (because you cannot buy nothing that help from manufacture - if you need only plastic seal - they have only repair kit for seventy nine ninty nine).
Leaks from top, leaks from the botton, corroded parts, plastic, damaged from heat, electrical problems, handles, that just popping out from the base, leaving hot water spilling all around..
Old Ford Escort does'nt give you that much fun.
Finally, after all, I'm living that my first public review and looking for other manufacture to buy..

This is my 3rd unit and it just died 5 months after the one-year warranty. I need a compact unit and this is the only one I was able to find. Stay away from purchasing this unit if you can. InSinkErator has no quality standards.

We bought this unit a little over two years ago and it sputtered and popped hot water from the very beginning. About six months ago it stopped working entirely. Our new one is another brand and I confess I am very disappointed that a good brand name like InSinkErator would produce such garbage.

This unit works great for a while then malfunctions or stops working all together. I bought one, and when it leaked into and damaged my cabinet below the sink, I figured I got a bad one and replaced it with a new one. The new one lasted one month longer than the warranty....when the thermostat malfunctioned--the water didn't stop heating at 190 degrees--it boiled inside the unit, its tank ruptured under the sink, and sprayed hot water into the cabinet completely destroying the cabinet this time requiring a major restoration. I, like another reviewer, was told by Insinkerator's own helpline person that this was a "bottom of the line' appliance and not to buy it!

Good advice.

[My first one cost me $99. The second $116. Now, the price in only three years is up to around $140.]