How Do Quooker Taps Work?

Updated November 2026

A Quooker tap works by storing a small amount of water in a highly insulated tank in the cupboard under your sink. The tank works like a vacuum flask, keeping the water above boiling point under pressure. When you turn the tap, the water comes out at 100°C, so you get boiling water instantly without a kettle.

At The White Kitchen Company we love Quooker taps and often recommend them to customers who want to get rid of the kettle and free up worktop space. You never wait for water to boil, and with the Quooker Cube you can have chilled filtered and sparkling water from the same tap. The question we get asked most is simply how they work, so here is a plain explanation.

How does a Quooker tap work?

The tank under the sink

The Quooker system is a small tank in the kitchen cupboard, linked to the boiling water tap and to your mains water. The tank acts like a vacuum flask: the air in its insulated wall is so thin that heat can hardly escape. That means only a small amount of energy is needed to keep the water hot.

What happens when you turn the tap

The water is kept under pressure, so it only starts to boil as it leaves the tank. By the time it reaches your cup or pan it is at 100°C. As you use it, fresh cold water flows into the tank and is heated ready for next time.

Running costs

Because the tank is so well insulated, standby power use is low. Quooker describes the system as using very little energy. You also only heat the water you actually use, rather than boiling a full kettle.

How does the Quooker Cube work?

The Quooker Cube adds chilled filtered and sparkling water. It is installed beside the boiling water tank in the same cupboard. The Cube contains a hollow-fibre filter to purify the water, and a CO2 cylinder that gives you around 60 litres of chilled sparkling water before it needs replacing. As well as saving trips to the shop, it cuts down on plastic water bottles.

How to choose a Quooker tap for your kitchen

Tap style

There are several designs, including the Flex (with a pull-out hose), the Fusion (hot, cold and boiling from one tap) and the Nordic range. In a traditional painted kitchen, a classic swan-neck or square design usually sits better than a very minimal one.

Finish

Finishes include stainless steel, chrome, gold and brushed brass. Match the tap to your cabinet handles and other metalwork so the kitchen looks planned as a whole.

Cupboard space

The tank, and the Cube if you have one, take up room in the sink cupboard. Plan for this at design stage so you don’t lose space you were counting on for bins or cleaning things. Our designers allow for it when they plan your bespoke kitchens layout.

Where it goes

Most people put a Quooker at the main sink, but it can also work at a prep sink on an island or in a coffee or breakfast area.

Frequently asked questions

How does a Quooker tap work?

A Quooker tap keeps water above boiling point under pressure in an insulated tank under the sink. When you open the tap the water comes out at 100°C, giving you boiling water instantly.

Is a Quooker tap expensive to run?

A Quooker tap has low running costs, because the vacuum-insulated tank loses very little heat and you only heat the water you use.

Can a Quooker give sparkling water?

Yes, a Quooker can give sparkling water with the Quooker Cube. The Cube sits beside the tank and gives chilled filtered and sparkling water from the same tap.

Does a Quooker take up cupboard space?

Yes. A Quooker tank sits in the cupboard under the sink, and the Cube needs room beside it, so a Quooker is best planned in when the kitchen is designed.

Can I see a Quooker tap before I buy?

Yes. The White Kitchen Company has a Quooker tap on display in its showroom in Pitsford, Northampton, alongside cabinets and appliances, and can talk you through the different Quooker styles. You can book a showroom visit, a home visit or a phone consultation.

Planning the rest of the kitchen too? The White Kitchen Company’s solid wood kitchens are hand-painted in any Farrow & Ball or Little Greene colour, made in 10–12 weeks and delivered fully assembled, with complete kitchens from £11,808. See our hand-painted kitchens, or read what a bespoke kitchen costs.